Ramani Fenando’s new Image and Etiquette Academy

In a world where first impressions speak before words, Sri Lanka’s beauty icon Ramani Fernando has taken a bold step beyond the salon chair to shape confidence from within. Her newly launched Etiquette and Image Academy is designed to refine not only appearance, but presence, poise and personal power.

Step into a space where confidence meets sophistication, Ramani Fernando Academy is redefining how Sri Lankans approach personal branding ,offering a unique blend of ettiquette, style and communication mastery.

Her newly launched personal branding and EtiquetteAcademy was unveiled in a simple ceremony at the Galle Face hotel. This marks a bold and timely step into the realm of confidence leadership, presence and modern social grace.

Colombo’s social elite, corporate leaders, fashion insiders and longtime clients gathered in celebration of a vision that seeks to shape not just appearance but cofidence building.

Ramani, in her opening speech, said “our courses are carefully designed to meet with international standards, ensuring participants recieve training that meets both local and global expectations.

Ramani Fernando – shaping confidence

Professional face of etiquette training

Faith Launders who is the Director of Etiquette and Protocol in the Academy pointed out this personal branding and etiquette programmes will help participants cultivate grace, confidence and refined personal style through expert guidance. A former Miss Sri Lanka beauty queen, with experience in aviation, will contribute a creative and professional lens to the Academy’s curriculam.

Invitees from the world of fashion gathered to celebrate the occasion

Carolyn Jurie

Chalana at the helm of beauty

She brings professionalism, poise and a strong commitment to cultivate confidence and promote refined social skills among students. Known for her approachable style and inspiring presence, she strives to create an inclusive learning space where students can transform into confident individuals to navigate life with dignity and elegance.

For decades, Ramani has been a transformative force in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry.

and now this venture signals a natural evolution from external refinement to the art of personal distinction.

The programme blends traditional etiquette with contemporary relevance, offering personal branding and professional image building both in social and corporate etiquette. These are some of the programmes:

= Communication skills and body language, grooming, style and wardrobe alignment.

= Digital image and social media conduct.

= Platforms or in social events the ability to command attention with confidence has to become an important tool.

In today’s hyper connected world, impressions are formed in seconds often long before a handshake, whether in boardrooms, diplomatic circles or in the media.

The teaching staff consists of industry experts trainers amd adminitrators led by othe senior professionals

The Managing Director, Lakmini Lenagala, Training and Administrative Manager, Ramono, Navaratnarajah, Personal Assistant, Merisha Aserappa and Chalana Munasinghe are all industry professionals who have experience, theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

They are experienced instructors with hands on expertise in grooming, etiquette, image building and communication.

While the vision of the Personal Branding and Etiquette Academy belongs to Ramani Fernando, its strength lies in the collective expertise of the professionals who bring the programmes to life.

By bringing together specialists from diverse fields, the Academy offers participants a rare opportunity to refine every dimension of their public and private persona under one roof.

Sessions cover skin care, hair, make up, wardrobe planning and colour coordination.

Communication and public speaking recognising that presence is also conveyed though voice and expression, the Academy offers training in articulation tones, posture and body language.

The training also includes table manners, event conduct, professional courtesy and cross cultural awareness. This Etiquette Academy us designed for both women and men offering guidance on grooming, communication, professional conduct and social confidence.

The Academy acts as a transformative space – one that equips individuals not merely to succeed but to stand out with authencity and grace. The institution reflects Ramani Fernando’s belief that true elegance is a way of being not simply a way of dressing!.

By Zanita Careem

Pix by Thushara Athapatu

World Wildlife Day 2026:

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else: resilience.

Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and thriving.

The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with one another.

That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to prepare them for rewilding.

Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.

Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.

“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.

In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors. In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing, and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.

Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.

“When Kalo walks back into the forest in 2029, it will mark the completion of a journey that began in crisis but was sustained through commitment,” added Arshed Refai. “We are proud that Sun Siyam Care is part of that long-term promise.”

Until then, Kalo continues doing what young elephants at Ath Athuru Sevana are meant to do: growing, learning, and preparing quietly for a life in the wild.

The 1970s and 1980s are remembered as the “Swarna Yugaya” — the Golden Era of Sinhala cinema, a period that produced some of the country’s most memorable films, legendary performances, and culturally defining stories. Through Scope Classics, Scope Cinemas aims to reintroduce these timeless classics to modern audiences while preserving their place in Sri Lanka’s cultural and cinematic history.

While many of these films have been available through television and digital platforms over the years, Scope Cinemas believe that the true impact of cinema can only be experienced on the big screen. By presenting these classics in modern theatres equipped with advanced projection and sound technology, audiences will once again be able to experience them as they were originally intended.

This initiative also supports the growing momentum of Sri Lankan cinema, which has seen renewed audience interest in recent years with successful local releases such as Rani, Kathuru Mithuru, Nelum Kuluna, Dharmayuddhaya 2, Walampoori, Moda Tharindu, and Rhythm of the Guitar: Clarence.

Unfogettable moments

Deadly intentions

Screen presence legendary

“Scope is bringing back the Golden Era of Sri Lankan Cinema on the big screen. We give you SCOPE CLASSICS where we show movies back from the 70s and 80s. And we kick things off with the movie NOMMARA 17.” said Chassy Cortes, Head of Marketing and PR at Scope Cinemas. “We wanted to bring back the great Sinhala classics and give younger audiences the opportunity to experience the films that shaped our industry. These movies are classics for a reason — the stories were powerful, the creativity was bold, and they represent a remarkable era of Sri Lankan cinema.”

In the tapestry of Sri Lanka films, a few films resonate with as much emotional gravity and cultural memory as Nommara 17 It is a 1989 Sinhala action thriller that became more than just a box office hit. Directed by Hemasiri Prethiraf Weeraratne and produced by Priviraj Weeraratne, the film stars the legendary Vijaya Kumaratunge, in one of the most unforgettable roles, supported by Sanath Gunatillake. Jeevan Kumaratunge, Sabeetha Perera, Manik Kulakulasuriya and others who helped shape its powerful narrative. What sets Nommara 17 apart is its action drama. According to Galagedera Jayaratne, Manager of Marketing and Production at Scope Cinema, the movie was restored shortly after Vijaya Kumaratunge’s assassination, an event that sent show waves through the nation and transformed this film into a final cinematic fairwell for one of Sri Lanka’s most beloved stars.”

There were longer crowds lined up to see the movie outside the theatres from early morning, with screening running for more than 200 days making this film as one of the big blockbusters of its time . This film Nommara 17, re-screened, won the most popular film award at the 17th Sarasaviya Awards. The story is an action thriller. Filled with action, betrayal and family drama, the story revolves around Vijaya’s quest for revenge and justice. His reconcillation with his brothers, and taking down the criminals who destroyed their family Finally the brothers reconciles, weaving a tale of loyalty, redemption and the bonds that endure even in the face of violence. The chemistry among the cast, especially the chemistry between Vijaya and his brothers and his love interest in Vasanthi (Sabeetha) bring both intensity and heat to the narrative making it as much a family saga as an action thriller.

Even now, the film holds a place in the memories of Sri Lankan audience, not just as a piece of entertainment but a cinematic celebration.

The film is being re-screened at Scope Cinemas. It was a special revival presentation giving the people a chance to enjoy a classic on the big screen once more.

This old time favourite Nommara 17 screened at the Scope Cinemas holds a special place in the hearts of the audience. The gripping story line and memorable performances of old time favourite actors and actresses is an opportunity to experience the magic excitement and charm that made it a classic proving that good movies never truly fade away.

By Zanita Careem