Business
Worldwide Week of Italian Cuisine begins
‘At the table with Italian cuisine: well-being with taste’ is the theme at the 8th edition of the Worldwide Week of Italian Cuisine (WWIC) being held across three five-star hotels and four Italian restaurants in Colombo. From the 13th to the 19th of November, award winning chefs from Italy will be sharing their artistry in the kitchen with chefs at The London Grill Cinnamon Grand Colombo, 1864 at Galle Face Hotel & Ports of Call at the Taj Samudra. Chef Lorenzo Alessio, Chef Maria Nasso and Chef Leonardo Ricci will be in Sri Lanka during the week-long festival, while four restaurants – Lago, Aquaforte, Dolce Italia and Il Mare will also weigh-in with their gastronomic fare.
With the legacy of Italian cuisine reverting way back into the era the Romans, with the world’s first ever recipe book De Re Coquinaria written by Apicius in the first century AD, Italy etched itself as a harbinger of change on the global cuisine map. The festival therefore will combine the multiple flavours of Italian cuisine built on that strong bond of the Mediterranean diet coupled with the tradition of the age-old craft of wine. Colombo will be savouring the goodness of fresh agricultural produce as well, the quintessential mainstay of Italian fare.
Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka & the Maldives Damiano Francovigh says, “During the previous seven editions, 300 diplomatic and consular offices in more than 100 countries held over 9.500 events, making the WWIC one of the most successful initiatives to support Italian culture and lifestyle in the world. This year, our aim is to have the greatest number of Sri Lankans enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, first hand.”
The Ambassador adds that not only has the Embassy collaborated with some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the city with special menus developed by Italian chefs, “But these chefs will also be conducting training programmes with the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka. We believe it is important to focus on training and developing Sri Lankan chefs for the future, especially in a country where tourism has so much potential.”
The WWIC is based on few key points: creating awareness on Italian food and wines and the territories they come from, promoting the Mediterranean diet, highlighting the importance of geographical indications and taking the Italian expertise in hospitality to the world via training.
Adding some words of confidence, the Ambassador said, “In Sri Lanka, it is very possible to prepare excellent Italian dishes right throughout the year, using Italian recipes and combining Italian products with fresh local ingredients. This is a lasting legacy that will continue even after WWIC because in Sri Lanka, we can produce amazing Italian dishes, every single day.”
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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