Business

Lanka’s famed beach shack battles demolition

Published

4 weeks ago

2026/09/20

Thilina Walpola

This photograph taken on September 10, 2026 shows people at the entrance of Beach Wadiya shack in Colombo. (Photo: AFP)

The government gave Colombo beach restaurant Wadiya 10 days to pack up and leave — or face demolition

by Amal Jayasinghe
Pix by Ishara Kodikara

(AFP)Sri Lanka’s famed seafood shack Beach Wadiya has hosted royalty including Britain’s Princess Anne and sporting legends such as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, but now faces demolition under a government-ordered coastal clean-up.

The simple Colombo beach restaurant has welcomed a string of celebrities, featured in Madhur Jaffrey’s culinary travels and received rave reviews in international publications, including London’s Financial Times.

“Beach Wadiya comes with a lot of history,” said Suhara Chandrasekera, the founder’s granddaughter, now a director of the restaurant.

But more than half a century after it opened, the glamour is giving way to grief at Wadiya — which means “shack” in the island’s Sinhala language.

The government’s Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department gave Wadiya 10 days to pack up and leave — or face demolition.

That deadline expired on September 10, but the restaurant is resisting the order to leave.

Seven other beach properties were given extensions of about four days to salvage furniture and fittings.

: Co-owner Suhara Chandrasekera displaying a photo album of celebrities who visited Beach Wadiya shack in Colombo

: A busser setting a table at Beach Wadiya shack.

: This photograph taken on September 10, 2026 shows a busser setting a table at Beach Wadiya shack in Colombo

A few shops near Wadiya were demolished last month as part of a broader government plan to remove businesses within 10 metres (33 feet) of the shoreline.

“There shouldn’t be any buildings within the 10-metre coastal reservation from the shoreline,” Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi told AFP.

“We have identified 82 such premises and we are taking steps to remove them.”

Beach Wadiya is the only establishment resisting the order and has taken the matter to court.

: People walk along Wellawatte Beach

: This photograph taken on September 10, 2026 shows co-owner Suhara Chandrasekera displaying the signature of Britain’s Princess Anne in a guest book at Beach Wadiya shack in Colombo.

The family of its late founder, Olwyn Weerasekera, argues that the restaurant existed before the 1981 Coast Conservation Act being used to evict them.

“We built in 1974, which predates the law that they were talking about… We have permits dating all the way back to 1974,” 26-year-old Chandrasekera said.

“In addition to the appeal to the Coast Conservation Department, we also took the decision to file a writ,” she told AFP, referring to a case filed in the Court of Appeal.

The family has won a temporary reprieve, with the court ordering the department not to demolish the restaurant for two weeks pending a hearing.

When Wadiya was established, the beach was wider and cleaner, with rows of coconut trees, most of which have since been lost to sea erosion.

“Right now we have lost two of our huts… We’ve lost parts of our bathroom due to sea erosion,” Chandrasekera said.

She said Wadiya was the only restaurant on the beach before Sri Lanka’s tourism boom in the late 1970s.

Princess Anne had dinner at Wadiya in 1995. Nepali royals have also dined there.

British tycoon Richard Branson visited the restaurant during a family holiday in Sri Lanka in 1992, although the guestbook he signed was washed away in the December 2004 tsunami, according to the family.

Indian singing sensation Asha Bhosle, and cricket stars including India’s Rahul Dravid and former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, have also dined there.

One of the restaurant’s walls has a reproduction of a Financial Times cartoon of a guitar-playing lobster that accompanied a March 1994 food review headlined: “Cook me tender.”

The restaurant is best known for offering diners a platter of fresh seafood from which they can choose how it should be cooked.

There is no air conditioning and small tables are set up on the beach. An upper floor was added as the beachfront shrank over the years.

Experts blame worsening erosion on large-scale land reclamation farther north near Colombo port.

If the courts allow the restaurant to survive the government’s coastal clean-up, Chandrasekera says Wadiya will return to its roots.

“The only restaurant on the strip,” she said.

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Business

Samagi Spice Exports to launch Ceylon Cinnamon based beverage range

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/16

Priyan

The SPICEUP range of Cinnamon based beverages being launched by Samagi

Samagi Spice Exports (Pvt) Ltd is set to introduce SPICEUP, a new Sri Lankan beverage brand, at its grand launch on Saturday 17 October 2026 at the University of Ruhuna, Matara.

With a history dating back to 1969, Samagi Spice is taking a new step in its business journey by expanding beyond traditional spice exports into value added consumer products.

Through SPICEUP, the company aims to connect Sri Lanka’s internationally recognized cinnamon heritage with contemporary beverage innovation, creating a distinctive identity in the country’s beverage market.

The SPICEUP range will feature a variety of products, including Original, Cream Soda, Power, GO, Cool, Burn, Memo+ and Zingy. Designed to offer consumers a range of refreshment experiences, the products will be available in two packaging formats: cans and plastic bottles, catering to different consumer preferences and occasions.

At the heart of the initiative is the potential of true Ceylon cinnamon as a value-added ingredient in the beverage industry. Rather than limiting cinnamon to its traditional uses, SPICEUP seeks to explore new opportunities for bringing this iconic Sri Lankan spice into everyday consumer experiences.

The initiative also highlights the broader potential of transforming the country’s agricultural resources into innovative products with commercial value.

The launch ceremony will be attended by legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya as the Chief Guest, alongside representatives from the Export Development Board (EDB), Industrial Development Board (IDB), Cinnamon Research Academy and other industry stakeholders.

A major highlight of the occasion will be the official unveiling of the SPICEUP product range, followed by the launch of the brand’s official website. The event will also feature the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Samagi Spice Exports and the University of Ruhuna, marking an important step towards strengthening collaboration between industry and academia.

The proposed collaboration will provide a platform for future research, product innovation and value addition involving true Ceylon cinnamon. By bringing together business expertise and university-based knowledge, the initiative aims to support the development of innovative, value-added products and contribute to Sri Lanka’s potential in international markets.

With its roots in the country’s spice industry and its ambitions in the beverage sector, SPICEUP is poised to begin a new chapter in Samagi Spice’s journey—one that seeks to bring the distinctive identity of Ceylon cinnamon to a new generation of consumers.

Business

Indian business leader urges SL entrepreneurs to tap into India’s rapidly expanding consumer market

Published

23 hours ago

2026/10/16

Thilina Walpola

T. Krishnakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL)

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026, T. Krishnakumar, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL), emphasised that local enterprises can unlock substantial economic benefits by strategically aligning with India’s booming consumer base.

Addressing business leaders and policymakers at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, Krishnakumar highlighted that geographical proximity and rich cultural ties provide a natural foundation for deeper commercial collaboration.

He noted that instead of viewing bilateral trade narrowly, regional partnerships should act as conduits to build robust, scalable enterprises capable of plugging into wide-reaching regional value chains.

“For Sri Lankan exporters dealing in traditional staples as well as value-added goods, accessing India’s rising middle class presents a phenomenal growth window,” he said.

Drawing insights from Reliance Consumer Products’ rapid expansion – which scaled efficiently to thousands of employees and multi-billion-dollar metrics – Krishnakumar stressed that modern corporate success relies on disciplined execution, localised consumer understanding, and smart technology integration.

Furthermore, he underscored that while rapid growth is critical, businesses must consistently anchor their models in affordability and consumer trust.

Concluding his address at the summit, the RCPL chief noted that pairing regional trade integration with resilient business practices and predictable regulatory frameworks will be vital as Sri Lanka transitions firmly toward accelerated economic development.

Addressing the Summit during a subsequent fireside chat, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored that a core concern currently being targeted by the government is developing a critical mass of local entrepreneurs equipped to engage with international enterprise counterparts.

Business

SriLankan Airlines wins prestigious SATA 2026 Visitors’ Choice Award for Leading International Airline

Published

24 hours ago

2026/10/16

Thilina Walpola

SriLankan Airlines has once again been honoured with the prestigious Visitors’ Choice Award for Leading International Airline at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, reaffirming its continued recognition in the regional travel and tourism industry. The airline, which has received this award in previous years, was the only international airline to be recognised in this category at this year’s event. The 10th anniversary edition of the awards ceremony was held earlier this month at Hotel Barcelo Nasandhura in Male, Maldives.

Recognised as one of the key events on the Maldivian tourism and travel industry calendar, SATA celebrated its 10th anniversary on a grand scale, bringing together prominent industry stakeholders, including Government Ministers, distinguished dignitaries, diplomats and senior representatives from leading airlines and their respective head offices.

Commenting on the achievement, Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Commercial, SriLankan Airlines, stated, “We are honoured to receive this recognition at the South Asian Travel Awards 2026. Being named the Leading International Airline in the Visitors’ Choice Awards once again is a meaningful acknowledgement of our commitment to serving our passengers and strengthening our presence in the region. This award inspires us to continue enhancing the travel experience we offer and to build stronger connections with the markets and communities we serve.”

Complementing its commitment to service excellence, SriLankan Airlines offers an extensive flight network with convenient connections to destinations across the globe. In South Asia, the airline operates nearly 130 flights each week to 15 destinations across India, Pakistan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh. With schedules thoughtfully designed to suit the needs of travellers, SriLankan Airlines provides seamless connectivity for those visiting Colombo for business or leisure, as well as passengers travelling onwards to destinations worldwide.