Business

Salon owners contemplating pulling the plug, putting more than 300,000 jobs at risk

Published

4 years ago

2022/09/26

Thilina Walpola

= Ban on imported cosmetic products hampers industry
= Marked decrease in consumers patronising salons
= Developing Sri Lanka as a wedding-hub ‘fading away’
= Urges President to help protect the self-reliant industry

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Ninety percent of salons across Sri Lanka are at the risk of closure unless the temporary ban on imported cosmetic products is lifted soon, Jackie Aponso, president, Hair and Beauty Cluster (HBC) said last week addressing a press conference in Colombo.

She claimed that such an eventuality could lead to 75%-80% job losses of industry personnel. “That’s a large number as HBC is a unification of many associations in the beauty and personal care sector with 450,000 members,” she said.According to the figures given by her if the situation persists, 337,500 – 360,000 jobs would be lost for employees in the industry.

‘Yes, there is a sound fiscal argument for the government’s temporary ban on imported cosmetic products in the tight foreign exchange reserves backdrop. But if the ban is not lifted by the end of this month to facilitate the availability of international cosmetic brands in the market for upcoming Christmas and New Year, its impact will take a devastating toll on the 450,000 self-employed individuals engaged in the industry and 1.5 million of their dependents”, Jackie said.

‘Most foreign and local customers prefer international brands for their hair and skin treatments. Although a number of home-grown cosmetic brands have emerged, customers prefer their hair and facials done with brands that have been frontrunners in the market which they have relied on for years. Being a highly customer-centric business, we have to work with formulas that customers are comfortable with, because they are concerned about what we put on their face and hair.”

“It’s a relief to hear that the import ban is temporary. But it needs to be lifted quickly to allow sufficient lead time for cosmetics importers to place orders and bring the products to Sri Lanka. It was no secret that our industry was heavily battered by the Covid-19 pandemic and somehow we braved up to this point safeguarding our businesses. And we all have been looking forward to this season to offset the losses we suffered in the past two and a half years. If the ban is lifted by end of this month, imported brands will be available in the market by mid or end of November, and salons will be well-positioned to start work diligently as the season kicks off. But if the imported products reach here as late as mid-December, then this year also will be marked as another unfortunate business year for the salon industry, “she said.

“When we don’t have wedding makeup essentials, a number of other industries also will get affected; such as hotels, wedding and event planners, wedding florists, bridal photographers, Poruwa suppliers, hall decorators and so on. As a result of the import ban, a black market has emerged where the prices of cosmetics have gone up by 6-7 folds. This has put 90% of our beauty and personal care parlours in great difficulty. A hair spray which was about Rs. 2,000, now costs Rs. 12,000. Can we pass that cost burden to the customer? No, we can’t. It is the same with all other products. There are a few salons that can afford such high costs and charge high prices, but the majority of our members are not so, and they are at the risk of closing their businesses. As there has been a marked decrease in customers patronizing salons, some members even called us and asked for help to sell their equipment and exit the industry. Such a situation may create an unemployment problem as they are all self-employed individuals.”

According to HBC, the industry’s cosmetics import bill accounts for 0.08% of the total national import bill. They also highlighted the fact that all registered cosmetics importers and HBC members pay their due taxes to the government.

Salon entrepreneur Bernie Balasuriya said: “Our industry brings in foreign exchange to the country. When foreigners and expatriates come to Sri Lanka for weddings, their families stay in hotels for about a week. Sometimes we set up salon space inside the hotel to cater to beauty and personal care needs of these visitors. They want us to use international cosmetic brands. This is an industry which earns foreign exchange and which therefore demands best industry practices.”

Theekshani Kariyawasam, Gold medal winner at OMC Hairworld in France in the category of bridal makeup, who successfully competed against contestants from more than 60 countries, said that the situation is so sad especially because Sri Lankan beauty artistes and entrepreneurs have never been a burden on the economy. We have always relied on our own talent and commitment. We need international cosmetic products to work with and be recognized for highest standards on par with other destinations.”

Asoka Thilakaratna who boasts 35-years of experience in the industry said,”Skilled Sri Lankan hairdressers and beauticians get overseas jobs because they have a lot of knowledge and experience in working with international cosmetic brands and techniques. That serves as a plus point for them at job interviews with prospective foreign employers. Further, I heard the good news that there would be some Indian weddings taking place here in Sri Lanka in November, December and January. I know from my experience that they come as groups about a week before the wedding and get all their beauty treatments done in Sri Lanka. If we don’t have cosmetic brands they love and trust, we could miss out on these business opportunities because they make it a point to stay away from lesser known products and fake products.”

Concluding the comments, Jackie Aponso said,” We have made an appeal to President Ranil Wickremasinghe to consider the lifting of the ban with the objective of protecting this self-reliant industry and its self-employments. We look forward to a favourable solution in time to get back to business.”

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Business

Ceylinco Life celebrates its ‘Unstoppable Champions’ at Annual Awards 2026

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/19

Thilina Walpola

Ceylinco Life’s top award winners with Directors and senior management at the Company’s Annual Awards

The power of momentum was the focus when Ceylinco Life, Sri Lanka’s life insurance market leader for an unbroken 22 years, celebrated the exceptional achievements of its top-performing sales force at its Annual Awards Ceremony 2026, held at Cinnamon Life Colombo.

Bringing together more than 300 of the company’s highest achievers, the event recognised Sales Officers who attained High Flyers status, qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), or earned ‘Sales Superstar’ status in 2025, each having met rigorous performance benchmarks. In total, close to 370 awards were presented at the ceremony, which was attended by over 450 participants including the company’s Board of Directors and senior management.

Themed ‘Unstoppable Champions,’ the awards ceremony underscored the spirit of resilience, ambition and consistent excellence that defines Ceylinco Life’s sales force, positioning the awardees as drivers of the company’s sustained market leadership.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Srinivasa Rao, Managing Director – Life and Health (South Asia and South East Asia) at Munich Re, and featured an evening of scintillating entertainment with performances by Sanka Dineth, Shashika Nisansala, the Naadro Band and Prashanthini, complemented by dance acts from Muddrika Dance Studio.

Among the highlights of the evening was the presentation of two Toyota Axio motor cars to R. P. Edirisinghe and S. S. H. M. T. Laksiri in recognition of their consistent excellence in qualifying as High Flyers and MDRT members. The top honours at the awards ceremony were presented to Mr A. S. L. Fernando as Best Agency Head, H. D. Pathirana as Best Agency Supervisor, A. I. P. Manjula as Best Life Insurance Advisor, and J. Meera as Best Regional Sales Manager.

Business

Kia drives into Colombo’s skyline with landmark showroom at Altair

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/19

Thilina Walpola

Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Mahen Thambiah and Managing Director Andrew Perera at the opening of the new showroom.

Top Korean nameplate Kia has reinforced its presence in Sri Lanka with the opening of a striking new showroom at the iconic Altair high-rise in Colombo, marking a significant step in the brand’s continued expansion and customer engagement in the country.

The new facility, unveiled exclusively to media on 7th April 2026, occupies approximately 2,700 square feet of prime space at Retail 3 of the Altair development.

Strategically positioned at the entrance to the complex for maximum visibility and accessibility, the showroom places Kia at the heart of one of Colombo’s most prominent luxury residential and lifestyle destinations.

Designed in line with Kia’s global brand guidelines, the showroom presents a modern, customer-centric environment that reflects the company’s focus on innovation, quality and service excellence. The space is intended to offer an immersive retail experience, enabling customers to explore the brand’s evolving portfolio in a setting that mirrors international standards.

“The opening of this new showroom signals Kia’s renewed commitment to Colombo, strengthening its proximity to customers while enhancing convenience and accessibility for those seeking to engage with the brand,” Kia Motors Lanka Chairman Mahen Thambiah said. “It represents a key milestone in our strategy to deepen customer relationships and expand the Kia footprint across key urban locations.”

Taking centre stage at the new showroom is the all-new Kia Tasman, the brand’s first-ever double cab pickup, which makes its debut in Sri Lanka in tandem with the opening. The introduction of the Tasman underscores Kia’s drive to diversify its offering and respond to the evolving demands of customers across multiple segments.

In addition to the Tasman, visitors to the Altair showroom can experience Kia’s full range of vehicles, further enhancing the brand’s appeal to a broad spectrum of automotive enthusiasts.

Business

Nalin Sri Tikiri Bandara: forging discipline and character through martial arts

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/19

Thilina Walpola

After nearly three decades on the mat, Sri Lankan martial arts instructor H. M. Nalin Sri Tikiri Bandara has built a career that stretches from local dojos in Kandy to international training arenas in the United Arab Emirates, shaping a growing generation of students through what he describes as “a lifelong journey of discipline and self-development.”

With more than 28 years of experience, Bandara has emerged as a prominent figure in martial arts education for children, youth and adults, particularly across Sri Lanka and the UAE, where he is currently based in Abu Dhabi.

Bandara’s martial arts journey began at a young age and has since spanned multiple disciplines, including Kyokushin Karate, Ashihara Karate, Mumonkai Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and yoga.

He holds several international dan rankings, including 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate (Japan), 4th Dan in Ashihara Karate (Australia), 2nd Dan in Mumonkai Karate (Japan), and 1st Dan under Josui Kai Kan Karate (Japan). Years of training camps, seminars and competitions abroad, he says, have helped refine both technical skill and teaching philosophy.

Bandara is the founder and chief instructor of Nalin Dojo, which operates across multiple locations, including a main branch in Abu Dhabi and an established centre in Kandy. He also runs expansion programmes in schools and fitness centres in the UAE.

Collectively, his programmes have trained more than 2,000 students, ranging from children as young as four to adults.

He also serves as branch chief and representative of the World Karate Alliance Kyokushin Bugakukai, and contributes to the development of full-contact karate at national level in Sri Lanka.

At the core of his teaching is a hybrid approach he calls “Yoga Martial Arts”, blending karate discipline, yoga-based mental conditioning, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu principles and sports science.

The focus, he says, extends beyond physical combat to character formation, emphasising discipline, respect, confidence-building and mental resilience.

“Martial arts is not just about fighting, it is about building better human beings,” Bandara said.

Much of his work is directed at children and adolescents, particularly in an era he describes as increasingly dominated by digital distractions.

He argues that structured martial arts training can reduce screen dependency, improve concentration, and strengthen emotional stability, while promoting healthier lifestyles.

“Children’s future is the future of the community,” he said, underscoring his belief that early discipline shapes long-term social outcomes.

Beyond regular training, Bandara organises grading examinations, workshops, school programmes and community fitness initiatives in both Sri Lanka and the UAE.

He has continued such activities even during periods of global disruption, maintaining regular engagement with students and instructors.

Looking ahead, Bandara plans to expand his dojo network across the UAE and internationally, while developing structured youth development programmes and training future instructors.

His long-term ambition is to build a sustainable martial arts ecosystem that integrates physical excellence with character education.

In a career defined by discipline and continuity, Bandara represents a generation of martial arts instructors blending traditional combat systems with modern wellness principles — and, in the process, attempting to shape not just fighters, but future citizens.

by SK Samaranayake