Life style
Upali Wijewardene: He reached for the stars
On a day like this 39 years ago on February 13, 1983, Sri Lanka’s much loved business leader, Upali Wijewardene, who captured the imagination of an entire nation vanished without trace in his Lear jet with five others on board. They were returning to Colombo from Malaysia where his Kandos chocolates had hit dizzy heights.
His disappearance engulfed the the region with shock and disbelief. US Orion surveillance aircraft, Soviet and Australian warships, Indonesian minesweepers, Indian airplanes, Malaysian patrol boats and Sri Lankan fishermen were all mobilized in search operations to no avail. ‘What if Upali lived? What really happened to Upali?’ continue to be yet unanswered questions.
If Upali Wijewardene was a sensation in life, he was elevated to a legend after he went missing just four days short of his 45th birthday.
Wild theories about his disappearance were floated around and Colombo’s children of the 80s were said to have devised a game called ‘Finding Upali’s Plane.’ A larger than life figure and a maverick who embraced life with such gusto had disappeared; but he continues to live in the heart of a nation.
The Sunday Island recaps the saga of its founder who was once dubbed ‘the ‘Quintessential Entrepreneur of Asia’ and ‘the man who would be President’
By Randima Attygalle
“My philosophy is to do what you know how to do well and from this I mean you must have the knowledge right all the way through…” reflected Philip Upali Wijewardene, or ‘PUW” as he was fondly called, in an interview with the Malaysian Business in December, 1981. In a technologically austere time, long before the digital revolution when a direct international call had to be ‘booked.’ Wijewardene plunged into chocolate-making, assembly of cars, newspaper publishing, aviation, plantations and much more. As was once documented, ‘the success story of Upali, is the story of how small Asian companies can grow into multinational corporations. It was a precursor of the coming of age of the ‘entrepreneurial Asian.’
Philip Upali Wijewardene was born on February 17, 1938 to Don Walter Wijewardene (from Sedawatta walauwa ) and Anula Kalyanawathi Wijesinghe (from Miriswatta Walauwa) at his famous paternal grandmother Helena Wijewardene’s mansion, Sri Ramya, in Colombo (where the present American Centre stands). Upali grew up amidst the affection of his two older sisters, Anoja and Kalyani and a bevy of cousins. He received his kindergarten education at Ladies’ College and later at Royal College, Colombo. When he turned 15, Upali was sent off to St. John’s School Leatherhead in England. Having read Economics at the University of Cambridge, the 21-year-old debonair Wijewardene returned home in 1959 and was recruited by Lever Brothers as a Management Trainee. The corporate rigours and an eternally irate boss left the young recruit drained in two years.
Having quit Levers in 1961, the blue-blooded Wijewardene did not fall back on his family wealth but sought his own fortune first with a friend’s ailing confectionery plant which he re-baptized as Delta and a few years later with Kandos – the brand promoted by Ceylon Chocolates Ltd. In 1970, with the demise of its founder Chairman, Senator Sarath Wijesinghe, his nephew Upali Wijewardene who was expanding his business empire took over the reins of that company.
True to Wijewardene’s philosophy: ‘plunge in and get on with it’, the expanding fully-fledged cocoa processing plants and factories in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand enabled Kandos to be internationally present and rub shoulders with Nabisco, Mars, Cadbury and Hershey’s. At the time of his disappearance, Wijewardene claimed to be the only fully-integrated cocoa processor in Asia, with businesses ranging from growing cocoa to manufacturing cocoa-based consumer products. The cocoa tree which still adorns the Upali Group’s head office in Colombo and the taller tree which once stood at the door to his luxurious home in Pantai Hills in Kuala Lumpur, which he aptly named ‘Cocoa Hill’, says it all.
Following his uncle D.R. Wijewardene, the press baron, he went on to launch The Island and Divaina snubbing feasibility studies of foreign experts who warned him that the national newspaper market was already saturated. The exercise, as he alluded to the Insight magazine in May, 1981 five months ahead of its launch, was one of his ‘fun-projects’ but analysts say that political ambitions down the road were part of the story.
Just two months following the success of the newspaper, in an interview with a Malaysian business journal, Wijewardene gleefully remarked: “it must be a world record of some sort.” He went onto note that the newspaper’s popularity probably has more to do with editorial policy and style, adding tongue-in-cheek: “they said there was no market, but people must have got tired of reading gazettes!” As the founder editor of the Island, Vijitha Yapa once recalled, Wijewardene was “an editor’s ideal publisher who never interfered with the independence of the newspaper.”
The present Managing Director and CEO of the Upali Group of Companies, Nimal Welgama recollects: “Upali was a man with tremendous energy which he employed in everything he did. He was mischievous, had a sense of fun and in the last lap of his life, not only gave of himself to his many private enterprises but also contributed his time and skill for public purposes; hence his period as Chairman and Director General of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission (GCEC), the predecessor of the Board of Investment (BOI).”
Having worked for the Upali Group as a young man, Welgama recounts his one-time boss ‘making waves in his own inimitable style.’ “He was ever conscious that his father died young and he did not expect to attain a venerable old age. At the time his life was so tragically snuffed out, he used to say that the accent is on enjoying”.
The emblem of the business group he set up – the blazing copper sun with a ‘U’ in the middle was a motif of Wijewardene’s own personality says the Upali Group’s CEO. “The warmth of his personality, like that of the sun, was felt by the many people he befriended. He was good to his employees, people who served him at various levels, and in return had not only their loyalty but their affection.”
From steering a multinational to being the Chief Basnayake Nilame of the Kelani Raja Maha Vihara, Wijewardene donned many hats. His string of thoroughbreds and Labradors stole a large part of his heart. His beloved ‘Charlie’ is said to have kept a long vigil for months after he disappeared, waiting for his master who never returned.
“My late uncle Upali’s signature facet was his love for speed. This he applied in expanding his business empire. He bought a Lear jet and obtained a Red Passport as the Chairman of GCEC because he was a man for speed and a fast decision-maker. Even his other indulgences including his love for horse and car racing reflected this,” recollects nephew, Dhammika Attygalle who was 18 at the time of his uncle’s disappearance and is now a Director of the Upali Group of Companies.
Sporting his ‘Red and Gold Cross Slash’, Wijewardene’s Rasa Penang, Varron, Kandos-Man, General Atty, King of Zulu and Cornwall Garden shone at Royal Ascot, Singapore Derby and Perak Derby, ridden by none other than Lester Piggot. “One time Chairman of the Board of Stewards of the Sri Lanka Turf Club, he would even do a tarmac transfer to his helicopter and would make it to Nuwara Eliya, sometimes just minutes before races were to start.
The luxury S-Class Mercedes Benz 116 which he imported from Malaysia was the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. Upali mama used to travel to Nuwara Eliya or Kamburupitiya (his maternal home town) after dinner to save time and to reach the destination fast,” recollects Attygalle who goes on to note that his late uncle initiated Ruhunu Udanaya Movement to develop his maternal home town Kamburupitiya from where he had ambitions of being elected to Parliament..
A fan of Victor Ratnayake, C.T.Fernando and Milton Perera, Wijewardene would also enjoy the country-western timbre of Jim Reeves, who as he had once conceded, ‘puts him in a pensive mood for thinking up new business schemes.’
Having built a global corporation which spanned several countries including Malaysia, Singapore and the USA in the 1970s and the early 80s in an era of snail mail, telegrams and pre-booked international calls when communicating with people abroad took weeks and travel overseas was expensive and a luxury, her late uncle’s confidence and ‘can do’ attitude inspired her, says niece Lakmini Wijesundera, Co-founder and CEO of IronOne Technologies and BoardPAC. “Today, we have instant communication access and the speed of business is fast-tracked. Asia and the South East Asian regions have comparably good infrastructure to perform. Therefore, the great strides and speed at which he operated despite the obstacles in a technologically-Spartan era is outstanding and stands out among the rest even by today’s standards,” says Wijesundera, a successful entrepreneur herself.
She further remarks that her uncle had his sights up high and was not discouraged by past benchmarks. Therefore, he was able to carve new paths and futures and created an impact in the minds and hearts of Lankans whom he inspired to ‘dream big.’ He hammered home the message that we didn’t necessarily have to be conservative in what we wished to attain.
“His focus on branding was unmatched,” reflects Wijesundera who points out that the Free Trade Zones and concepts of similar nature were supported and led by him to create a fresh economic future for Sri Lanka – models which were innovative then and sucessfully adopted by several other countries in the region.
Watching her Upali mama’s helicopter landing on the flat roof of his Thurstan Road residence was an unforgettable memory for young Lakmini and her siblings. “We were so excited to be part of this rare experience at that time,” she smiles adding that she recalls him to be full of life with a great sense of humour and always with a smile. Thirteen years old at the time her uncle vanished, Wijesundera who relished her mother’s stories about her brother ‘starting from scratch with great determination at a young age.’ She believes that her Upali mama personified the belief that anything is possible with the correct mindset- a mantra that she believes in today.
A man who would think big, Wijewardene would advance from Upali Fiat and UMC Mazda to ‘Upali Aviation’. – the only domestic flight which would bridge the North and the South. The halting of the operations of the Upali Airline was a double whammy to fellow Jaffna countrymen who not only saw the flight as a vehicle of better communication between Jaffna and Colombo but also its founder as a harbinger of hope who would have possibly bridged the economic disparity between North and South.
Describing Wijewardene as ‘Sri Lanka’s most colourful businessman who has made a fortune both at home and abroad’, Matt Miller in his article under the banner ‘The man who would be President’ documents in May, 1981, ‘now he is turning his abundant energies and resources to a new arena; politics.’ Noting that ‘Upali’s current passion for politics is matched only by his passion for racehorses,’ Miller goes onto write: “And now the 43-year-old commodities wizard has started what could be called Upali’s Third 20-Year-Plan: ‘The first 20 years were education,” he says, “the second business and the third politics.” He would “be willing”, he says with uncharacteristic restraint to become president of Sri Lanka someday.”
With his suave personality and witty repartee, Wijewardene was a darling of the press. Adorning cover pages of coveted international business journals, he still remains the only home-grown Sri Lankan entrepreneur owning a multi-national to have been featured in the prestigious Fortune magazine.
The present Editor of the Sunday Times, Sinha Ratnatunga, then a young journalist who was one of the close acquaintances of Wijewardene privy to the last moments of the tycoon recollects: “When Upali left for the airport around 6.30 p.m. that day, I left at the same time for Ana Seneviratne’s residence. He was then the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur. I was to stay there until I flew to join my father who was in Jakarta.
The High Commissioner was getting calls well past midnight and it was only in the morning I heard that Upali’s plane hadn’t arrived in Colombo. I was not particularly taken aback or overly concerned straightaway thinking it was typical of him to go off the beaten track as Upali could be so unconventional even in his planes. It was only by midday while at Genting Highlands watching the cable cars going about that I got that eerie feeling that the plane must be missing.”
As veteran journalist Ajith Samaranayake once commented, “politicians Sri Lanka had known before (included) poets, pundits, scholars, sportsmen, film stars and singers alike. Philip Upali Wijewardene, however, did not belong to any of these moulds. He was not moulded out of the common clay. He broke the mould and reshaped it closer to his heart’s desire.” In Wijewardene’s own words his image in the villages is of “an international businessman of whom they are proud… The villager identifies only with success and for the youth I am probably the culmination of their aspirations.”
On a personal note, although I was merely a child at the time of Mr. Wijewardene’s untimely demise, I was fortunate to have become a part of the legacy he left behind for Sri Lankan journalism. While Kandos chocolates, Delta toffees, his landmark home in Colombo and the resplendent Nuwara Eliya bungalow and its garden- (which often clinched the ‘Best Garden’ award during the April season) and his Lear jet were motifs I often associated with him as a young child, becoming part of his newspaper allowed me a vantage point to this towering personality.
One of my favourite research subjects, I often hear anecdotes about this trendsetter by my senior colleagues. My editor Manik de Silva who was Mr. Wijewardene’s first choice to edit The Island (which he has recounted under the title The job I didn’t take) has many stories I have savoured – particularly the one about the young Upali knowing he had got the Lever Brothers management trainee job when the sudda boss took him and his rival to the Galle Face Hotel to lunch to check out their table manners. “When my rival titled his soup bowl towards himself and not the other way, I knew I had the job,” Upali had said,
My other colleagues Zanita Careem and Anneston Weerasinghe who were recruited by Mr. Wijewardene more than 40 years ago remember him as a man of infectious charisma who would turn heads not just once but twice.
I’m only humbled to have clinched the award given in his name (Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the Year) multiple times – twice from a newspaper he founded. I’m indeed fortunate to have become part of the publication he founded 40 years ago as a platform for liberal expression without fear or favour.
Each time I hear the rustle of the wind blowing through the cocoa tree he planted in the Upali compound, and look at the splendid dome of St. Lucia’s Cathedral nearby towering overhead, I remember Elton John’s Candle in the wind he sang for Marylin Monroe.:
‘And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did….’
Celebrating ‘Our Children’ on International Day to End Corporal Punishment
An event to mark the International Day to end corporal punishment was held at the public library recently. Organised by the Stop Child Cruelty Trust and the Child Protection Alliance it was an compelling advocacy iniative to combact violence against children.
Dr Tush Wickramanayaka, Founder Chairperson of SCC and Co-convener of CPA, shared her disappointment that the delay the submission of the Bill in parliament, which was already passed in Cabinet by the previous government on 2024 “Physical abuse of children is a preventable crime that has been normalised in society. Each day, there are horrendous incidents reported in the media. GOSL has a national and international obligation to fulfil its promises to eradicate this menace towards the dawn of a happier and safer future for the true beneficiaries of the future, our children”, said Dr Wickramanayaka.
Prof Savitri Goonesekere, Emeritus Professor of Law, Faculty of Colombo, was the chief guest. She delivered a powerful message on the implementation of the law. Whilst highlighting the shocking 40,000 cases of child abuse awaiting justice for years, Prof Goonesekere warned, the law is not for the people who respect it; the law is for the people who violate it. When there is impunity and a lack of prosecution, then you give a powerful message of legitimacy.”
The event also featured an expert forum on child protection strategies and celebrated the winners of the ‘Me Unhurt – Stop Child Abuse’ art competition, amplifying youth voices in the fight for their rights.Speaking at the event, Dr Tush Wickramanayake said “Physical abuse of children is a preventable crime that has been normalised in society. Each day, there are horrendous incidents reported in the media.
In February 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that ending corporal punishment was a public health priority. Each year, 1.8 million children worldwide are subjected to corporal punishment. In some countries, violence against children costs up to six times what is invested in health. Countries that have enacted comprehensive prohibitions against corporal punishment are granting children the same protective legal framework against assault as adults.
Recently forty countries made the first-ever joint statement on corporal punishment to the Human Rights Council, declaring that ending corporal punishment is a human rights priority for children. Children have the fundaShockingmental right to protection from all forms of violence. This right is essential for their well-being, safety, survival and development. It recognises the severe and lasting consequences of violence against children, not just for the individual child but for society as a whole.
Despite being recognised in 2017 as the sole Pathfinding country in South Asia committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.2 (ending violence against children), Sri Lanka’s efforts have faltered. The National Partnership to End Violence Against Children (NPEVAC), established to drive this agenda, dissolved in 2018. At the 2024 Bogotá Ministerial Conference, the government pledged to enact the Penal Code Reforms Bill to Abolish Corporal Punishment, a long-overdue measure and to implement teacher training programmes by mid-2025. However, legislative delays and inadequate enforcement undermine these commitments.
Om Prakash Sen Thakuri, Executive Director, Legal Literacy, Nepal, was a special invitee and child rights advocate who spoke on Nepal’s efforts to stop child marriages, a critical issue relevant also in Sri Lanka. Whilst Nepal banned corporal punishment in all settings in 2018, the implementation of the laws was still challenging.
Saranga Disasekara, actor and brand Ambassador of #NOguti awaitingexplained, “At a time when Sri Lanka is crippled in many aspects of society, parents must improve communication with their children and ensure their children can come to them without fear if there is any concern relating to their well-being; child protection is a collective social responsibility.”
Dr Gehan Gunathilake, Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), reiterated that children need to be recognised as rights holders and their welfare and safety should be at the heart of governance mechanisms. He informed that HRCSL has established a special child rights section to better focus on these issues.
Rtd DIG Priyantha Jayakody, a respected figure in law enforcement, explained, “Child abuse is now one of the top grave crimes in Sri Lanka. The Police must act more vigorously to ensure the evidence is submitted to the courts without delays to avoid the burden on law and order and the judicial services. He was particularly concerned about the 40,000 cases of child abuse awaiting justice and encouraged the government to act swiftly.
Prof Sarath Wijesuriya, renowned author and social activist, spoke on the collective responsibility of society in protecting children. He too insisted that children are the most vulnerable community in any country and the government should act beyond the rhetoric to ensure safety and welfare as a priority.
A key highlight of the event was the award ceremony for the winners of the ‘Me Unhurt – Stop Child Abuse’ art competition and the forum discussion with some of the winners on their views and expectations of a country that promotes and protects child rights.
The ‘Me Unhurt’ competition, judged by Shyamala Pinto Jayawardena (Shyamala School of Art) and Mihiri Devendra (Leap), received over 500 submissions nationwide. The winning designs by Chathuni Sandaleka and David Suarez (both 17) will grace the cover of ‘Our Children’, a forthcoming anthology of survivor narratives. Seventeen additional entrants earned high commendation for their artworks. In an interactive youth forum where the participants were asked to imagine they were President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, winners proposed bold reforms including Child-inclusive policymaking (e.g., youth advisory councils). Safer schools with anti-bullying protocols and Adult accountability through community monitoring. Their ideas resonated with attendees, including families and educators, underscoring the power of youth leadership.
Dr Tush Wickramanayaka, who turned adversity to advocacy and is a staunch advocate of child rights, explained that ‘Our Children’ book was a labour of love, a deep love and decades of hope. The art competition provided an opportunity for the young citizens to express their thoughts and feelings in creative masterpieces. The expressive images empower the voice of the victims and the public, highlighting the collective social responsibility to protect children. “The book is in the final stages of editing, and we hope to publish it in 2026. For now, we have created a leaflet of the artworks so that you can enjoy the visual tapestry of the young minds that tells us of the world they envisage. It is a sneak preview of the stories to follow…”, explained Dr Wickramanayaka.
For further information, media inquiries, or to get involved with the Stop Child Cruelty Trust, please contact www.stopchildcruelty.com or 077-1656867. (ZC)
Charming with an affable demeanor is the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Damiano Francovigh.
A long standing career diplomat, he is a graduate in Oriental languages and literature from the University of Venice in 1991. With a distinguished career spanning diverse diplomatic roles , he brings a wealth of experience to his role in Sri Lanka.
His innate charisma has unsurprisingly, grown quite popular in the social and diplomatic circles of Sri Lanka ever since he arrived in Sri Lanka 2023. In his current role he is dedicated to strenghening the diplomatic relationship between Italy and Sri Lanka.
His first impressions of Sri Lanka have been overwhemingly positive and his remarkable tenure is defined by unmatched activity of showcasing many socialand cultural events in Sri Lanka .Effortlessly chic and elegant at all times, he fulfills his roles with aplomb and epitomises the traits of a quintessential diplomat, with grand finesse. Since fashion is synonymous with Italian culture,Ambassador Damiano plays out the role of being a strong emblem of style. In this interview with ‘Sunday Island’ the Italian envoy shares his views on the naunces of diplomacy, his aspirations for fostering stronger ties between the two countries.
A great art aficionado, Damiano has brought many artists,musicians, chefs and designers to Sri Lanka.
Could you briefly describe your career path and the road you travelled to become Ambassador to Sri Lanka?
I joined the diplomatic service in 2002 and, as it happens for every diplomat, during the years I served both in our Headquarters in Rome and abroad. I was posted to Syria, as head of the commercial section of the Embassy, Vietnam, where I was Deputy Head of Mission, and India, where I was Consul General. After this last posting I served four years in Rome and I think that the experience I had in my previous postings in South-east Asia and in South Asia helped me a lot for being selected as Ambassador to Sri Lanka, a Country I had already visited as a tourist while I was posted in India, prior to my assignment here.
Ambassador Damiano Francovigh
How did your journey into relations between Italy and Sri Lanka begin and how has it evolved since your arrival?
We can say that this journey started, as it happens for all Ambassadors, the day I presented my credentials to then President Ranil Wickremasinghe, in a fascinating ceremony that mixed the ancient tradition of the Country with its rich cultural heritage. Since then, I have met many persons: politicians, civil servants, businesses, artists and also common people, trying to know better this Country, its history and its culture. I also engaged with local communities and institutions, which deepened my understanding of the political, social, economic and diplomatic connections. Our daily work is to see how shared values, mutual interests, and a growing Italian presence in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan presence in Italy can help foster stronger ties. I have learnt that Sri Lankans take pride in preserving their traditions and the nation’s unique identity while embracing modern innovation, an approach which is very similar to what happens in Italy. This combination of historical depth and cultural richness makes Sri Lanka not just an interesting place but a nation with a soul—one that captivates those who take the time to understand it.
What does being the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka mean to you?
Being the Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka is both an honour and a great responsibility. Italy and Sri Lanka enjoy a long-standing and friendly relationship, built on decades of cooperation across many sectors. This partnership is enriched by the vibrant Sri Lankan community in Italy —the largest in continental Europe— and by the presence of Italian businesses in Sri Lanka, particularly in the garment, tourism, and hospitality sectors. My role is to work closely with the Sri Lankan Government and local authorities to further strengthen these ties, creating favourable conditions for individuals and companies from both countries to thrive. The fact that the well-being of so many people depends, in part, on the quality of this relationship makes my role deeply meaningful. It’s a daily reminder of the real impact diplomacy can have on people’s lives.
Design, fashion and wine-how is the Italian life style perceived in Sri Lanka?
Italian lifestyle is widely appreciated in Sri Lanka, as in many other parts of the world, for its elegance, quality, and craftsmanship. Italian fashion brands are well recognized and sought after, symbolizing a refined and timeless style. The same can be said for Italian design, which is often associated with excellence in furniture, architecture, and automotive. In recent years, Italian wine has also been gaining popularity, with an increasing interest in its rich variety and heritage. The growing number of Italian restaurants in Sri Lanka contribute to spreading the culture of Italian cuisine and lifestyle, making it accessible and enjoyable for many.
What do you love about this country and your special likings?
Sri Lanka is a country of incredible diversity, offering a fascinating blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and warm hospitality. I have been particularly captivated by its stunning landscapes, from the beaches of the south to the tea plantations of the hills. The historical and archaeological sites, such as Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Dambulla, are simply breathtaking. The local markets, bustling with activity, are a perfect example of energy, where traditional spices, handcrafted goods, and fresh produce showcase the richness of the land and its people’s ingenuity. On a more personal note, I have a deep appreciation for Sri Lankan seafood and I enjoy trying different local curries. The warmth of the people makes this country a truly special place to live and work.
What are the places and experiences not to be missed for those who want to travel Sri Lanka from Italy? Your favorite food and destinations in Sri Lanka?
Regarding touristic destinations to recommend, this is a very hard choice to make because I should mention so many places which I visited and liked very much, like the southern beaches, or trekking in the Pekoe Trail, or the hills, or the magnificent sacred sculptures of Dambulla, or the experience of playing golf in one of the marvelous courses present in the island. There are indeed so many things which could be listed, but if I have to select only one place, I would then mention Sigiriya, whose visit was, for me, a breathtaking and fascinating experience. Regarding food, I have a special preference for sea food and Sri Lanka is blessed with a great production of wonderful prawns, crabs, lobster and other delicacies of this kind, which I love cooked in any style.
How do you boost cultural co-operation and heritage between the two countries? What are some recent initiatives from the Italian Embassy?
The Embassy organizes a number of initiatives to make Italian culture and lifestyle better known and visible in Si Lanka. I am also very glad that we have recently launched two new social channels, where the Embassy communicates the organization of events or main facts of our bilateral relations that can be of general interest (https://www.facebook.com/ItalyinSriLanka/ , https://www.instagram.com/italyinsrilanka/). The focus of our initiatives is on many different sectors, spanning from fashion and design, to food, culture, science, sports and others: I am glad here to mention the celebration of the worldwide week of Italian cuisine in November, when we invited, with the collaboration of some of the most important hotels in Colombo, five chefs who have presented to the local public Italian delicacies for the entire week, the concert we have organized in Galle in occasion of our national day in June, when we presented the latest creation of the Italian author Nicolò Faraci. And we will have more during 2025, with a concert by a renown Italian violinist in September and a contemporary art performance before the end of the year.
Can you discuss some of the challenges you encountered coming from a country where everything is different, food, language, social ethos, and temperature?
When reaching a new Country diplomats always face challenges, which involve not only our self but all of our family. As a matter of fact, while we maintain a continuity in our work (our procedures and business environment remain always the same in all Italian Embassies worldwide), for our family members the horizon changes totally: new house, new friends, new school for the children, new climate and environment. Moving to Sri Lanka has brought us to an environment that was not unknown since, as I said, I was posted previously in South Asia. Language and food weren’t such a big challenge since English is widely spoken in the region while we started to know and appreciate in our previous posting the use of spices and cooking style typical of the area. Concerning food, I have also to confess that we cook daily original Italian cuisine in my residence, not to miss too much the original flavors of Italy.
Finally, what impression has Sri Lanka left on you? And what message would you like to share with its people?
After almost two years in Sri Lanka, allow me to say that, beyond its economic and cultural strengths, Sri Lanka stands out for its resilience. The country has faced so many challenges, from civil war to economic hardships, yet its people have remained strong, adapting to challenges with determination and optimism. I think that the Country, while completing the journey to come out of the economic crisis, is discovering its great potential, which is still untapped: it’s an island state in a critical junction of the Indo-Pacific area, an area which has been the driver of global growth in the last 20 years; is a country that, since the end of the colonial period, has always enjoyed a democratic political system, a condition which has been strengthened by the results of the very peaceful elections and transition of power carried out in 2024; is a Country rich of wonderful tourist destinations, with a tropical climate allowing to welcome tourist 12 months a year. These are all conditions indicating that Sri Lanka should not implement inward looking policies but should instead continue in the path that it has recently started, strengthening investments in tourism and infrastructures and opening up the economy, and its manufacturing sector, to foreign investments and trade. This will increase the touristic presence in the island and will link up more strictly local industries to global value chains which will lead to an increase of business opportunities, exports and growth.
The Kingsbury has appointed Nandana Wirasinha as its new General Manager. This pivotal appointment heralds an exciting chapter in the hotel’s journey as it continues to redefine excellence and innovation in Sri Lanka’s luxury hospitality landscape.
Wirasinha brings with him nearly three decades of international hospitality experience, having held senior leadership roles with some of the world’s most esteemed hotel brands. His distinguished career spans all facets of hotel management, including operations, revenue strategy, guest engagement, culinary excellence and operational efficiency. Of particular note are his accomplishments at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where he played a key role in delivering benchmark-setting service and guest satisfaction.
Renowned for his ability to build high-performing teams and drive sustained revenue growth, Wirasinha has a proven track record of elevating service standards across the board. During his tenure in the UAE, he led multiple award-winning restaurants in Abu Dhabi, four of which received the coveted Triple Black Hat status in the prestigious ‘What’s On Abu Dhabi Black Hat Guide’—widely considered the region’s equivalent of the Michelin Guide. His leadership has consistently translated into enhanced guest satisfaction, operational excellence, and outstanding business performance.
A committed lifelong learner, Wirasinha is an alumnus of Cornell University with a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management. He also holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Tourism and Hospitality from The Emirates Academy, has completed the Cornell CXO Leadership Programme, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Management at the Postgraduate Institute of Management, Sri Lanka.
Kusal Mendis to replace Buttler at Gujarat Titans for IPL playoffs
Showers about 75 mm is likely at some places in Central, Eastern, Uva, Northern and North-central provinces.
CWI asks ICC for ‘fair and transparent’ pathway to LA28 Olympics
-
Features5 days agoSAITM Graduates Overcome Adversity, Excel Despite Challenges
-
News5 days agoDestined to be pope:Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest
-
Opinion5 days agoDrs. Navaratnam’s consultation fee three rupees NOT Rs. 300
-
Foreign News6 days agoMexico sues Google over ‘Gulf of America’ name change
-
Sports5 days agoASBC Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships from Monday
-
Features4 days agoChampioning Geckos, Conservation, and Cross-Disciplinary Research in Sri Lanka
-
Business5 days agoDilmah – HSBC future writers festival attracts 150+ entries
-
Business5 days agoBloom Hills Holdings wins Gold for Edexcel and Cambridge Education