Tag: Oct-Nov 17

Adventurous Ashan

Have you ever had a picnic by a cliff overlooking the aqua marine sea, enjoyed a scrumptious village meal by a gurgling stream after a two hour hike up a blessed rock or been lulled to sleep by the chirping sounds of the crickets as the moon shone brightly on to your tent? Does it sound like something out of Tom Sawyers adventure or an episode from Indiana Jones? Well these are true life experiences which were part of our sojourns with our adventurous friend Ashan.

Ashan Seniviratne, who epitomizes the spirit of adventure, gave up his desk job to pursue a career in the great outdoors. “There’s never a dull moment with Ashan,” is an understatement as you would end up scouring the country in a number of ways; either cycling through the bustling cities at night, hiking up mountains, swimming with schools of multihued fish in the Indian ocean, trailing behind a magnificent blue whale, admiring the acrobatic skills of the spinner dolphins or camping under the cinematic vista of the night sky on Bible Rock.

Infused with a spirit of exploration and innovative thinking, he branched out into a hitherto unexplored terrain in terms of career moves by providing a wide variety of adventure packages to those who wish to explore the island off the beaten track. Six years later, Ashan has established himself as a name to contend with in the booming industry of adventure tourism.

“Our island is a bio-diversity hot spot and there is a plethora of activities for the adventurous traveler who has a zest for life,” quipped he. Imbued with the spirit of wanderlust, Ashan made a hobby of exploring the island and often thrown caution to the wind but now that it is a profession it comes with a great sense of responsibility, hence, organizing these excursions requires one to pay an excessive amount of attention to detail; meticulous planning, gather a thorough knowledge about the topography about the area and continuously hone the training and skills needed to face innumerable challenges as Mother Natures has proved her mood swings could not be taken for granted as the Lady has a mind of its own!

Nurturing a Love for Nature
“It was my father who nurtured the love for nature and wildlife, “enthused Ashan who recalls the days when he used to trudge around the country exploring thick jungles and more. This was during the early 80’s and 90’s, and the animals luxuriated in the thick fauna and flora unlike now with everything being so commercialized with nature being stripped of its beauty in plain sight.

These childhood quests in search of nature’s bounty inspired a love for the country and its breathtaking beauty. We were doubly blessed to have an abundance of hills, valleys, rivers and paddy fields and forests in our own ‘backyard’ in Kegalle. We children were even trained by our parents and grandparents to harvest paddy. The earth was truly their playground and its resplendent beauty was appreciated by the young Ashan, who was later boarded at Trinity College Kandy where he completed his education. The school years were wrought with adventurous escapades with Ashan and his friends swimming in the rivers in Rambukkana and journeying to various parts of Sri Lanka.

After completing his education he took wing to Colombo where he secured a job at Silk Air followed by Scenic Air an airline which organized the bulk of the Grand Canyon tours in USA. This gave me the opportunity to visit Las Vegas to attend a conference. It was a milestone in my life as it was first official overseas trip. Subsequent visits to many destinations gave him the license to explore, watch and learn and ultimately ponder on the potential of his island home which many refer to as paradise.

Taking the Road Less Traveled
“The adventurer in me was yearning to think out of the box but the idea was just blossoming and I had to venture out on my own with a two or three volunteers who believed in my wild scheme which seemed ludicrous at the time. It was only a few years ago that I actually discovered the term for this form of tourism known as experiential travel,” revealed Ashan.

Conservation and Sustainable Tourism
It was during my tenure at Del Air that I visited many countries and I saw the manner in which they maximized on their resources. Referring to the depleting natural resources in our country and the importance placed on conservation and sustainable tourism Ashan mentioned Singapore. “Despite its lack of natural resources it is a thriving tourist attraction mainly due to the visionary Lee Kuan Yew who was intent on creating a positive and glowing image about his country. Tourist attractions are constantly upgraded and revamped to ensure the continuous arrival of tourists. The West and Far East also place a high importance on their tourist destinations and maintain systematic procedures to ensure sustainability with the citizens valuing their countries and striving to protect through the minor things as cleanliness, provision of facilities etc.

This is in stark contrast to the plight faced by our own sights as many places are strewn with lunch sheets, polythene bags, glass/ plastic bottles and shards of glass. The lack of strong laws and the inability to control the masses destructive behavioral patterns have caused severe repercussions and despite the warning signs and advertising campaigns this callousness by a certain populace still does persist.
A team of us collected bags full of garbage from Bible Rock in January and I brought it all the way back to Colombo with me without disposing it along the way but all our effort is to no avail as I have seen more waste piling up. Due to this our voluntary cleanup or ‘shramadana’ will have to be done every few months.”

Leading by Example
“Little drops of water, little grains of sand makes the mighty ocean and the pleasant land…,” is a poem we are familiar with and similarly Ashan believes that our little acts can make a difference and cause a ripple effect. Which gave him the impetus to impact young lives through a new adventure series titled ‘Kids in Tune with Nature,’ which will specifically target children and young adults.

Ashan encourages and promulgates many family oriented adventure packages which enables quality bonding time between parents and kids and leads by example as he is seen guiding his own two sons to appreciate the natural wonders of their island home.

On 5th of June this year Ashan and his team hosted a stall for over 300 students at St. Thomas’ College in commemoration of ‘World Environment Day 2017.’ “This enabled us to share our views on the exciting ways we could experience and cherish the vital relationship between man and nature.”

Due to the high demands of present society parents are either strapped for time or reluctant to take their children to the great outdoors and shockingly many kids are unable to socialize or feel passionate about protecting the environment or mother earth for that matter. With the advancement of technology a child’s horizons are often left untapped with an unhealthy amount of time spent on computer games and social networks. The virtual worlds occupy a vast spectrum of their time and reality becomes a distant concept, which is the main reason children and parents should take the initiative to explore the bountiful resources we are blessed with. This in turn prepares them to face the adversities in life with resilience and shapes their characters and builds up their immune system and lessens the effects of attention deficit disorders among other advantages. To be able to run amok in a paddy field, fly a kite by the sea or wade in the water should not be relegated to the history pages instead it should be made an active en enriching part of our children’s lives.

“If we want to recapture a bygone era, a time when life was simpler and options were not so vast, we have to fashion that world again ourselves. No amount of nagging or pleading will make a child decide to embrace nature. No lectures or sermons or speeches can truly capture the essence of the sunlight on the water, the sound of voices at play or the feel of the breeze in your hair. Children have to experience it for themselves and see what the great outdoors has to offer them. And we as parents have a responsibility to provide the opportunities for this to happen, not just demand that children “get outside” or submit to the proposition that it’s a lost cause. Children will ‘turn-off’ technology and ‘tune-in’ to the great outdoors, if that is the option given to them and they can do so with pure unadulterated joy and not resigned reluctance. So rather than grieving the good old days that we use to know, let us recreate them. Making the present truly a gift by seeing the possibilities as endless rather than focusing on the illusion of what we have supposedly lost,” added Ashan who continues to set the standard for leading and creating paths many fear to tread. His exuberance and fearlessness has led many hungry souls to follow their hearts in exploring wonders of the pearl of the Indian Ocean.

All About the Food…

Have you ever noticed that one of the easiest ways to communicate with people is through food (or beverages for that matter)? How many of us made our first friend after sharing a toffee in the playground? How many of us found our first girlfriend using the famous pick-up line “can I buy you a drink?” And then there are those of us who have memories of 10-15 people sharing one “buth packet”. Food therefore always has, always is and always will be an integral part of our lives.

So much so that some of us never quite give up on being a “Foodie”. And that is the best way to describe the two people who started Foodies Sri Lanka. Sanura Gunawardana has travelled extensively as the grandson of the former Air Force Commander, throughout his years at Royal College and later on during his career. Having lived and worked on the African continent, and been a part of the World Peace Boat also gave him perspective in to cuisines from the four corners of the globe. Small wonder then that his life goals included trying out food from every country on the map!

Then there’s Nishu Hassim, who grew up in a home where love equals feeding people and chocolate was a staple. Much heartbreak was healed with a tub of mint chocolate chip ice-cream eaten in a single setting. Then there was the all-you-can eat pizza challenges where no boy would dare break her record of 17 slices! But not only did she eat, she also wrote. With a skill honed by Methodist College and subsequent stints in the print media this “Foodie” was gifted with an overactive imagination and the ability to convert thoughts in to words.

If you were to ask Sanura what he first liked about Nishu, he would tell you that it was her “Chocolate Biscuit Pudding”. To-date he claims he is still to come across a better one! Together they began their food adventure in a simple way of going out and trying all the new places that seemed to be popping up in Colombo on a daily basis. Before they knew it there little “private” dates now had a few added “wheels” who also wanted to tag along and try out the new place in town. Eventually the group began to grow, so much so that a few places actually refused to let them in!

“I love food and it was great to have found someone who was equally capable and not afraid to try new things in Nishu. So after church or young adult’s meetings we would pick random places to go and eat. We would post pictures on Facebook and stuff, and realized that eventually people wanted to come along with us. There’s nothing more fun than trying out food in a group and soon enough our little group became quite a big one”, says Sanura of how it all started.

Eventually the couple created a WhatsApp group which would allow them to tell friends who were now followers about new restaurants, great deals and food promotions that were happening. Running a successful Public Relations company together, they soon realized that there work also revolved around a lot of food as their clientele included many hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafés and FMCG clients.

“There were days that I would write an article about a new menu for one restaurant, go interview a chef from another hotel, and come back and disseminate a press release on a food promotion. Our lives were so full of food that even my desktop images were of food!” laughs Nishu.

It was during this time that Sanura also got involved in the Colombo Food Festival partnering with the organizers of the street food carnival at the Vihara Maha Devi Amphitheatre. Putting their collective experience of eating and writing together they formed “Foodies Sri Lanka” in mid-2016.

“We realized that there was so much of demand for food in Colombo specifically and despite being spoilt for choice, people are most often clueless about where to go and what to eat. What we want to do with Foodies is give people an option of sharing our experience and helping them decide. We came up with a rating scheme based on international food blogging sites and also look in to things that matter to people like if a restaurant is family friendly and has toddler seating for instance. So it’s not all about the food but more about the experience”, says Sanura.

Nishu adds, “By no means have we copied anyone and we’ve had our share of naysayers as well who’ve told us we’re unprofessional to take our kids for reviews etc, but at the end of the day 3000+ GENUINE fans on Facebook and 1,000+ followers on Instagram tell us that we’ve got something good going. The difference is that Foodies is not a business for us and we do it out of pure passion for food”.

Today, the Foodies Sri Lanka team has grown to include a bunch of “foodies” who love what they do as much as they love what they eat. Establishments around Colombo are visited, reviewed (check for the Foodies sticker the next time you visit an outlet), and then rated on Facebook and Instagram.

“#FoodiesSL is now a brand that everyone identifies with. We’ve gotten involved in street food promotions like EAT St. CMB and we go beyond just a review by doing video reviews at launches, unique food photography and so much more”, says Suren Nimalan, the resident food photographer at Foodies who also happens to be the team’s personal trainer and nutritionist ensuring that all that food doesn’t make them fat!

With increasing demand for more and more food related content, Foodies Sri Lanka will launch their website in the near future. Find and follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on the latest food happenings in Sri Lanka and around the world.

A Place with Many Stories

What does renowned inventor Nikola Tesla, Ceylon Tea, an expensive coffee machine and giant croissants have in common? The answer lies at Colombo’s latest restaurant cum café and tea lounge, Almonds Exclusive. The restaurant itself was surreptitiously open for a few weeks with no signage and much to the curiosity of city-dwellers. However, a few weeks ago they officially opened, with name and all.

So let’s start there, with the name. Almonds happen to be one of the owner’s favourite ingredients and the “exclusive” part gets added on simply because that’s how the restaurant would like to treat each guest who walks in through their doors. For starters Almonds Exclusive opens at 7am and is one of the only establishments open till the wee hours of the morning. Their reasoning is that people can get hungry at any time of day (or night!), and need a cozy, comfortable and affordable place to grab a bite. We totally endorse!

The main idea at Almonds is to provide a 5-star setting, with luxurious service, and lavish food, all at affordable pricing. The ambiance inside and the various seating options is just amazing and each area is targeted at a different segment. The café at the entrance serves up coffee shop wares in terms of pastries, croissants and of course coffee. Unlike other coffee houses, the beans used at Almonds are all grown and sourced locally, and a super-expensive coffee machine (the only one in Asia they tell us) is used to brew it. This machine is so high-tech that once it identifies your brew consistency and the works, it stores it for later use. Even if you visit years later, the machine will remember exactly how you like your coffee. Fancy!

The bottom floor dining is more for groups of friends or work-mates who catch up for lunch or a snack after work. There is a smoking lounge for those who wish to sit outdoors. The upper deck is also divided in to three sections. One area is reserved for families who want to enjoy a quiet meal but it was the other two that have “exclusive stories”. Above the seating area is a mural depicting two female tea pluckers, a familiar site in the hills of Sri Lanka. What makes it amazing is the fact that this image is not painted on. Instead a local artist spent countless hours painstakingly pasting actual tea leaves to bring the image to life. The deck area which has couches and sofa swings is dedicated to the memory of Nikola Tesla, the man who was robbed of the glory of being the inventor behind most of our modern conveniences. The idea here is to allow young dreamers like Tesla to come work their dreams in to reality while sipping on their favourite drink or tucking in to some comfort food.

To experience all this and more, we dropped in for lunch and tried quite a few things from their cross cultural menu. The drinks though on the pricey side, are rather large and justifiable for the price you pay. We tried a mint, lime and orange concoction, a Melon Breeze and a traditional lime juice. The Melon Breeze was by far the best of the three though the priciest at 590 rupees.


A Chicken Caesar Salad, Minestrone Soup and Sweet Corn Egg Drop Soup were our starter choices. The salad portion was shareable and contained a good mix of Iceberg Lettuce, Tomatoes, Eggs, Chicken Chunks and Croutons. Of the two soups the Minestrone was definitely the better one with a thick beef broth and lots of vegetables to balance a very healthy meal. A freshly baked bread basket went well with the soups too, as it was soft and warm rolls with lots of butter melting off them.

For mains we ordered a Mexican Chicken Croissant, Arabic Chicken with Saffron Rice and as recommended by our waiter an Almonds Mixed Grill. The Saffron Rice was just brilliant with the right balance of flavours. Although the chicken was done to perfection we did notice that it lacked the “Arabic” flavour in it which we attribute to the right spices not being used. To say the very least the croissant was massive and came packed with tons of chicken, jalapenos, peppers and spicy mayonnaise. At just 790 rupees this is a fantastic meal and is a must-try. The mixed grill though not as large as mixed grills we’ve seen elsewhere in terms of the meat portions has beef, lamb, chicken, sausage, a healthy portion of mashed potatoes and a good mix of seasonable vegetables. Kudos to the chefs who use only local produce, locally sourced meats and only virgin coconut oil to prepare the food. Unless the waiter had not particularly told us this we wouldn’t have noticed a taste difference in the food which you tend to do when coconut oil is used.

We were so satisfied with the food that we wanted to opt out of dessert but on the insistence of our friendly waiter again tried an Avocado Cake and Date Cake. We actually wanted to try their signature Durian Cheesecake but unfortunately it was not available. The fact that however, one can take a fruit like an avocado and make a super delicious sponge cake with it was just awesome. The highlights of our desserts were though the warm date cake served with jaggery syrup and almonds on top (no surprise there!). That was the best way to finish a hearty meal or so we thought until they also insist that you try their Sri Lankanized version of an Affogato. This strong coffee served with an ice-cream flavour of your choice is not for everyone though. We tried it with Vanilla and it was still too strong for us but they do dare you to even try yours with a dash of Tobasco. We will leave that for the next time when we haven’t eaten so much and give us your rating instead…

Location **** (Conveniently located with ample parking!)
Ambiance ***** (Everything just done right!)
Service **** (Superb service!)
Food ***** (Completely endorse the use of local produce and the food is done so well!)
Overall **** ½

Reviewed by #FoodiesSL

Address: 313 Galle Road, Colombo 03.
Tel: 0112 372382

Sumitra Peries: A woman’s world

Gentle, suave, reassuring, and calm, Sumitra Peries is the almost perfect embodiment of the women she’s depicted onscreen, from her first film, Gehenu Lamayi, to her lastest, Vaishnavee. ESTEEM caught up with her to delve into her past lives as not just a director, but also ambassador, editor, voyager, and chess player. She is arguably the world’s oldest living active filmmaker, on par with the world’s oldest living filmmaker, who happens to be her husband, Lester.

To start this sketch off, could you recount some of your earliest experiences?

Although we hail from Boralugoda as a family, I was born in and my mother’s side of the family came from Payagala. I was conceived in a dark, vaguely unlit room in our house, referred to as a thimbirigeya. My earliest memories involve my mother, who ran a distillery, and my father, who was far too impractical and kind-hearted to take to running a business at all. (He had studied law, but his heart had always been in the far less practical field of history.) It was actually a kind of bilingual world I was made an heir to; my mother and father could wield both English and Sinhala, and my mother, like most women from her station in life, used to play tennis with the wives of the local doctors and lawyers at the Avissawella Courts. She had a kidney problem.

While my elder brother Kuru was sent to the Musaeus College Hostel at the age of five, and my younger sister was sent to the Visakha Vidyalaya Hostel at the age of six or seven, I was kept at home and homeschooled. I would have been six or seven when I saw a school for the first time; not in Colombo, but at St Mary’s College, Avissawella. That was quite a school. It wasn’t an elitist institution, if you know what I mean. We had children of estate plantations and children of rich families all congregating in the class. It had a strict principal who wielded the cane, which more or less was a great leveller. The social milieu we were exposed to in the classroom, moreover, was equivalent to the social milieu we were exposed to at home.

Did this milieu you speak of awaken any political sympathies in you?

Perhaps. Perhaps not. All I remember is that it was a great leveller, as it had been at St Mary’s College. I would have accepted at that early age that there were people of different shades in the world we lived in, of different castes, religions, social backdrops, etc. Going to school was a natural way of coming to terms with a very natural fact of life. I would play with village children, games like kon pittu and sand castles. A little stream passed by our house. I remember trying to catch little thiththayas and fish and all that from there and being chided by my elders for so doing. Then there were what we called bovitiya in the garden, because we had a fairly extensive garden. Rich or poor, haves or have-nots, our friends came with us.

As for my political sympathies, well I was a little girl when I first came across and talked with “Uncle Philip” as we called him: Philip Gunawardena, who would soon be put in jail by the colonial government for his agitation for independence during the Second World War. My father, whose sympathies were more or less aligned with his, had contested the area in 1931 (even before I was born) against the incumbent, Forrester Obeyesekere, missing what would have been a promising journey to the State Council by a mere 300 votes. Uncle Philip and even N. M. Perera would bring busloads of people to our house, and my family would serve them. It’s ridiculous to think that such childhood experiences can substantively affect one’s political inclinations as an adult, but they would have had a say for sure.

I wasn’t exactly brought up in an elitist background. We didn’t have the kind of luxuries people from our backdrop usually had in Colombo: no electricity, no drainage, and no bidet showers. We lived in a basic, almost primeval, home. It had a locked up well and a toilet outside, which we used to wash with buckets since we didn’t have a proper running water system either. So no, we didn’t live in a very well brought up, fashionable family; we lived a most ordinary life in Payagala.

We know what happens next, but could you offer a summary?

Well one thing led to another and I ended up at Visakha Vidyalaya. I was quite a headstrong girl there; the teachers at one point said, “You can’t remember your Buddhist gathas and sermons, but if we asked you to recite LSSP propaganda, you’d easily do so!” In fact my years at Visakha deserve an entire chapter, if not story, to themselves, particularly since it was there that I was “educated”, so to speak, before being let loose in the world. From Visakha, even before I completed my tenure as a student there, I went to Aquinas College to do my London A Levels.

It was around that point that my mother passed away. My brother Kuru, who was so devastated by it, left for France. Just like that. I followed him on a P&O Liner: an arduous but enjoyable journey, to be sure. When I left for France, and later when I returned, aboard that Liner, I would resort to playing chess with my friends.

I found Kuru with a couple of his friends, French and American. We had quite a time in Europe, enough to fill a Hollywood scrapbook. Again, one thing led to another and soon enough I was boarded in an apartment with a nice but rather dominating old lady and studying French at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

From Switzerland I left to Paris; in Paris I was taken to the Ambassador, Vernon Mendis, and his wife, Paddy, the latter of whom was a relative of mine; in Paris I also met Lester, my future husband, who happened to be a relative of Vernon; and from Paris, after seeing his Rekava and understanding that the cinema was my field, I left to London, where for some time I studied subtitling under May Harris in Brixton, and where I met Lindsay Anderson, who would become a family friend.

How did your other roles in life unfold thereafter?

I started out as an Assistant Director to Lester, whom I hadn’t married at the time, aboard Sandeshaya. Afterwards I got to be his Editor, from Gamperaliya to Ahasin Polawata and spanning some 15 years. I came from a technical background. Then I moved on to directing, as we all know, with Gehenu Lamayi. Then I moved into Paris as an Ambassador. Later I became a lecturer, though I don’t lecture anymore.

Lester and I are quite close. Always were, always will be. It was a meeting of two intricate sensibilities, from that chance encounter in Paris. He was the person who advised me to go to London; in a way, his destiny has been mine as well. So as far as my story goes, and my other roles, they all amount to one man, one destiny.

Written by Uditha Devapriya

All About LOVI

Sitting down with Asanka De Mel, the CEO of LOVI Sarongs, was — as clichéd as it sounds —inspirational. Sri Lanka is at an era of rampant globalization, and everything about it is evolving at a fast and hectic pace. We see the proverbial question — Is culture dying? — cropping up most of the time, and the answer to that is that culture is morphing and changing into something different yet also quite familiar. That’s an interesting proposition, don’t you think? When I first came across LOVI Sarongs, it was on some publication or the other; the male model looking stunning, sharp, and yet quite unrealistic in a very debonair setting. That’s not a possibility, right? I mean wearing sarongs to some function in the evening while everyone else is dressed up in an evening dress, and suit and tie — it seems not done. Such mistrust from a person who sleeps in a sarong, wakes up in a sarong, and goes about such normal household chores in a sarong.

Yet certainly such mistrust is not something that Colombo’s well-loved celebrities — think Danu Innasithamby; Tiesh’s Ayesh De Fonseka; and international finance lawyer Aritha Wickramasinghe — share. As of today, LOVI Sarongs are shipped worldwide, and are making inroads onto the global stage. However, it needs to be mentioned that this is one brand that certainly does have a large and potent vision attached to it. It was captivating to watch Asanka detail how the creation of LOVI Sarongs was more of an attempt to help evolve Sri Lankan culture. In his words — the sarong needed an update; and it certainly has got a veritable update. What was regarded by younger Generation X’ers as something that Apachchi wore is now accepted by millennials as comfortable, cool, fashionable, and allows freedom of movement.

In fact, Asanka went onto state that they do have a customer base that are made up of preteens. With his desire to cater to those who consider themselves global citizens, it probably was a prognostication that their very first sale, 18 months ago, was for a customer in Britain. With retail sales spanning well over 25 countries, LOVI Sarongs has its presence in 5 boutique stores in Colombo. With over two decades spent in the grueling and unforgiving world of Silicon Valley, Asanka taps into his previous reincarnation of a detail-oriented and tech-savvy savant to design and craft a canvas of culture for future generations.

He smiles as he took me on a journey into the history of the sarong, and why he is a fan of such a functional and humble piece of clothing. Think about it, he says, the sarong is something that is worn by people in Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even by those who live in some countries of Africa. But what is required at present is innovation; Asanka is very focused in his belief that LOVI Sarongs is an exploration of what the Sri Lankan identity should be in the future. While all of this may indeed seem rather philosophical, the fact is that the sarong in its past form seemed rather impractical for today’s modish lifestyle. This is why soft, suave, and detail-oriented materials festooned with pockets and belts have brought sarongs into the limelight today.

With a nod towards the team behind LOVI Sarongs, which Asanka describes as a talented bunch of hardworking individuals who are passionate craftsmen in their own right, he speaks of how they are all taken up with the joy of good clothing. With 8 years spent in New York City, Asanka was exposed to a vast portfolio of fashions that transcend culture, functionality, and also diverse trends. Fashion is an entity that is relevant to the zeitgeist of this current era; the mission of LOVI Sarongs is to define the Sri Lankan look for the future.

Forever a lifelong learner, and an avid reader, this charismatic aficionado of fashion tells me of a Jean de La Fontaine quote, which sums up his life quite simply: A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. And while he says he’s been working on the whole concept for LOVI Sarongs for ‘a week and my whole life’, it certainly shows that hard work is finally a very rewarding thing. Heartened by what he says are the various risks people in Sri Lanka are taking for entrepreneurial pursuits, he acknowledges that everyone has a different risk profile, and that nothing worth doing is very easy.

Dismissing the whole concept of failure as an opportunity to learn, the somewhat quiet and reserved founder of LOVI Sarongs, dare I say it, is certainly becoming a cultural and fashion protagonist that is shaking up the status quo on a global stage. Having just arrived from Paris where LOVI Sarongs has piqued the interest of those residing in the capital of fashion, it certainly seems that for Asanka success is just a sarong away.

LOVI Sarongs can be purchased from Rs. 5,500 to Rs.9,500 at The Design Collective.

For more information, please visit lovisarongs.com

Written by Rohitha Perera

To Relax and Unwind

 

Most of the world has come to know the small coastal town of Mirissa as one of the best whale watching destinations in the paradise isle. So much so that the area is now inundated with boutique hotels, resorts and home-stays. With its close proximity to both Galle and Matara, Mirissa is also the ideal spot for a family holiday. A few months ago, the town opened doors to its latest addition of boutique hotels in the form of “Triple O Six”.

That’s a funny name for a boutique hotel you may say. We thought so too, until the owner Prinith Manamperi revealed to us the story behind it. Prinith is an ardent 4×4 off road racer and his prized possession is his defender. The boutique hotel which is now his “second love” is named after the vehicle registration number.

Situated on the main Galle-Matara road, the large sign (illuminated at night) is hard to miss. With true Southern hospitality all guests are greeted to a seasonal fruit punch upon arrival. The lobby lounge where you wait while your room is prepared is a culmination of old Sri Lankan artifacts. The walls are adorned with miniature masks from nearby Ambalangoda, coconut shell spoons and ladles, ancient drawings and even a few “haramitiyas” (walking sticks).

 

The luxurious boutique hotel comprises 21 rooms which are elegantly and contemporarily designed and coupled with the necessities for a comfortable and relaxed stay. All the rooms have floor to ceiling windows with a majestic view of the pool and partial view of the ocean. The room itself gives off an air of comfort with the colour palette focusing on earthy tones and hues that match the ocean and pool below. For those who want only to relax, you may not want to leave your room once you’ve gotten yourself tucked under the blankets. For all those lazy-bones, the rooms at Triple O’ Six are equipped with cable TV that will keep you occupied for hours on end.

For those who prefer to take a closer view of the ocean, the beach is just a short walk away and whale watching, snorkeling and diving is easily accessible. Make sure to do your research before selecting an expedition partner though as there are many of them mushrooming in the area. The best would be to ask the more than helpful staff at the reception who can even arrange for “tuk tuks” at reasonable rates should you wish to take a short ride out.

 

Nothing is more refreshing after a sea bath or whale watching expedition than a dip in the pool, and Triple O’ Six has a nice little one in the garden to enjoy. It’s also a great way to keep the kids occupied while you relax on the pool deck catching some rays and getting a tan. The soft breeze that blows across the street from the ocean makes it ideal at any time of day (or night!) to catch up on some reading, day dream or watch the stars.

 

All of the activity is sure to work up quite an appetite and Triple O’ Six is happy to oblige at any given time with the largest portions of food we are yet to come across. Meals are served in a spacious restaurant by the pool. Guests can also choose to sit outdoors overlooking the busy street. The menu at Triple O’ Six serves up traditional ware cooked to perfection with homegrown ingredients from the locality, while also includes international favourites from around the world. Some of our all-time favourites off their menu was the “Bacon Wrapped” (pineapple, banana, sausages, wrapped with bacon and pan-fried served with jiggery sauce). Anything that combines bacon and pineapple we love but to have sausages and the most unlikely bananas added to it makes it so much more exciting. If you are soup-lover then the Mushroom Cappuccino and the Tarragon-flavoured Roasted Cream of Tomato is simply awesome. Served with warm, melt-in-your mouth garlic bread this is a complete meal in itself. If you do have room for mains then we highly recommend their HBC (arguably better than most we’ve tried in Colombo), and a portion with proper-sized pieces served with jasmine rice, or the Grilled Pork Chop with Pineapple Couli (we clearly love this combination!). If you are craving traditional rice and curry then Black Pepper Crab with the best seasonal vegetable curries is the bomb!

There are many places around the coast of Sri Lanka that just calls on travellers from around the world to relax and unwind. Triple O’ Six not just calls you once, but echoes in your memory wanting you to come back for more over and over again.

 

Information

Triple “O” Six

Mirissa, Sri Lanka.

Email: info@tripleosix.com

Website: www.tripleosix.com

 

By Nishu Hassim

Photo Credit: Sanura Gunawardana

Stretching Boundaries in Health and Fitness

We turn our spotlight on Dumindha and Anuruddha Meddegoda and Migara de Silva, who founded ‘The Movement’, which is located at Colombo 7 and is built around circuit-based weight lifting, cardio interval training, customized meal planning and continuous app based progress tracking. These three young men, who are lean, mean and fighting fit machines sculpt better figures for their clients in an inclusive and fun atmosphere where you’re certain to stay motivated, meet new fitness friends and best of all, consistently stick to a workout routine.

 

EM: Tell us in brief about yourselves.

Migara: I’m a Barrister and I studied Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science. I was called to the Bar of England as a member of the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn.

Dumindha: I studied Civil Engineering at Imperial College London and I’m currently employed at MAS Capital, in the Corporate Finance, Treasury and Strategy Division.

Anuruddha: I studied for a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Mathematics and Statistics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

EM: What prompted your decision to start The Movement? Have you always been active?

All: We all played sports in school, but only started training at the gym when we were 18. Unfortunately when we started out, we had no clue as to what we were doing! Information wasn’t nearly as widely available as it is now, so we didn’t see progress for years. But after years of trial and error and doing our own research, we started to see results. Ever since then, our passion for fitness and nutrition has meant tonnes of reading up and watching videos on workout techniques and the science behind nutrition. The three of us always spoke about the idea of starting our own business together and we knew it had to be something that we were very passionate about. Because of other work commitments, we were always ‘too busy’ to get something going. But last August, we decided to just start, somewhere. So we harnessed our collective passion and experience for working out to create a unique workout space in Colombo.

 

EM: What does the training routine at The Movement consist of?

All: We realize that most people with their hectic work schedules face a time crunch (no pun intended!). The workouts at The Movement are ideal for people who are short on time but still committed to getting fitter and leaner. Our workouts are circuit-based weight training classes which incorporate various forms of cardio as well.

In a typical workout, we would do a variety of lower body movements (e.g. squats), upper body movement (e.g. shoulder presses), cardio intervals on the spin bike and throw in some ab workouts!

In terms of equipment, we use dumbbells, barbells, spin bikes, resistance bands, medicine balls and your own bodyweight of course! Free weights are always the most effective form of weight training for burning calories; machines are great, but a person will tend to burn a lot less calories on machines because you’re usually seated and the stabilization portion of the exercise is done for you. Every class lasts for 1 hour, which includes warm up and stretches.

EM: How have your clients influenced you with regard to your own health and fitness?

All: Before we started The Movement, the most motivating thing for us would be when someone approached us asking for advice on training or diet. Now that we actually train clients, this motivation is there for us daily! We find our clients surprising and inspiring in equal parts a lot of time. Some of them have made more progress than we would have thought possible and have put in so much more effort than expected. Our workouts are challenging and intense, and seeing how many clients have improved gives us so much satisfaction.

 

EM: How do you motivate yourself to stay consistent with your fitness and strive to assist others with theirs? Have there been times you wanted to give up…if so, what who kept you going?

Migara: I did give up for a while, when I was studying for my Bar as it was too hard to balance with work and studies, and the cold made it so demotivating to train in England. My overall confidence, appearance and general health suffered, so I won’t go back there. For me, looking good (by my own definition) is a big part of how I feel about myself, and because my own happiness is at stake it is easy to keep motivated.

Dumindha: Balancing work and fitness has been a challenge for the past 9 years, ever since I started lifting weights! At MAS, we often have to work long hours, but if I have extra work, I’ll make sure to get my workout in (the gym closes at 9) and then finish off my work at home. Sometimes you just have to put in the work and sacrifice a bit of sleep! Of course there are weeks when I lack the motivation to train but then I think about the instances that people have approached me asking for advice on training, etc. and that itself motivates me to keep pushing. Knowing that I’ve motivated others to train is a pretty powerful tool.

Anuruddha: I wanted to give up on working out a few years back when I could no longer see any improvement or results. What motivated me to push harder with my training and diet and not give up on working out were the dozens of fitness articles I read and YouTube videos I watched of people in the fitness industry explaining that anything is possible if you try hard enough and put effort in, whether it’s in the gym or at home in the kitchen.

EM: Do you eat clean and let yourself have cheat days?

Migara: At the moment I do not eat clean or control my diet at all because I am trying to gain weight/bulk. I have a very fast metabolism so if I want to gain some more muscle I have to literally eat anything I feel like. I have set myself a weight target and when I reach that I will start controlling my diet again. I think cheat days and satisfying your cravings is important. You don’t have to starve yourself or even give up anything if you train hard and watch your meal timings.

Dumindha: I’m quite happy with where my weight is at the moment, not really trying to gain or lose weight. Since I’m at this maintenance stage, my daily calorie intake is at a level which allows me to maintain my current weight. I keep my daily protein intake high (around 180g); the rest of my calories are split between carbohydrates and fats. This means that I have room to have a few high-carb meals throughout the week, but I still have to choose between that cheesecake and chocolate ice cream; you can’t have both!

Anuruddha: I’m very flexible with my diet. I give myself plenty of cheat days because for me eating grilled chicken breast with broccoli and steamed rice 3 times a day is not sustainable. I eat a ton of Sri Lankan food and I’ll make sure I satisfy my sweet cravings regularly. When I’m cutting back, I’ll regulate my intake of sugary foods and cheat meals a bit more.

 

EM: Do you believe in supplements?

All: We tell everyone this. Supplements are just that: supplementary to your diet – diet is key! You can’t out train or out supplement an unsuitable diet for your body type and level of activity. Having said that, supplements do have their place in a meal plan if you are training hard; for people like us it is difficult to get all the protein we need daily from solid food alone, so taking a whey protein supplement helps and is convenient. Other supplements like fish oil and multivitamins are also beneficial to overall health. But there is no use in supplementing unless you have everything else in order and are educated on the topic. There are so many common misconceptions about supplements.

 

EM: What advice would you give to anyone who wants to transition their life towards a more healthy and fit lifestyle, but don’t know where to start?

All: Honestly it really doesn’t matter where you start, be it with us, a personal trainer or even just going for a walk at Independence Square. Just start. Once you do, seeing results consistency is easy. Just keep going till you get to that point. And try different things to figure out what kind of work out is fun for you. If you dont enjoy it, you won’t keep doing it. Consistency is king. Once you start seeing results, that’s all the motivation you will need to stick with your workout routine.

Also, we don’t advise anyone to do crash diets or crash course workouts to try and drop drastic amounts of weight in a short period of time. Because it’s not healthy or sustainable; you don’t want to sacrifice all the foods you love and then rebound badly after that! Creating a healthier lifestyle is about finding a workout routine and diet that you can sustain for the next few years (not weeks)!

 

EM: What are your future plans and goals for The Movement?

All: We would like to grow The Movement, to offer more classes a week and work with more people so that we can make Colombo a fitter and healthier place! Other than fitness classes, we would also like to explore other options in health food and clean eating.

 

By Michelle Alles

Amilani Perera: A Sophisticated, Yet Ethical Approach to Design

I was so excited to interview Amilani Perera that, on the day, I arrived at The Design Collective 30 minutes earlier than the allotted time and who can blame me? Amilani, with her renowned, self-titled brand and ethereally beautiful creations, has made a name for herself in Sri Lankan fashion since her launch at Colombo Fashion Week in 2013. After her recent achievement showcasing her collections in New York this year, Amilani’s label is all set to go places with an ethical take on her garments as well.

Amilani, why did you choose fashion design as a career?

I know this sounds cliché, but ever since I was 14, I always wanted to become a fashion designer. My parents thought I was going through a teenage phase when I’d cut my jeans and redesign my other clothes; they assumed I’d grow out it. Since my family comes from a very academic background, my mother being a doctor and my father an engineer, fashion design was nowhere close to what they wanted as my future career. When I told my family that I wanted to do Art for my A/Ls, they were quite surprised because even the neighbours had told my mum that they felt I should do Science (even neighbours get involved in education sometimes!). My parents were initially wary and my father agreed to invest in me studying Art as a hobby because he wanted me do to a ‘proper job’. However, I was adamant because of my love for drawing and painting; I really have to take my hat off to my parents for trusting me and eventually allowing me to follow my chosen educational path. On my mother’s advice, I studied Statistics, Economics and Business Studies simply because the knowledge was vital for running a business and this did help me tremendously as time went on.

I got a scholarship to LASALLE College and finished a four year course in three; I got a one year exemption because of my A/L results. As soon as I returned to Sri Lanka, like all budding, naïve and bright-eyed designers, I wanted to start my own brand! My parents sat me down and advised me (again!) that having an industrial background might be a good idea since most professional designers here have such exposure which gives them stability. I submitted my CV to MAS and I laugh now as I recall the interview because I told them that I will only be working there for 2 years, whereas I ended up staying for almost 5 years! I thoroughly enjoyed my time at amanté, gaining the much-needed industrial background and I loved the feeling of seeing my work was selling well which was immensely satisfying. When I started my MBA however, my old dream of having my own brand surfaced which lead to launching my label at Colombo Fashion Week in 2013. Things were going really well so I quit MAS, which wasn’t easy because they were family to me and had been really supportive in helping me build up my label. Soon after, I got the opportunity of working as a consultant for the Brand ‘Hanes’ in India under Arvind Lifestyle Brands(Bangalore) and I also launched Atelier Amilani Perera at Colombo 5 for custom bridals and wedding attire and my high-end pieces retail at The Design Collective.

What are the achievements you’re proud of?

In such a competitive industry, I’m happy that I’ve been able to sustain my brand; the effort put in has been tremendous. The most satisfying and empowering aspect of it is seeing how it has grown from a 14 year old kid’s dream into the success that it is today. I’m also proud of the fact that so far, I’ve been the only designer to showcase at Asian Designer Week last year, and this year in June I showcased at US Lanka Fashion Week in New York which is quite a milestone for me!

What are the challenges you’ve faced so far?

It’s not always easy to find excellent and reliable craftsmanship sometimes which is extremely surprising considering the country we live in! People would rather work a desk job than do hand embroidery or beading on a garment; they look down upon such work, which is rather absurd, considering that some of them are so talented.

A bigger challenge however, lies before me and that is in the form of a giant, centuries-old misconception that fabrics like pure silk, pure leather and such are to be prized above fabric blends. Personally, I prefer to work with vegan textiles, mainly focusing on organic cotton, linens and poly blend fabrics which feel good on the skin, are ethical and breathable and even my batiks are based on a cotton poly mixed fabric. I feel that the global fashion industry is still rather barbaric in their approach to fabric choices. We have found ways of going green and ethical in other aspects, but when it comes to fashion, people still demand pure silk, pure leather, real fur, python skin, etc. and most of us either don’t understand the process behind it or don’t stop to think how animals are tortured just so that we can wear something we perceive as high fashion. The uglier side of it is still swept under the carpet and more of us need to look beyond these norms and promote ethical fabrics in fashion and with today’s technology, it’s not impossible. Perceptions are changing but I feel that much more effort can be made and I believe at some point in time, my voice and other similar voices which are speaking out against these norms will be heard and I intend to keep doing what I can to make a change that will benefit not only us but our environment as well.

 

If you could live a day in the life of another person, who would you choose and why?

Beyond a doubt, my late mother Dr Chandralatha Perera, a General Physician at the National Hospital. She’s an amazing lady and I wish I could be half the woman she is. She’s not with me anymore as we lost her to a very rare disease and looking back even now, I don’t know how she managed to carry on with her work. She was a very determined lady who never gave up. I inherited my drawing skills from her and I am so thankful for her and all her love, advice and guidance.

 

What inspires your collections?

I am mostly inspired by animals because I am fascinated by their movements, behaviours and their texture. My last Autumn/Winter collection was on the Tusker and for CFW SS18 it was based on coral reefs. Everything revolves around what I do, even what I dream about!

 

Tell us something about yourself that everyone else doesn’t know.

I sometimes have those “I have nothing to wear” moments, which is quite ironic considering what I do for a living and my husband is like “You’re kidding right?” and has a good laugh over it!

 

Where do you see your label going next?

I want to see it growing internationally and plans for that are in the pipeline, so I won’t reveal too much right now.

 

How would you benchmark the Sri Lankan fashion industry globally?

With some of our designers showcasing at the London or New York Fashion Weeks, it’s clear to see that we have arrived at the place where we want to be. We have made our mark and now it’s about sustaining that quality. It’s amazing how much the industry has grown over the past decade; people know us and our designs and admire what we do. We’ve shown our identity; now it’s about keeping the ball rolling and having the rest of the world feeling the same adrenaline rush that we do when we hear that any of the other international fashion weeks are around the corner.

 

Credits:

Clothing: Amilani Perera (www.amilaniperera.com)

Collection available at: The Design Collective; Colombo

Photography: Reshan Hangiligedara at Ceylon Creative Studios

Models: Deborah Witkind, Yari Marcano, Alexis Gutierrez, Yohenny Sanchaz, Ana Solano & Michelle O’Bourke

Hair: Romesh Atapattu

Make up: Sujee Pathirana

USA Sri Lanka fashion week Producer: Chitral De Mel

 

By Michelle Alles

From a Different Point of View

 

Dhanush De Costa was not the boy next door. He was actually the boy in the opposite lane. As a group of friends we grew up together, with big dreams of who we wanted to be when we grew up. Born in to a family running a successful photography business, we kind of knew where Dhanush and his younger brother Anush would end up. What we didn’t know however was that he would eventually revolutionize how, why, and when people immortalize their memories.

 

Today, Dhanush is one of the most sought after photographers not only in Sri Lanka but globally as well. What differentiates him from the plethora of other photographers in the market is his distinct ability to capture the most precious moments that you don’t really pose for. What started off as wedding photography and an award-winning dabble with wildlife photography though has today evolved in to a budding “lifestyle” with The FotoCube.

No more do we see Dhanush and his team only capturing some of the most breathtaking weddings that are truly fairytale worthy. Instead we also see him documenting through pictures the most precious of life experiences on this journey. From the moment a pregnancy is announced to the changes that take place in a woman’s body and the love that grows in a father’s heart even before he first holds his newborn in his arms is all captured in image format through BabyCube. Once the baby does come along begins another journey of the family milestones. Add to that a few candid moments of the all-important member of the family (the pets!) through PetCube and the result is a picture wall that tells more than just a story.

Generally a man who speaks more through his pictures, we got Dhanush to tell us in his own words about the life of a photographer.

 

What is your definition of “photography”?

I feel it’s the act of capturing a moment and helping to preserve this moment. These moments are precious to those who experience them and by capturing them we enable our clients to treasure them for generations to come. It also helps some to relive something special over and over again.

 

Is it the technology or the eye that makes a great photograph?

I think it’s a little bit of both as without a balance of the two a capture will not really have that unique aspect to it.

Are photographers born or made?

Again I think a little bit of both. Personally I feel they are born though! Most of what I do today is traits that I have learnt from my dad and also picked up on the way through years of shooting.

 

Was the family business something you always wanted to get in to? Or was it an accidental occurrence?

Even though dad is in wedding photography, after working in an advertising firm under several creative directors I gained a lot of insight into aspects which went beyond photography. This gave me that initiative to start my own company.

 

You started building a brand at a time when photography was not considered a lucrative career. How has the journey been so far?

At the start there were not a lot of variety and risk takers in the industry. With time the trends have changed and hence increase in competition and different styles of shooting have erupted.

 

How did the idea for “BabyCube” and “PetCube” come about? 

Rasha joining the company, and her experience as a parent and background in veterinary medicine helped start up these two areas. Both have just taken off to new heights even internationally.

What would you say differentiates you from other photographers in the market?

I feel there is a need to provide a personalized service to a client and feel this is what makes us different from the rest. We are not just your wedding photographer. The journey with our clients hasn’t ended there for us. From capturing the start of their lives together we have been with them through the start of their families, and helped capture the moments most precious to them and all their loved ones. The quality, commitment and service have been a constant no matter the occasion. In a nutshell, we’ve made more lifelong friends than clients and that is what matters to us the most.

 

What are your favourite shoots? Weddings, babies or pets?

All of the above and so much more.

 

Do you consider yourself a celebrity photographer?

No, hence why I do not publicize my name or face but rather let the company speak for the work we do.

 

Box Information

Telephone: (O): +94 11 7205151 (M): +94 77 7880224

Email: inbox@thefotocube.com

 

Written By Nishu Hassim

Photo Credit: The FotoCube

Unveiling the “Landmark” in Sri Lanka’s Real Estate Sector

Chairperson Neelangani Hapangama and Managing Director Eksith Hapangama with Chief Guests Isura Devapriya, Chief Minister of the Western Province and Dr.Nalin Jayasuriya, Chairman of McQuire Rens & Jones Group

Colombo, Tuesday 29th August 2017: The highly lucrative real estate development industry in Sri Lanka today had a new player added to its portfolio with the launch of Landmark Developers Holding (Pvt) Ltd. The launch was held under the patronage of Chief Guests Isura Devapriya, Chief Minister of the Western Province, Dr.Nalin Jayasuriya, Chairman of McQuire Rens & Jones Group, and Guests of Honour Pandu Bandaranayake, Chairman of the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute at “The Stables” Park Street Mews.

Speaking at the launch Managing Director of Landmark Developers Eksith Hanpangama said, “Sri Lankan real estate has come a long way to become one of the fastest growing markets in the region. With the facelift to urban infrastructure, Colombo in particular is becoming an attractive city for both local and foreign investors. Subsequently, to match this demand, the growing population with its increasing income levels are constantly seeking upgrades and for a better quality of life.”

Managing Director Eksith Hapangama lighting the traditional oil lamp

Founded in early 2017, Landmark’s vision is to become the leader in Sri Lankan sustainable real estate solutions with a global presence. A family affair, their efforts are headed by Chairperson Neelangani Hapangama. A textile designer by profession, Neelangani is a pioneer in designing children’s furniture and children’s toys. Her excellence and dedication to the industry has not only made her one among the leading businesswomen in the sector but also a notable figure in Australian and European markets for the past 30 years.

Managing Director Eksith Hapangama takes up after his mother in his pursuit of business after having read for both his first and second degrees in Business Administration in Australia. Hailing from the marketing industry, Eksith has always been among the younger more enthusiastic businessmen keen on innovation and changing traditional business models to adapt to the rapidly changing industries.

Distinguished guests at the launch

Landmark Developer’s vast portfolio currently includes development of apartments and commercial buildings, facility management and maintenance, legal and financial consultations, blocking and selling of land plots for residential and commercial purposes, construction of property on existing land, compact or “Nano Homes”, interior designing, feasibility reports and facilitating overseas real estate investments in countries including Australia, the USA, the United Kingdom, the UAE and Maldives.

One of Landmark Developers pioneering projects, Park Residencies was also unveiled at the gala event. Park Residencies is home to twelve luxury boutique apartments in Pagoda Road. These luxury living spaces will include a yoga studio, fully-equipped gym, pool and a café that will cater to the residents living in the property. Differentiating itself from others in the industry that promote secluded living, Landmark Developers strives to create a sense of community and family among its residents.

“We are driven by the need to provide housing for most Sri Lankans. We have seen a demand and a genuine need for housing and home-ownership in the country and the best way to start addressing this demand is by aligning our strategy to complement this growing need and building different types of living and commercial spaces for people with varying needs. Landmark Developers is keen on educating younger people who set out to buy their first home, the importance of sustainable lifestyles,” Hapangama added.

The developers strongly believe in climate change and its adverse effects. The property developer hopes to contribute positively to the environment by adopting green building practices and developing sustainable properties across the country. Within their sustainable and green strategy in mind, they hope to initiate two Nano Home projects in Nugegoda and Thalawathugoda. These luxury homes will be sold at an affordable cost and consist of facilities such as three bedrooms, back yards, solar power, plunge pool and more in a 1,400 plus square feet of space.

For more information on Landmark Developer’s extensive property development services portfolio, please call 0115 992663/4 or visit www.landmarkdevelopers.lk