Business

Sri Lankan hair extension specialist benefits from export order surge

Published

2 years ago

2025/01/27

Thilina Walpola

Kaveesha Bethmage

Says SL should be part of the billion-dollar industry

By Sanath Nanayakkare

One may often hear panelists at business forums waxing eloquent about domestic value additions to imported raw materials for re-export and earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.

But one would rarely hear about a self-made Sri Lankan woman entrepreneur who is slowly but steadily attracting global attention towards Sri Lanka — for transforming imported human hair supply into stylish hair solutions for women — who face loss of hair and suffer from low esteem.

The Island Financial Review recently had an interview with the presidential award-winning hair extension specialist, Dr. Kaveesha Bethmage who is the owner /CEO of Salon Kaveesha International (Pvt) Ltd in Dematagoda where 30-hair extension artisans are employed.

“No matter which country we are from and what our differences may be, we all have a strong view of hair. Hair is a subject that is very important to women and their self-esteem. We often see our hair as a reflection of our identity because it is both personal and public. The positive or negative view of hair can greatly affect a woman. Hair, its length, texture and colour, all affect how a person looks and how they will be perceived. Lack of hair is not only directly associated with the appearance of a woman, but it also can significantly contribute to a loss of confidence resulting in many other negative personal implications. This is especially important for women with medical conditions that result in receding hairline. Needless to say more, hair is one of the assets for women”, says Kaveesha.

“Salon Kaveesha’s hair extensions are a quick fix for length and volume. Our products make our clients feel more confident as they blend with their own hair. This is always custom work, and my team is well-trained to adapt the extensions to the client’s hair structure, texture, colour and style preferences”, she says.

Delving into the pig picture of the industry she says,” Only a very few people know that the hair extension industry is more or less like the jewellery industry because the raw materials of both industries are valuable and hard to find. However, there is a distinct difference between the two supplies. A woman with the right volume of hair can look stunning without any jewellery. But the other way round is never true. This is why the hair extension industry is a billion-dollar industry in the world.

Sri Lanka can claim a sizable market share in this industry as many foreigners wouldn’t mind travelling to Sri Lanka to get this service and enjoy a short stay here,” “We already have a lot of expats coming to get our products and services. Our newly launched website has paved the way for us to receive an increasing number of orders from the USA, Canada, UK, Italy, Germany, Australia, the Middle East etc. Our AI-driven online platform enables virtual hair extension try-on for potential clients. So, they can see themselves virtually with their preferred hair extensions and place their orders. Usually, the lead time for delivery of an export order is about two weeks, and the prices vary according to the type and style of the chosen extension,” Kaveesha says.

“We have a range of hair extensions for those who can visit Sri Lanka as well as who can’t physically be here, but love to use our products after virtually experiencing it. I am glad that we have seen an increase in the number of online orders since we started exporting in 2020, on a small scale during covid-19 pandemic. The salon was founded in 2003, and our hard work has paid off with our export footprint. I think it’s high time we expanded our business to make it more industrial and globally competitive, and be more visible to the global audiences,” she says.

Kaveesha’s local clientele comprises celebrities, professionals, businesspeople, academics, politicians among other clients.

“Now we want to sell our hair products to the entire world. With this objective in mind, I am planning to establish a new hair products factory including the salon near the Katunayake International Airport to provide easy access to my clients. Then they can have their desired hair extensions within minutes of leaving the arrivals terminal. I know from experience that is how fast they want this critical service.” she says.

According to her, the new eco-friendly facility will cost about Rs. 45 million and it will create at least 60 jobs for industry veterans and novices.

“Our vision is to take Salon Kaveesha to international prominence as a leading provider in the hair and beauty industry. I am confident that the banks I deal with, will support me in financing the new project given the establishment’s proven track record, and my industry experience of more than 20 years.” she says.

Kaveesha points out that one challenge for her business is getting the right equipment and accessories for her trade.

“Hair extensions, hair-to-hair transplants and making innovative hair products from finest human hair is a specialized trade. But we can hardly find the sophisticated tools in Sri Lanka for it. We have to go abroad from time to time to purchase them,” she says.

Buddini Jayanika, manager at Salon Kaveesha said that they have donated many hair wigs to women in marginalized groups who faced hair-loss due to medical conditions and couldn’t afford to buy one. She also mentioned that her CEO believes in giving back to society, and therefore, Salon Kaveesha supports several CSR activities.

The embellishment annually donates hair extensions to cancer patients and underprivileged individuals to boost their confidence and self-esteem. It also provides stationery to students of disabled army soldiers every year to support their education.

Kaveesha’s husband, Lasantha Bethmage is an investor cum director of the establishment.

All News Advertisement

Business

PM ‘Rings the Bell’ at CSE to champion financial literacy and investor education

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

P.M. Dr.Harini Amarasuriya

As part of World Investor Week (WIW) 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) joined stock exchanges around the world in ringing the market opening bell for financial literacy on 5 October 2026, under the patronage of Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

World Investor Week is an annual global campaign led by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to raise awareness of the importance of investor education and investor protection. The “Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy” initiative, pioneered by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), brings together stock exchanges and other stakeholders worldwide to promote greater financial literacy and encourage individuals to make informed financial decisions.

The ceremony also marked the 40th anniversary of the CSE and the joint launch by the SEC and the CSE of the Stock Market Game, an online stock market simulation based on the ATrad trading system.

The Stock Market Game enables participants to gain practical experience of how the stock market works, make investment decisions and construct portfolios of listed shares without using real money. The platform is accessible through the websites of the SEC and CSE and is expected to serve as an important practical tool for promoting financial education. It is envisaged that the Stock Market Game will also be used to conduct simulation competitions among universities and the 100 Capital Market Clubs established in schools across the country.

The ceremony also featured the commemorative issuance of a stamp and First Day Cover to mark the 40th anniversary of the CSE. Issued in collaboration with the Department of Posts and the Philatelic Bureau of Sri Lanka, the commemorative stamp and First Day Cover were presented to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, by the SEC Chairman Snr. Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara and Ray Abeywardena, Director CSE and Chairman of Central Depository Systems (CDS).

Welcoming the gathering, Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Chief Executive Officer of the CSE, highlighted the importance of obtaining reliable information when making investment decisions.

“We operate in a digital world where a vast amount of information and data is disseminated through social media. While some of this information is factual, some may be inaccurate or misleading. When investing in the stock market, it is essential to make informed and prudent investment decisions. Therefore, investors should obtain information and data from reliable and responsible sources and persons before making investment decisions.”

Addressing the gathering, SEC Chairman Snr. Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara emphasised that the SEC’s role extends beyond regulation to facilitating the further development of the capital market.

“The SEC needs to determine how best to introduce the stock market to Generation Alpha, Generation Beta and generations beyond. When it comes to investors, we need to build confidence in the market, because people will invest only when they have confidence in the market.’’

Business

Rs. 5 million worth of prizes to be given at 8th edition of CSE Masterminds Quiz Competition

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has announced that the eighth edition of the CSE Masterminds Quiz will be held on 9th October 2026, from 3.00 p.m. onwards, at the Main Ballroom, Shangri-La Colombo.

Recognised as Sri Lanka’s premier capital market quiz competition, CSE Masterminds brings together teams from the public and private sectors. Participants will be tested across international business, global markets, current affairs, the Sri Lankan economy and business, the Sri Lankan stock market, and sports and entertainment, before a concluding rapid-fire round.

This year the winning team can win up to Rs. 2,000,000, the runners-up up to Rs. 1,000,000, and the second runners-up Rs. 750,000. Sector awards will also be presented to the highest-performing team from each participating sector. Guest participants will also be able to compete in rounds of Audience questions, and will have the opportunity to participate a raffle draw for three free return tickets provided by Fits Aviation (Pvt) Ltd.

The evening will also include an exclusive after-party with live music provided by the band ‘Doctor’ featuring guest performer Umara Sinhawansa, fine food and beverages, providing an opportunity for networking and celebration. Every participant will receive a premium goodie bag made possible by the support of the event’s sponsorship partners. Collectively, the event will feature over Rs. 5 million worth of prizes, rewards, and giveaways, encompassing championship prizes, sector awards, audience engagement prizes, raffle draw offerings, and goodie bags.

Sponsorship partners include:

Platinum Sponsors: Hatton National Bank PLC and Bartleet Religare Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd.

Gold Sponsors: Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC, Asha Securities Ltd., and Lanka Securities (Pvt) Ltd.

Silver Sponsors: Barista Coffee Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Capital Trust Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., LOLC Holdings PLC, Arpico Ataraxia Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd., IronOne Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., and LankaPay (Pvt) Ltd.

Co-Sponsors: Access Engineering PLC, Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, CryptoGen (Pvt) Ltd., Deloitte Lanka (Private) Limited, Dialog Finance PLC, Efutures (Pvt) Ltd., People’s Leasing & Finance PLC, Senfin Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd., and Softlogic Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd.

Business

NCCSL to conduct practical workshop on food labelling and advertising regulations in Sri Lanka

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) is organizing a one-day practical workshop on “Food Labelling & Advertising Regulations in Sri Lanka” on Thursday, 8th October 2026 from 9.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the National Chamber of Commerce, Colombo 10. The workshop has been organised to provide a practical understanding of the latest regulatory requirements governing the food products labelling and advertising of food products in Sri Lanka, with particular attention to regulatory developments applicable in 2026, compliance requirements, and the potential legal and financial implications of non-compliance.

As food products increasingly compete not only with quality and price but also on packaging, labelling and promotional claims, businesses must ensure the information they communicate to consumers is accurate, transparent and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. Understanding these requirements is therefore essential for businesses seeking to protect their brands, maintain consumer confidence, and minimize regulatory and legal risks.

The practical workshop will go beyond an overview of regulations and focus on how businesses can apply regulatory requirements in their day-to-day operations. Participants will be guided through key areas of food regulatory compliance, including the national food regulatory framework, recent food labelling regulations and key changes, mandatory approvals and prohibitions relating to food labelling, and the litigation process associated with regulatory violations. The programme will also cover several areas of growing importance to the food industry, including the EU EMPCO Directive, food colour coding regulations, regulations relating to food trans-fatty acids and the importance of compliance in the use of food additives. Practical exercises will further enable participants to apply their knowledge to real-world compliance situations and strengthen their ability to identify potential regulatory concerns.

For further information and registration, please contact the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka on 011 4741788 – Nethmi or Udula – 071 403 4775.