Business
Culture, cuisine, dance and destination featured at Sri Lanka Cultural Festival Stockholm
Several Swedish and Sri Lankan partners came together last week to present Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture, cuisine, dance and destination at the ‘Sri Lanka Cultural Festival’ held in the Etnografiska Museum and Matamekka, Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen, Stockholm. The festival also portrayed the myriad facets of Sri Lanka’s arts, literature, heritage and history, creative industry, ayurveda and wellness, film and music etc. The event which concluded on 28th August 2022 witnessed a high visitor count of 1300. The event was also done in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
The 5-day Cultural event was launched at the Etnografiska Museum on 24 August with Sri Lankan cuisine, exotic traditional Sri Lankan dances including poojanatuma, Surambavalliya and Nagaraksha and classical music amidst a distinguished audience and partners. Master Chef Rohan Fernandopulle, Bocuse d’ Or President Sri Lanka, teamed up with Swedish Chef Carola Magnusson to present authentic Sri Lankan dishes showcasing the island’s rich culinary heritage. Live stations of hoppers and Kottu projected the islands unique dishes. Freshly brewed Dilmah Tea presented the finest selections of Ceylon Tea.
Sri Lanka’s muti-faceted, all-year-around destination featured throughout the festival. The tourism booth, video presentations, posters, banners and flyers depicting the diverse attractions that the island offers such as pristine beaches; lush forests; gushing waterfalls; wildlife and ancient cities, adventure and rich and diverse culture presented the diversity and richness of the island destination.
The Festival also included presentations at the Etnografiska Museum of a variety of unique items from Sri Lanka brought out for the festival by the Museum. Additionally, from private collections, professional creations – replica paintings of Sigiri Apsara, Mulkirigala (19thC Thelapththa Jatakaya), Dodanduwa (19thC, Vessanthara Jatakaya), Replica statues of Avaloketheeswara Bodhisattva (9th C, Veheragala) in brass, and the unique Ethpahana (Elephant lamp 12th Century Dedigama-Punkagama) in bronze, conceptual painted pottery using traditional temple imagery on earthen-ware pots, and other creations presenting the finest Sri Lankan sculptor tradition/ expertise were on display. Silver, brass, wooden handicraft and batik creations projected Sri Lanka’s creative industry. Amongst the commercially relevant displays were, Ayurveda and wellness products; authentic Sri Lankan spices.
Sri Lankan literature corner attracted many visitors. Sri Lanka novels such as Madol Duwa, translated to Swedish presented Sri Lanka literature tradition. Films produced by Swedish producer Stefan & Lavonne Quinth on various themes including Sri Lankan wildlife films were screened daily at the Etnografiska Museum Auditorium. The producers have been-closely associated with filming Sri Lanka for over 40 years.
Children were exposed to an additional flavour of Sri Lanka through painting of the islands wild life such as the walikukula (jungle fowl)- the national bird, the Asian elephant, leopard, whale, dolphin, peacock etc. The Sri Lankan dressing booth was a popular stop at the event, providing a delightful experience of dressing in traditional saree, osariya and sarong.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Stockholm together with Sri Lanka Tourism received excellent partnership of the Etnografiska Museum, Stockholm; Carola’s EKO of Swedish Chef Carola Magnusson; Master Chef Rohan Fernandopulle, President Bocuse d’ Or; Dilmah Tea- Sri Lanka and agent Tekompaniet, Stockholm; Swedish Film producers Stefan and Lavonne Quinth.
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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