Business
MMCA Sri Lanka and Selyn introduce a limited edition series of fabrics

The sarong and scarves drawing inspiration from two George Keyt paintings are must-have pieces for all art lovers!
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) has collaborated with the Design for Impact initiative by Selyn to create a set of fabrics that respond to two paintings by George Keyt (1901–1993). The limited edition sarong and two scarves have been produced using the design and elements of the paintings titled ‘The Kandyan Bride’ (1951) and ‘The Offering’ (1948). Both paintings were on display in Rotation 3 of ‘Encounters’, the second exhibition by the MMCA Sri Lanka which closed in March 2023.
The collaboration came about when Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator of MMCA Sri Lanka approached Selyna Peiris, Director of Selyn with an invitation to create a unique Selyn fabric in response to the two paintings. Speaking about the partnership Pereira said, “We are delighted with the outcome of this initiative with Selyn because it demonstrates how contemporary designers can help us look at the work of modern artists anew. The Selyn designers produced items that are not only exquisitely made but conceptually rooted in the stories that are part of this country’s art history. Their agility to move from commercial large-scale products to limited edition collectables is something to be celebrated and definitely continued.”
After visiting the MMCA Sri Lanka to look at the two paintings by George Keyt, the designers from Selyn were able to identify the distinctive fabrics that Keyt was referencing in both paintings, specifically in relation to the osariya or Kandyan sari worn by the female figure in ‘The Kandyan Bride’ (1951). From here, they went away to research the fabrics in more depth, and over the next three months, they developed three distinctive handloom fabric designs that responded to each of the paintings. The intricate detailing and colours used by the designers Seemanthani Wanduragala, Jola Hauschild, and Lakshani Jayathilake not only responded to the colour palette used by Keyt but also explored the content of each painting conceptually.
For example, the fabric that responded to Keyt’s painting ‘The Offering’ (1948) combines the attires of the two figures in the painting into one fabric. The scarf is hence made up of green and purple stripes that borrow from the plaid clothing worn by the left-hand figure, which sits next to a contrasting panel of stripes that are drawn from the attire of the figure on the right-hand side of the painting. Like Keyt’s work, the scarf has a distinctive geometrical composition to it, alluding to the two figures and their symmetrical positioning on either side of the painting.
Inspired by the ambiguity that surrounds the relationship between the two figures, the Selyn design team have created a scarf that can be worn by anyone, regardless of their gender identity. The other two fabrics take inspiration from ‘The Kandyan Bride’ (1951), drawing from the osariya worn by the female figure in the painting.
Selyn’s handwoven fabric stems from a 2500-year history of handloom weaving in Sri Lanka. All fabrics are fair trade, vegan, cruelty-free, and handwoven by Selyn’s artisans based in their Wanduragala workshop.
Speaking on the partnership with the MMCA Sri Lanka, Selyna Peiris from Selyn said, “We are pleased to partner with the MMCA Sri Lanka to create this limited edition sarongs and scarves that celebrate how the familiar can be reimagined in the hands of other artists and designers. By wearing and gifting these products you are supporting the Selyn Foundation and the MMCA Sri Lanka.” She added that, “These fabrics have been produced under Selyn’s Design for Impact programme which is a joint initiative between Selyn and the Selyn Foundation, to collaborate with the world’s leading designers, brands, universities, and organisations to raise awareness about, revive, and sustain Sri Lanka’s craft industry, and its artisans who are mainly women. We are happy to collaborate with an organisation like the MMCA Sri Lanka which also provides cultural entrepreneurship, leadership development, and financial management skills and opportunities to women.”
To order your limited edition scarf or sarong, send a direct message on the MMCA Sri Lanka Instagram page instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/ or Facebook page facebook.com/mmcasrilanka/
Business
Sublime W15 Hanthana Estate

By a correspondent
The Hanthana mountain range softly breathes, alive with the sound of silence. A pristine white bungalow sits facing these emerald-clad hills, its colonial crevices invoking the charm and nostalgia of a bygone era. A face from another time, kissed by the warm rays of the sun or caressed by the cool fingers of the mist. This is the resplendent Hanthana Estate by the W15 Collection, a place of beauty, a place of peace, where transcendent excellence is an apt description.
I took the early morning Ella Odessey train to Kandy, a comfortable journey that was accentuated by breathtaking vistas closer to Kandy. I was picked up at the station by the W15 driver and my personal butler for my stay. The first inkling of how my stay would pan out came when I was pleasantly surprised with the regular hotel welcome inside the Land Rover. The offer of a cool towel, the choice of a warm or cold beverage to ease fatigue, even before one steps into the foyer of a hotel, was an astute gesture towards ensuring customer delight.
W15 Hanthana Estate is a deliberately crafted blend of colonial charm (the bungalow being over 125 years old, lovingly and attentively restored to its present glory by renowned architect Chamika de Alwis) and modern opulence. The main bungalow unfolds like a tapestry of sepia and cream, weaving together six exclusive suites with four more situated a little beyond in the two storied stables, which boast an awe-inspiring view of the Uragala and Katusukonda mountains. I’m told that these mountain ranges have a certain significance to movie buffs who might recall that the famed “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) had certain shots filmed in the vicinity.
They offer numerous activities such as trekking in some of the most scenic hiking routes of the island, mountain biking, bird and butterfly watching, wildlife excursions (for the uninformed like myself, there are leopards, elusive yes but still roaming these jungles along with the more common sambar deer), nature sessions with the in-house naturalist or scenic walks and visits to nearby temples to interest you. Hanthana Estate also offers cookery lessons where you could pick your own vegetables from their herb and vegetable garden and have the pleasure of making your own lunch with the help of their chefs. One could also set off on an invigorating and informative drive through the tea plantations in their vintage Land Rover along with their naturalist who has a wealth of knowledge about the mountains, the flora and fauna, history and folklore. With kudos to the management for keeping history alive, Hanthana Estate also offers its guest a traditional, colonial inspired delectable high tea with finely cut finger sandwiches, flaky pastries, dainty fairy cakes and freshly baked scones with a pot of Ceylon tea. This high tea in a picnic form or cocktails as per guest preference, can also be enjoyed at a rock outcrop just a ten-minute jeep drive away from the bungalow which they call the ‘Rock Bar’, while the setting sun paints the skies in vivid hues.
This land initially belonged to Oodewella tea plantation, founded in 1880 which is one of the oldest tea estates in the country, considering that the tea cultivation in the country, established by James Taylor, dates back to 1867. Hanthana Group was created between 1985-1988 where Oodwella group was amalgamated with the Hanthana Estate. It would have seemed like a flashback when the great grandson of Gordon Pyper visited Hanthana Estate recently. The first Gordon Pyper had come to Sri Lanka in 1872 when Hanthana was a coffee plantation and following the coffee blight, planted tea in this beautiful estate. His son and grandson were superintendents at Hanthana and the current Gordon Pyper lived the first 11 years of his life in these environs. He affirms that its “wonderful to be back to the Hanthana of his childhood and W15 Hanthana Estate has given him wonderful memories to cherish always.”
It is an understatement to say that W15 Hanthana Estate caters to every whim and fancy of their discerning guest as they operate on an all-inclusive basis. Your personal butler is just a call away, your food is an exquisitely crafted story, your bed an epitome of comfort which entices you to linger, a shower is more of a response of sensual indulgence with irresistible Spa Ceylon products. Once you tear yourself away from your suite, the bungalow with its art, cosy chesterfield sofas and warm lighting and verdant hills that call you name – all this and more is what W15 promises. In my eyes, what makes Hanthana Estate special is not just beautiful surroundings and peace- I feel what makes this wonderous place feel like home, is the attention they pay to details such as the offer of a warm shawl when a guest involuntarily shivers, the evening turn down service where a hot water bottle is left beneath the duvet, the cushy slippers placed just right, and a myriad of little things that makes you smile or sigh contentedly.
I leave Hanthana Estate feeling a little lighter. All I can feel is that my soul is quieter and softer and more sublime.
Business
BOI invests Rs. 763 Mn in Horana Export Processing Zone: Next leap of Sustainable Best Practices

The newfound government is accelerating its efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the country by providing much-needed infrastructure to existing and new investors. The Horana Economic Processing Zone (HEPZ) is a center of attraction due to its location.
One key feature of the BOI zones is the provision of services that enable investors to operate their businesses smoothly, and investors always prefer the “turn-key nature” of these facilities. Electricity, water, and drainage systems; inbound illumination systems; and internal roads are the key attractions to the investors. These essential facilities enable investors to conduct commercial operations or constructions immediately after signsing of agreement with the BOI.
The constituency of the Horana EPZ consists of more manufacturing-led investors, and the wastewater treatment plant (CWWTP) is an integral part of the operation. Most importantly, the Horona EPZ’s long-term viability and compliance with the ESG framework of the organization make it even better at meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 15).
Hence, it was identified by the BOI that the capacity of the existing Common Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWWTP) needs to increase its capacity, which is used for the treatment of wastewater discharges from industries at HEPZ, and therefore, augmentation of CWWTP up to a capacity of 3000 m³ per day is essential to cater to the present influent volume of 1750 m³/day and forecasted additional volume of wastewater generated from the expansion of the existing projects and new projects to be established in vacant lands while uplifting the environmental sustainability of the zone and mitigating the health issues.
The BOI Capital Budget lists this project as a priority activity to reduce any possible environmental impacts and meet the CEA’s requirements for getting an Environmental Protection License (EPL) for the Horana Export Processing Zone.
The bids were invited through the National Competitive Bidding process, which had eleven (11) bidders that submitted the bids, and only four (04) applicants were eligible for the detailed evaluation. Bids were evaluated; at the evaluation stage, the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) determined the least substantially responsive bidder that had fulfilled the relevant qualifications and experience required for awarding the contract.
Hence, the Cabinet of Ministers, by decision dated 05/06/2023, has granted approval for the proposed enhancement of the common wastewater treatment plant (CWWTP) at Horana Export Processing Zone, utilizing BOI funds, after the competitive bidding process and technical evaluation are completed. On 9th December 2024, the Cabinet took the final decision and approved the contract award to Luminex PLC, located at No. 24, New Galle Road, Moratuwa.
The BOI always works with the Central Environmental Authority, takes necessary action to mitigate imminent adverse environmental and health issues, and follows instructions to maintain the treatment efficiency of the existing wastewater treatment plant at HEPZ. Because of this, the proposed addition should make the treatment system efficient and effective, Further, it will strengthen the existing Common Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWWTP) and fully meet the discharge effluent standards and CEA requirements. (BOI)
Business
Mr. Burger opens third outlet in Wattala, expanding its reach in Colombo’s suburbs

Mr. Burger, one of Sri Lanka’s emerging fast-food brands, has officially opened its third outlet in Wattala, marking another milestone in its steady expansion. Since launching in 2017, the brand has grown in popularity for its signature fusion-style burgers, now serving customers from three key locations: Bambalapitiya, Rajagiriya, and Wattala.
The new Wattala branch strengthens Mr. Burger’s presence in the Colombo suburbs, offering its full menu of customer favorites, including the Chicken Pounder, Dual Mode, and Monster Chicken burgers. Known for its focus on quality and affordability, the brand has built a loyal customer base by consistently delivering fresh, flavorful meals.
Open from 11 AM to 2 AM daily, Mr. Burger caters to both daytime and late-night diners. The company also operates its own delivery service alongside availability on Uber Eats and PickMe, ensuring convenience for customers across all three locations.
Speaking about the latest expansion, founder and CEO Ikram Salam highlighted the brand’s commitment to growth while maintaining its core values. “The Wattala opening is an exciting step for us. We’ve always focused on providing a great product with a strong customer-first approach, and this new outlet allows us to serve more customers while staying true to what makes Mr. Burger special.”
With its expansion into Wattala, Mr. Burger continues to strengthen its footprint in Sri Lanka’s fast-food industry, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility, quality, and customer satisfaction.
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