Business
Tharaka time house celebrates 50 Years of Excellence
Think luxury, think watches, think sophisticated elegance that has stood the test of time and what springs to mind? Tharaka Time House of course!
“Our store in Colombo Sri Lanka is recognized as an Official Rolex Retailer, as we only sell genuine Rolex timepieces” says Senior Partner of Tharaka Time House ,Tharaka Jayatissa, whose father Athauda Arachchchige Somasiri Wimaladasa Jayatissa opened his first Rolex outlet in 1973 .
“This year we celebrate 50 years of matchless, timeless, elegance and superlative service, a tradition my father started and my brother and I continue”.
How did it all begin? Tharaka Jayatissa recounts that it was primarily an emotional rather than a business decision for his father who always had a great passion for quality watches and was the Chief Technician at B P de Silva’s. “Rolex were having problems with their agents at that time and my father having specialized in Omega watches wrote to Rolex in Geneva, saying that with his considerable experience as the Chief Technician for Omega, he would like to take over the Rolex agency”.
Within a period of approximately one year, Mr Boilet from Rolex Geneva, together with Mr Ramsay who headed the Rolex operation in Singapore came to Sri Lanka and commenced discussions with Mr Jayatissa Snr. The first showroom was opened on November 4, 1973 and was located on the ground floor of the Hemas building in York Street Colombo 1. It was named after Mr Jayatissa Snr’s son Tharaka who was just two months old at that time.
“Rolex Geneva had so much confidence in my father that Mr Boilet sent all the service equipment free of charge,” Tharaka said.
In 1979 they commenced importing and selling watches, starting with 15 pieces. “Our first watches were the Oyster Perpetual Date watch which sold for Rs 75,000/-. It was bought by Mr Hilmy Rauf, owner of Crest Gems. The Rolex 18 carat gold Day/Date watch priced at Rs 325,000/- was bought by Mr C.S.Abeysekere, owner of Supreme Traders, in 1981. Today the 36 mm Oyster Perpetual Day watch costs Rs 3.4 million, while the Rolex 18 carat gold Day/Date costs 15 million”.
Tharaka Jayatissa recounts how his father who underwent training both in Singapore as well as Geneva under Kurt Bruner, took a personal pride in his craft and came to work on a daily basis right up to his death on April 16, 2017 at the age of 79.
With regards to future plans and expansion, Tharaka Time House is presently constructing a state of the art four-floor showroom in the vicinity of the Liberty Plaza roundabout, with each floor consisting of 1700 sq feet. “This building will be totally dedicated to Rolex with the servicing and showroom all under one roof and if all goes well it will be open for business towards the end of 2024 or early 2025”.
In December this year Tharaka Time House will introduce to the local market the new 40 mm GMT Master priced at Rs 5.2 mill, the new 40 mm Daytona which is Rs 7.5 mil, and the new 36 mm 18 carat platinum Day / Date, which costs Rs 18 mil.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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