Ramani Fernando is a name synonymous with elegance, creativity and resilience in Sri Lanka’s fashion and beauty industry. With years of experience and a brand that has become a hallmark of style, Ramani Fernando has not only set trends but also paved the way for aspiring stylists and designers.

In an interview with The Sunday Island Ramani Fernando speaks about her journey, her passion for the industry and her vision for the future of the beauty industry.

“Fashion is not just about what you wear, it’s all about self expression, confidence and finding your identity,” she said.

Her career has been a testament to this philosophy, as she has styled countless celebrities, models and brides and always bringing out the best in each individual.

Please tell us a little about yourself?

With over five decades in the hair and beauty industry, my journey has been shaped by passion, perseverance, and purpose. I’ve had the honour of building one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised beauty brands, a journey that has allowed me to help people feel confident, empowered, and beautiful in their own skin.

Family has always been at the heart of everything I do. I’m a proud mother and grandmother, and I truly believe that their love has been one of my greatest strengths. My husband, Ranjit, has been a constant pillar of support from the very beginning. His belief in me gave me the courage to pursue my dreams and grow the business through the many ups and downs along the way. Balancing work and family hasn’t always been easy, but having that strong foundation has made all the difference.

When did you realise you wanted to make a career in fashion/beauty?

It began at a young age. I was always drawn to beauty and grooming not just for myself, but I loved making others feel good too. But it wasn’t until I returned from the UK that I realised I wanted to make this my life’s work. With the support of my husband and family, I started my first salon and the rest has been an evolving journey. Starting from a small set up in my home, I went on to launch a full salon brand. The salon chain now spans multiple branches and includes a salon academy partnership with Sunsilk and collaborative work with Colombo Fashion Week Today, I am grateful to see how much the industry has grown

Fashion icon

Where do you look for creative inspiration?

Inspiration comes from everywhere, from people, from nature, from art and culture, and of course, from the incredible talent I’m surrounded by in my own team. I also follow international trends and adap these trends to suit Sri Lankan tastes and lifestyles

What was your first experience in styling that sparked your interest?

I still remember doing my first bridal. The transformation and joy on her face made me realise the power of this profession. It was more than just hair and makeup; it was about making someone feel their best on a special day. That feeling has stayed with me ever since. One of the pivotal movements that truly ignited my passion was when I experimented with styling my friends. What started as a simple hobby soon became a serious interest when I realised I had a special talent and eye for beauty.

Is there a specific goal you have through your career?

My biggest goal has always been to elevate the beauty industry in Sri Lanka to make it professional, respected, and full of opportunity for young people.

It’s also not just about running a successful business; it’s about leaving behind a legacy that uplifts others, raises standards in the industry, and inspires the next generation to believe that with hard work and passion, anything is possible

What was your relationship with fashion like growing up?

I grew up at a time when fashion was much simpler but I was always particular about looking neat, well put-together, and elegant. My mother was a great influence. She believed that how you carry yourself says a lot about who you are. That stayed with me. She emphasised the importance of being comfortable in one’s own skin and choosing clothes that enhance ,not overshadow individuality

Tell us about your fashion mantra? Any fashion icons that you personally like to follow?

Elegance is timeless. I believe looking classic, clean, and confident in fashion should never overpower the person. As for icons, I’ve always admired Audrey Hepburn for her grace and simplicity, and locally, I think there are so many women who carry themselves beautifully no matter what they wear.

Let’s talk about Ageism. Have you been affected by this in your dressing?

I believe style evolves with age and that’s a beautiful thing. I’ve never let age define how I dress, but I have become more conscious of what truly suits me and feels right. I’m a big believer in modesty and elegance, not because of age, but because that’s what reflects who I am.

As we get older, our bodies and lifestyles change, and it’s important to dress in a way that flatters your shape and makes us feel confident. It’s not about covering up, it’s about understanding what enhances your natural grace. Fashion should never be about chasing trends; it should be about embracing your identity at every stage of life.

What is your opinion on what needs to change when it comes to fashion and women as we get older?

There needs to be more inclusivity and less judgment. Fashion should embrace all ages, all body types, and all stories. Older women shouldn’t be made to feel invisible. We’ve earned the right to express ourselves and fashion should help us do that, not limit us.

How would you describe your style?

Classic, understated, and polished. I like clean lines, elegant silhouettes, and neutral tones. But I’ll always add a touch of individuality whether it’s in the jewellery, a pop of colour, or how I carry it.

Where are you getting your styling inspiration from?

From travel, from magazines, from people I see every day and from my own clients. I’m always observing. Styling isn’t just about copying trends, it’s about interpreting them in a way that suits your personality and lifestyle.

Do you have any fashion confessions you can share as food for thought?

Well, I must admit I sometimes keep pieces in my wardrobe for years because I know trends come around again! But truly, my advice is: don’t follow trends blindly. Wear what feels good, what flatters you, and what brings you joy. Fashion should serve you, not the other way around.

When 25-year-old Savin Edirisinghe stepped onto the stage to receive the 32nd Gratiaen Prize for his debut short story collection Katakata, he brought with him more than just a book. He brought an entire generation of young Sri Lankans who write in English yet dream in multiple languages, who navigate everyday life with a poet’s soul, and who find inspiration in the most unlikely places—buses, petticoats, whispered gossip, and quiet suffering.

For Edirisinghe, the win was not just personal triumph—it was, in many ways, a statement of cultural evolution. Speaking to The Sunday Island, he said:”If I can win the Gratiaen, anyone can,” he said with a smile that belied both humility and disbelief. “English is not my mother tongue. I didn’t grow up immersed in English literature. But I write in English because it’s one of the languages I feel most at home in.”

The Gratiaen Prize, Sri Lanka’s most prestigious literary award for writing in English, has over the years served as a springboard for some of the country’s most acclaimed voices. Yet this year’s winner represents something refreshingly new: a voice grounded in urban and semi-urban life, unapologetically local, but delivered with literary elegance and poetic flair.

The Power of Gossip and Story Telling

The title Katakata—a Sinhala word that loosely translates to “gossip” or “chatter”—was carefully chosen. “That was my marketing brain at work,” Edirisinghe smiles. “I work in advertising during the day, so I know how important a good title is. But it also fits the stories. These are tales stitched together from things I’ve overheard, stories shared in passing, or little dramatic moments I’ve imagined based on real people.”

Despite the gossipy premise, Katakata is not sensational. It is introspective and rich with emotional texture. “I think we gossip because we want to live, for a moment, inside someone else’s life,” he explains. “It’s a way to understand desire, frustration, dreams—everything we suppress in ourselves. Writing is like that too. It’s about living other people’s lives in a very intimate way.”

The characters in Katakata—while often surreal or absurd—are inspired by real individuals. Friends, acquaintances, strangers on public transport. “They won’t recognise themselves,” Edirisinghe insists. “They’ve been altered, reshaped, sometimes exaggerated. But they all began as someone real.”

The collection, sprinkled with magical realism and absurdism, explores themes of desire, repression, identity, and societal contradictions—particularly the unseen lives of Sri Lanka’s working and middle classes. What makes the work stand out is how Edirisinghe blends lyrical prose with earthy, grounded subject matter.

Savin

A Poet First, a Storyteller Always

Edirisinghe prefers to be called a poet. “I write more poetry than prose,” he says. “Even when I write fiction, the poetic rhythm sneaks in. That’s how I express myself best.”

His literary influences reflect this dual sensibility. “Oscar Wilde, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, and of course Shakespeare,” he lists, adding Sri Lankan names with equal reverence: Mahagama Sekara, Yamuna Malini, and lyricist Rathna Sri. “I admire people who can take language and make it sing.”

His childhood, he recalls, was steeped in stories—thanks to his father, a dramatist, writer, and journalist. “To get me to sleep, he’d tell me two or three stories each night. And when he ran out of real stories, he made up new ones. I always knew which ones were made up—but I loved them even more.”

From those early beginnings came a young boy scribbling stories on A4 sheets, cutting and pasting images from magazines, and rewriting the endings of books he’d already read. That instinct to take the familiar and reshape it still defines his work today.

A Complicated Love Affair with Writing

“I have a toxic relationship with writing,” Edirisinghe says candidly. “But it’s filled with passion. It’s the only thing I know how to do.”

He compares his relationship with writing to Lionel Messi’s with football. “It’s like breathing for him. And for me, writing feels the same. If you took it away from me, I wouldn’t know who I was.”

Yet it’s not always easy. “Sometimes I want to write something so badly, but I just can’t get it right. That leads to frustration, even anxiety. But I keep at it. Because that’s what you do when you love something.”

His advice to young writers? “Write until you feel right. You may never feel completely satisfied—but in the process, you’ll create stories, poems, maybe even a script or a novel. Just keep writing.”

Writing What You Know

In his acceptance speech, Edirisinghe urged writers to write about what they know. “I can’t write about tulips or winter—I’ve never experienced them. But I can write about bus rides, petticoats, and the absurd things we encounter every day.”

That doesn’t mean he’s limited by reality. “Even sci-fi is believable when the emotions are true. You don’t need to live in space to write a compelling story. You just need to find a connection—something that makes the story feel alive.”

This is perhaps Katakata’s greatest strength: its ability to turn the mundane into the magical, to find poetry in the ordinary, and to reflect deep truths without sounding didactic or moralising.

Book that won acclaim

A Platform for the Youth

Edirisinghe credits the Future Writers Programme—a mentorship initiative—for helping him find his voice. “That was my first real exposure to the English literary scene in Sri Lanka. I met mentors like Professor Lal Medawattegedera and Ashok Ferrey. They gave me the courage to edit, to submit, and to believe I had something worth saying.”

He won the Future Writers Programme last year. This year, he took the Gratiaen Prize. “I think the Programme is a great stepping stone. It should be expanded and continued. If I hadn’t gone through that, I wouldn’t be here.”

For him, the Gratiaen win isn’t just validation—it’s an opportunity to open doors for others. “This award is often seen as something for Colombo elites. But now, people from outside the city—people who don’t even read in English—are talking about it.”

He recounts a call he received after the awards ceremony—from the man who used to read the electricity meter in his neighbourhood. “He found my number and called to say thank you for writing these stories. He said, ‘It’s refreshing to see someone like you win.’ That meant everything.”

Literature as a Soft Power

Beyond personal glory, Edirisinghe sees literature as a nation’s soft power—one that Sri Lanka must harness. “Look at what Shyam Selvadurai, Michael Ondaatje, and more recently Shehan Karunatilaka have done. Sri Lankan literature has global potential.”

He points to India’s thriving literary scene, and even Sri Lanka’s youth making waves on global platforms—from Anagi Perera at Miss World to Sri Lankans on the Forbes list. “We are showcasing the diversity of Sri Lanka—not just in identity, but in talent. Literature should be part of that.”

He dreams of a day when Sri Lankan literature—particularly English writing by locals—finds a global readership. “We have stories that the world needs to hear. But we need platforms, we need visibility, and we need writers who dare to write authentically.”

A New Chapter Begins

With Katakata, Savin Edirisinghe has opened more than a door for himself—he’s cracked open a window for a new kind of English literature in Sri Lanka: playful yet profound, deeply local yet accessible to all.

“I wanted to be different,” he says. “My father always said, ‘Be extraordinary among the extraordinary.’ That stuck with me. Even when I wish someone a happy birthday, I don’t just say it—I find a new way to say it.”

That same philosophy defines his writing: unexpected, lyrical, sincere. In Katakata, the mundane becomes magical, the gossip becomes gold, and every sentence pulses with life.

The award may have gone to one young writer, but the ripple effect could shape an entire literary landscape. “Now people who never imagined themselves submitting to the Gratiaen might just try,” he says. “That’s a win for all of us.”

By Ifham Nizam ✍️

This July, Hilton Yala Resort invited Sri Lankan residents to unwind in a truly relaxing getaway between the wild and the ocean. Available exclusively from 1 to 31 July 2025, this limited time stay package offers the perfect blend of comfort and discovery, ideal for couples, families, and those looking to reconnect with nature said a press release

The special offer includes half board, and full board stays for two guests in a deluxe room, Guests also can enjoy a three -course dining experience at Dhira and 15% savings on select treatments at the resort’s signature eForea Spa. By booking during this promotional window, guests can get good deal (terms and conditions apply) said the release

Guests can further elevate their stay by booking a guided safari experience at Yala National Park. These safaris are led by expert rangers qualified by the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA)—a rare distinction held by fewer than ten rangers in Sri Lanka, most of whom are part of the Hilton Yala team. The adventure continues beyond the park with unique experiences such as visits to the serene Sand Dunes or a guided stargazing session beneath the clear Yala skies. For young explorers, the Junior Ranger Program offers an engaging trek through the jungle, led by professionals, with a certificate of completion to take home.

The release said d ining at Hilton Yala Resort is equally immersive. Vanya, the lounge, offers panoramic views of the Indian Ocean paired with craft cocktails, smoothies, and light bites. Dhira, the Region’s Kitchen, serves up local-inspired creations from breakfast through dinner, featuring signature dishes such as Kirinda Lobster, Spiced Curd Chicken, and Buffalo Curd Cheesecake. For an al fresco experience, Sandali Grill delights with freshly prepared selections like Spiny Lobster, Duet of Beef, and Asian Sea Bass, all served straight from the grill. Guests seeking privacy can opt for a curated meal by the pool or the seashore, with chefs on hand to personalize every detail.

Thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its wild surroundings, Hilton Yala Resort features 42 premium rooms, suites, and villas. Each space is designed to offer relaxation with freestanding bathtubs, walk-in showers, and—depending on room category—hot tubs or private plunge pools.

The resort also offers access to popular sites such as Situlpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya, Bundala National Park, and Amaduwa Fishing Village, creating opportunities for both cultural discovery and scenic adventures.