By Ifham Nizam

Barista, one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent coffee brands, is on a mission to make coffee a staple in every Sri Lankan’s life, says its CEO Dilupa Pathirana.

In an interview with The Island Financial Review, Pathirana outlined the company’s plans to continue its rapid expansion, bringing the coffee culture to every city across the island.

“We want to make coffee a social, accessible beverage that fits into every part of life, said Pathirana. “Whether you’re studying, working, meeting a friend, or just relaxing, we want coffee to be there. The vision is simple – we aim to make coffee a part of everyday life in Sri Lanka.”

Barista, which has been on a remarkable growth trajectory, currently operates over 75,000 square feet of café space across Sri Lanka and is now expanding its reach beyond Colombo. With outlets popping up in cities like Kandy, Sigiriya and Kurunegala, Barista is determined to bring quality coffee to every corner of the island.

The company’s expansion is not just about serving coffee; it’s about creating a community. “We are not just selling coffee; we are offering a place for people to connect, work, and grow, Pathirana shared; “Every outlet is designed to be a community hub, where people can relax, meet, or get some work done.”

In addition to its cafes, Barista is also leading a cultural shift, helping younger Sri Lankans embrace coffee as a part of their lifestyle. Pathirana credits the company for significantly influencing coffee culture in Sri Lanka over the past several years, saying, “If you talk about coffee culture in Sri Lanka today, it wouldn’t have happened without us. We made coffee cool for young people.”

The company’s mission goes beyond just providing coffee. Barista’s franchising model ensures that each outlet is equipped with the full Barista experience—from high-quality coffee and food offerings to consistent training for staff. “We provide full support to franchisees, from design to operations, and even recruitment, said Pathirana. “Everything is designed to ensure that every Barista outlet provides a consistent, high-quality experience.”

Despite the challenges of operating in Sri Lanka’s fluctuating economy, Barista remains focused on providing affordable and accessible coffee. “Our strategy is clear—make good coffee available to everyone. By keeping prices reasonable and outlets in high-traffic areas, we ensure that our coffee is within reach of the general public.”

Looking to the future, Pathirana remains optimistic about Barista’s growth and the potential to continue building a coffee culture that resonates with people of all ages. “We’re just getting started,” he concluded. “Sri Lanka has embraced coffee, and we want to be there every step of the way.”

For Barista, CSR is not a temporary project nor something to boast about in annual reports; it is embedded in the core philosophy of the business. Pathirana emphasized that even in times of adversity, such as the negative profits in 2017-18 and the global pandemic, the company initiated impactful CSR campaigns like the “Share a Meal” initiative. The campaign, which aimed to support SOS children, was launched when the company was struggling, yet Barista managed to raise Rs. 350,000 despite the lack of profits.

Atlas, the leading learning brand in Sri Lanka, is proud to announce its outstanding achievement at the prestigious Effie Awards 2025, securing both a Gold and a Bronze award for its impactful campaign, ‘Write Fast with Atlas Max.’ The awards ceremony held recently recognised Atlas’s innovative efforts in redefining the writing experience for students and youth. This further solidifies its position as a leader in Sri Lanka’s learning landscape.

Atlas Max’s campaign excelled at the Effie Awards by winning the Gold Award in the Education and Training category for improving the learning experience with its high-performance pens. Additionally, it secured the Bronze Award in the Youth Marketing category by winning over teenagers and establishing itself as the ultimate writing companion for speed and reliability.

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Randika De Silva, Head of Marketing at Atlas Axillia Co Pvt Ltd., said, “We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition at the Effie Awards 2025. At Atlas, our commitment is to make learning fun & enjoyable for students at every stage of their learning journey, and this accolade stands as a testament to our purpose.”

Further elaborating on this prestigious achievement, Mr. Ashan Wickramasinghe, Senior Brand Manager at Atlas Axillia Co Pvt Ltd., added, “Atlas Max is a product dedicated to supporting schoolchildren by delivering innovative solutions that enhance their learning process. This award reflects our efforts to develop products that simplifies writing and helping students learn more efficiently.”

Unilever Sri Lanka inaugurated a new Foods Factory at the Lindal Industrial Processing Zone in Sapugaskanda, graced by Sunil Handunneththi, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development. The construction commenced during the economic crisis and reinforces Unilever Sri Lanka’s strategy to strengthen local manufacturing. This not only removes the pressure on forex but also offers nutritious food products to Sri Lankan households at affordable prices.

The factory will produce Unilever’s malt-based food drink brands Viva and Horlicks. These were previously imported. The facility enjoys cutting-edge technology that guarantees high-quality, sustainability as well as efficiency. It will also generate local employment in the eco-system of businesses that serve the factory.

Ali Tariq, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Sri Lanka, stated: “This investment in the country reinforces Unilever’s commitment to the Sri Lankan consumers and economic development. The brand range we will produce at the factory, will provide consumers access to nutritious products at affordable prices. Furthermore, the localization of the production will generate employment, reduce foreign currency outflow as well as create production capacity for potential exports to other markets”

Damith Abeyratne, Supply Chain Director, emphasized: ‘’This facility is evidence of our commitment to operational excellence. We are prepared to innovate, increase efficiency, and contribute to the national causes of strengthening food security, food safety, and sustainable industrial practices.

Sunil Handunneththi, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development remarked: “The investment made by Unilever Sri Lanka is a big step toward self-sufficiency in food manufacturing introducing global best practices. This facility will contribute to the Sri Lankan economy at a much-needed time by increasing local production, generating jobs, technology transfer, and sustainability.”

The new factory is the fourth addition to Unilever Sri Lanka’s local manufacturing sites. The other three are situated in the Horana BOI zone, Lindel Industrial Estate and Agarapathana. With this investment, Unilever Sri Lanka will manufacture 98% of its volumes locally.

The newly opened Unilever Foods Factory in the Lindal Industrial Processing Zone in Sapugaskanda