Business
Traditional Hand Embroidery by Lakpahana
It was in the early 1960’s that Mrs. Siva Obeyesekere, who was passionate about all things handmade, started 15 sewing centers in the Attanagalle and Maligawa electorate. About 500 women attended the sewing centers.
Her husband Senator James Peter Obeyesekere was the Member of Parliament for Attanagalle at the time. The women could help improve their family income by using their leisure time in sewing at home. This became a popular cottage industry.
At the sewing centers, she and her friend, Mrs. Lorna Manukulasuriya, trained women to make the most exquisite hand embroidered handkerchieves, pillow cases and baby shirts. Made from French lawn, these beautifully embroidered items often embellished with handmade lace eschewed sentimentality, nostalgia and beauty. The designs were of a Victorian era. These beautiful items were very popular and found a ready market overseas.
Lakpahana now showcases the beautiful hand embroidered items. Handmade does not mean cheap, it means beautiful and well made. Carefully hand embroidered hankies make ideal mementos or gifts from a bygone age. The stitching is so well done that both sides are just as good.
A cotton hanky is ideal to use on hot humid days. There are gents’ hankies, childrens’ embroidered hankies and ladies’ hankies. They are deal to keep in the handbag and far classier than common tissue. It is a gift of love.
Kandyan embroidery fascinated Mrs. Obeyesekere. A great granddaughter of Iddamalgoda Kumarihamy, who was considered a princess in her time, Sabaragamuwa designs and embroidery occupied a special place in Siva’s heart. She drew all these vivid recollections to create a tapestry of colour.
Kandyan style embroidery using specific designs, colours and materials have been used to turn out beautiful cushion covers, table mats, flags and bags. The embroidered betel bags consists generally of a centre design, floral or otherwise framed by three or more borders parallel to the edge of the item of the borders.
The inner most is always “Pala peti”, the “Liya wela”, “Hawadiya” or “Gal bindu” patterns. Most of the Kandyan embroidery uses chain stitch, centipede stitch, buttonhole stitch, feather stitch and simple cross stitch.
Obeyesekere worked tirelessly to revive traditional handicrafts. Her efforts led her to start a small shop in front of the Horagolla Samadhi. This shop was the precursor to Laksala and finally Lakpahana. All the painstaking efforts of one woman who wanted to create a Sri Lankan identity. She spent endless hours with craftspeople and immersed herself in the country’s craft. Her work is a tribute to our country.
Lakpahana showcases all these embroidery and patchwork items together with a fantastic collection of all that is handmade. The past makes a beautiful present. Lakpahana has been at the forefront of doing things the traditional way.
Business
Sri Lanka Tourism makes a strong impression at CMT 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany
Sri Lanka Tourism marked its presence at CMT 2026, held in Stuttgart, Germany, one of the largest consumer travel fairs in Europe. The Sri Lanka Stand accommodated representatives from the local tourism industry, providing a valuable platform to connect directly with the German travel community, particularly travellers with long-haul travel intentions.
Sri Lanka’s participation at CMT 2026 enabled direct engagement with consumers and helped stimulate interest in exploring the country’s diverse and year-round travel experiences. This presence addressed a long-standing need for Sri Lanka Tourism to participate in major consumer-focused travel platforms, effectively taking destination promotion directly to the travellers’ doorstep.
A wide range of travel packages, customised itineraries, accommodation options, and experiential offerings were presented to interested German consumers by Sri Lankan DMCs, under the umbrella of Sri Lanka Tourism. The platform also allowed potential travellers to clarify concerns and queries related to planning travel to Sri Lanka through direct, face-to-face interactions with industry professionals.
These direct engagements enabled Sri Lankan industry participants to gain valuable insights into emerging travel interests, changing consumer behaviour, and evolving customer expectations in the German market. The face-to-face discussions with end consumers strengthened the industry’s understanding of demand trends and product requirements.
Strategically, Sri Lanka Tourism’s focus on B2C promotions serves as a catalyst for strengthening B2B platforms, ensuring that final decision-makers—the travellers—are actively engaged alongside trade partners. This alignment enhances the overall effectiveness of trade collaborations. Well-designed consumer promotion activities, including giveaways, contests, experiential engagements, and cultural performances, created emotional connections with visitors, improved destination recall, and reinforced Sri Lanka’s positioning as a compelling long-haul destination. (Sri Lanka Tourism)
Business
Adora raises the bar for hospital-backed aesthetic care in Wattala
Dr. Piyumini Gunasekara on advanced non surgical treatments
Hemas Hospitals has strengthened its regional healthcare positioning with the launch of Adora Cosmetic Centre at Hemas Hospital Wattala, introducing a hospital-backed, clinically governed model of aesthetic medicine at a time when South Asia’s cosmetic sector is expanding faster than regulation.
Unlike standalone cosmetic clinics, Adora is fully integrated into the Hemas Hospital ecosystem, embedding aesthetic services within hospital-grade infrastructure, multidisciplinary medical support and internationally aligned clinical governance.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Lakith Peiris, Managing Director of Hemas Hospitals & Labs, said the centre represents a deliberate shift in strategy.
“Adora is not about cosmetic enhancement alone. It is built on protocols, trained clinicians and governance. As healthcare providers scale across the region, safety and medical credibility must remain non-negotiable,” he told The Island Financial Review.
The centre is positioned as a health-class facility, combining advanced aesthetic technologies with evidence-based medical pathways. This approach addresses growing regional concerns over unregulated cosmetic practices, offering patients reassurance through professional oversight and ethical medical standards.
Prabhan Gunawardena, Director General Manager of Hemas Hospital Wattala, said the initiative reflects both clinical responsibility and business foresight.
“The cosmetic industry is evolving rapidly across South Asia. Adora demonstrates how innovation can be scaled responsibly when anchored in medical expertise and hospital governance,” he said.
Detailing the centre’s scope, Dr. Piyumini Gunasekara, Medical Officer – Adora Cosmetic Centre, said treatments are designed to address medical and aesthetic concerns through personalised, evidence-based care.
She told The Island Financial Review:”We offer advanced non-surgical treatments for concerns such as hyperpigmentation, acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, collagen loss, enlarged pores, rosacea, UV damage, excessive sweating, warts and moles. Every procedure is clinically assessed and delivered within a hospital-backed framework to ensure safe and sustainable outcomes.”
Clinical governance remains central to operations, reinforced by Dr. Malith Atapattu, Director – Medical Services and Quality, who highlighted the importance of protocol-driven care in a sector often challenged by inconsistent standards.
As Sri Lanka positions itself as a regional healthcare and medical tourism destination, hospital-led aesthetic centres such as Adora signal a broader industry shift—where growth is aligned with governance, trust and long-term sustainability.
For Hemas Hospitals, Adora represents a calculated entry into a high-growth segment without compromising medical integrity. For the region, it underscores a clear message: the future of aesthetic care lies in hospital-backed, clinically governed models—not cosmetic shortcuts.
By Ifham Nizam
Business
John Keells Consumer Foods Sector dominates SLIM National Sales Awards 2025 with landmark wins
The John Keells Consumer Foods Sector (JKCF) has reinforced its standing as a powerhouse in Sri Lanka’s FMCG industry with an exceptional performance at the SLIM National Sales Awards 2025, securing an impressive total of 27 awards. This remarkable achievement reflects the sector’s unwavering commitment to building high-performing teams, nurturing sales excellence, and driving sustained growth across its diverse business verticals.
Representing the iconic brands of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), Keells Food Products PLC (KFP), and Colombo Ice Company (CICL), JKCF has long been recognized for its rich legacy of innovation and leadership in beverages, frozen confectionery, and processed foods. Its long-standing focus on people capability and performance culture continues to fuel industry-leading achievements, with the latest recognition at SLIM NSA 2025 marking one of the largest collective wins by a single organization in the event’s history.
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