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.
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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