Business
‘Turning five, ready to thrive’
The island’s most popular and novel PRAWN-themed restaurant, ISSO, celebrated its 5th anniversary onMarch 23. ISSO began operations in 2016, in a small outlet down Sulaiman terrace. Today they have grown from a small store, to their iconic flagship outlet down Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 3. ISSO soon became renowned for serving high quality, delicious PRAWN dishes from around the world, at a reasonable price bracket. In fact, prawns are a commodity which is often seen as a luxury item, ISSO reintroduced PRAWNS to the market as an easily accessible food option, at an affordable price bracket. The popularity of the PRAWN-themed restaurant soon grew, owing to its novel menu, delicious food, and cult following.
In addition to the restaurant’s exciting menu and diversity of dishes, there are a host of surprises to celebrate ISSO’s 5th anniversary. Some of the specials customers can look forward to, half priced ISSO Burgers for the first 100 customers and FREE cupcakes at the store from 5-6pm for all customers.
Commenting on ISSO’s journey, CEO and Co-Founder Apinash Sivagumaaran said “The past 5 years has been an exciting learning experience for all of us – today ISSO has grown 5 years strong. We’ve fallen, we’ve grown, we’ve learned, now we are ready to serve and cater to the needs of our customers more than ever before! A big thank you to our PRAWN-CRAZY customers, our team, our vendors, our partners, families, and friends; who have all been a massive part of our journey. I am deeply grateful for all the support extended to us over the past five years and look forward to personally welcoming you all back to ISSO soon! We look forward and are excited to present what is in-store for the future of ISSO in the coming year”.
The brand envisions towards becoming a well-known global restaurant franchise brand, and to represent Sri Lankan cuisine and hospitality around the world. ISSO aims to open 100 outlets across the world through a mix of company-owned and franchised outlets in the next 5 years.
ISSO uses only sea caught flower and tiger prawns, which are highly regarded by seafood lovers & chefs for their flavor. This combined with the use of fresh, locally and sustainably sourced, high-quality ingredients, along with a team of expert chefs have enabled ISSO to create a variety of signature dishes. At ISSO, you are able to customize your combo meal, by picking the size of prawn, style of cooking and side. This enables the consumer to try multiple variations of their menu on each visit.
ISSO’s efforts haven’t just earned them the trust and love of their PRAWNCRAZY customers, but has made a mark in the International Arena too. ISSO has also been the recipient of numerous accolades, a few of which include – The Best “Restaurant Concept Of The Year” at the QSR Media Awards 2020 in Singapore, The Rocheston Award in 2019 for ‘Distinguished Restaurant’ and the TripAdvisor Excellence awards for 3 consecutive years.
ISSO continues to build on its ethos of disrupting the market and has pivoted into the RTE market segment under the brand name; EasyMeals, during the pandemic to service the needs of their customers. ISSO is 1 of 51 companies from India and Sri Lanka, taking part in the Stanford Seed Transformation program: A GSB-led initiative that works with entrepreneurs; to build thriving organizations, strengthen their businesses, gain traction, and impact lives.
ISSO is open every day for dine-in customers from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. with a choice of indoor and outdoor dining. For delivery and reservations, you can reach out to them on 011 777 0300 or via www.isso.lk
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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