Esteem Magazine – Page 30 – Esteem Magazine

Wild Grass Nature Resort: Nature’s Gift of Serenity/Tranquility

“Solitude is such a potential thing. We hear voices in solitude, we never hear in the hurry and turmoil of life; we receive counsels and comforts, we get under no other condition …”

– Amelia E. Barr

If you are planning a memorable holiday where tranquility, privacy and relaxation are essential ingredients, Wild Grass Nature Resort, in the unassuming village of Kumbukkadanwala located between Sigirya and Dambulla, will tick the boxes for you.

Wild Grass is blessed with exceptional natural beauty — surrounded by undulating hills, extravagant foliage, even a little lake — and tranquility, disturbed only by the sounds of the forest, the twitter of birds and the call of the peacock. Life unfolds here at your pace, and we can assure you, this pace will slow down the longer you stay here, as you take in the clean fresh air, and begin to unwind and relax.

Most of the 25-acre resort is untouched jungle –the entrance to the resort is alongside a sentinel hill, and a small jungle path brings you to a natural clearing which houses an open sided, two storey pavilion which functions as a reception, bar area, lounge and restaurant, which offers a fabulous view of the magnificent Kandalama hills.

The ‘hotel’ as it were comprises of 7 spacious villas occupying a small carbon footprint, and as a result, the resort is regularly visited by rabbits, deer, wild boar, monkeys and over 40 species of birds as well as the occasional wild elephant.

Life at Wild Grass is uncomplicated; perfect for those seeking escape from the busy life. For those who take relaxation to the extreme, take a dip in the pool, read a book or simply stay indoors. Others might want to explore the property and the environs, or go off on an adventurous nature trail; or explore the cultural triangle and other lesser known historical sites nearby.

Wild Grass is also sought after as a honeymoon location as privacy and discretion are not just words but a philosophy practiced by the Wild Grass team.

Wild Grass follows strict nature conservation methods and much is being done to preserve the natural eco-systems. Some of the produce used in the kitchen comes from our own garden, though sometimes it appears to be a losing battle to the monkeys and peacocks that help themselves with impunity to the vegetables! We also source some of the items from the village which also uses eco-friendly methods to grow food. Solar power provides for hot water and for partial lighting, and plans are underway to power the entire resort using solar energy. The kitchen also practices environment-friendly methods in the way it disposes of waste.

Accommodation

There are 7 individual villas – two family villas that sleep between 4 and 6 people each, and five one bedroom villas for double or triple occupancy. Each villa is adequately spaced out to make privacy the ultimate luxury, and have all the comforts of modern-day living, with super-comfortable bedding, air conditioning, satellite TV channels, free wifi, minibar and fridge, coffee/tea making facilities and reading materials. Electronic safes and hairdryers are available in each villa. . Bicycles are provided on request to cycle up to the dining pavilion or explore the village.

The villas are contemporary in design with timber ceilings, floors in timber and polished cement, and glass sliding doors/windows that opens out to the magnificent natural surroundings. Villas come in two types – on a single raised level where bedroom and living are in one seamless space, or on two levels, with bedroom upstairs and a living room downstairs. The unique specialty family villas also comes in 2 formats to give our guests a different holiday experience – one is more suitable for families with smaller children, while the second is great for families with older children, or for friends travelling together. The family villas have two bedrooms in each unit, each with its own bathroom. Open air rain showers are another feature found in all villa types and a perfect antidote to a hot sultry day.

Wild Grass is an ideal holiday retreat for those who enjoy nature, good food, and privacy. The resort is child friendly and safe; children are very welcome.

Food & Beverages

The menu includes both international and local cuisine. Special food requests (including vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free meals) and other personal preferences are accommodated by the chef.

There are no set timings for the meals, which are decided exclusively by the guest, who can also choose to dine in different locations – the main restaurant, under the stars in the main restaurant’s roof terrace or even in the villa.

What is more, our sentinel hill at the entrance of the resort is an ‘on the rock’ venue of choice for breakfasts, picnics or champagne sky dinners for the romantic couple, the honeymooner or even for family and friends. Not to mention the fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

The resort also has a fully licensed bar and offers a good range of wines, alcoholic beverages and cocktails including the signature Wild Grasshopper!

Facilities

A resident naturalist is available to conduct nature tours, by day or night.

Cycles are available on request to move about within the property or for rides into the village and beyond.

The resort has a large swimming pool and sundeck for relaxation, trails for walking, cycling and/or jogging within the resort.

Board and card games are available on request.

Excursions

There is plenty to do just around Wild Grass Nature Resort including visits to the cultural sites of the mystical Sigiriya Rock (15 minutes away) and the culturally rich Dambulla cave temples (20 minutes away), Kaludiya Pokuna archeological site (15 minutes away), Ritigala Reserve and Kandalama tank, nature walks, photography, bird watching, cycling etc.

The National Parks of Minneriya, Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa are also located nearby and Wild Grass organizes safaris starting from the resort itself, as well as hot air ballooning expeditions (during the season). Mountain bikes are offered for those wishing to explore the local area and surrounding countryside.

Many guests choose to base themselves at Wild Grass as it is perfectly located not only for the shorter trips around Sigiriya and Dambulla but also for day trips to the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy.

Since it was registered with TripAdvisor four years ago, Wild Grass has consistently obtained TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence award. We have had many guests return, including some from overseas.

But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet,

You’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.

– Alan Watts

For more information and for inquiries, contact wildgrasslk@gmail.com or visit www.wildgrass.lk or call us on 0664935577, 0662286866 or 0773965577

Maligatenna

Situated not very far from the heart of Colombo, about six kilometres from the Miriswatta junction is the infamous rock temple Maligathenna. It took us about one and half hours to reach our destination and as sign boards are very limited asking for directions might not be a bad idea to avoid misdirection. As they have renovated the area recently a few meters away from the original entrance is another concreted road, through which you could take your vehicle somewhat closer to the temple premises.

According to historic evidences, the Maligatenne temple runs back as far as the Anuradhapura kingdom up until the Kotte period, where ancient ministers and kings sought sanctuary from time to time. However looking at various stories that which takes prominence is of King Walagamba, who seeked refuge during the invasion of the Indian Chola Army. Thus the drip ledges carved into the caves within the temple premises and en route to the dagoba atop the mountain are regarded as that which had been done during this era.

In addition the temple is also shrouded in many legends related to the Tooth relic, where it was brought to be hidden from both Magha, an Indian Invader and during the Portuguese invasion. During the era of King Don Juan Dharmapala, who embraced Christianity, other Kings of the era such as King Mayadunna conspired to conceal the Tooth Relic in the Maligathenna Temple. When the Diyawadana Nilame of Hiripitiya was given the message to bring the Tooth Relic to the Central area of the country. The Tooth Relic rested here before being carried to Delgamuwa and then to Kandy. Thus the name of Maligathenna was derived because the premises provided a haven for the Tooth Relic.

We didn’t spend much time exploring the temple premises, as much interest was given to hiking through to the Uda Maluwa. However just before you enter the temple premises, as it was renovated recently you can’t miss the pre-historic carvings of a dog, a bird and of the sun on either side of the stairway leading up. Unfortunately as they have been painted, it has lost its original appearance. An untarnished carving could be found just before you enter the path way that leads to the Uda Maluwa as well.

The hike up to the Uda Maluwa, situated atop the mountain is what I was indeed looking forward to during this trip. It was a tedious one especially as it had rained the previous night. Therefore we encountered a few slippery areas as well as a kithul tree which thankfully had fallen atop a cave and did not bar our path upward. Ensure to take enough water and sun screen and bug spray. Also beware of snakes and meditating couples, who seems to be at every nook and corner of the place. According to many this is considered to be the highest point of the Gampaha District. At times resting, or pushing our way up grabbing on to rocks and vines, we continued our journey upward which was bordered by a few caves and stone steps at certain points.

On our journey upward, we came across a wind gap which was called Old Degaldoru Kurubil Stone steps. According to folk lore, a monk named Mittasabha, attained nirvana here. The path to the top is adorned by beautiful wild flowers. The greenery surrounding the path is definitely breath taking, thus ensure to take as less plastic and other pollutants on your journey, ensuring that we safeguard and leave unharmed the natural beauty and bio diversity of the premises.

Closer to the summit we were greeted by a panoramic view which was beautiful. Etched in stone, a flight of steps led us up to the Uda Malwa, where the scenic view was filled with every colour and more of green on a colour palatte. Situated atop is a small Dagoba and the infamous ancient rock pond. It is said that despite the any form of dry weather the pond never runs dry. We also encountered colourful and rare butterflies some as big as your hand fluttering by. Although it was a strenuous climb the panoramic vista was indeed completely worth it.

The ATP Story: A Visual Wonder

40,000 Wheelchairs, 1400km, 35 Cyclists, 10 Days, 5 Land Rovers, 1 Nation.

Around the Pearl was built on the determination of 3 individuals over 3 years ago. It is now a roller coaster of success that is helping children in need. Land Rover is proud to be a part and more so a family with the ATP team. 10 days of gruelling and intensive riding culminated with well wishers and families welcoming the riders at the finale.

Land Rover was a part of history and of amazing feats accomplished during the ten days. Our vehicles endured the toughest terrains, water crossings, intense heat and difficult situations in order to protect and provide support to the ATP team. This is what Land Rover does. This is who we are. This is why we are not just a brand but a true family.

A Place Called Isso…

Cocooned in Sulaiman Terrace, ISSO, a restaurant dedicated to serving just prawns lays dormant on a rain-filled day. The bright orange facade stands out like a welcome beacon for not just the whole inner road but for my empty stomach that desires some spice.

Sadly, I’m not a huge seafood fan. The only seafood I devour would be hot batter-fried prawns or hot butter cuttlefish. Frankly, the only two places that serve the best iterations of the latter two dishes (for me, at least) happen to be The Lagoon located at Cinnamon Grand.

But ISSO didn’t disappoint. I opted for the Rich & Red (prawns in Thai Red Curry), and it was certainly delicious. I requested it extra spicy, and it certainly was made quite spicy indeed. The place doesn’t skimp on the quantity of prawns either: I counted ten prawns! Try getting this type of value for money from other restaurants. There were other styles that you can choose from: The Salsa, The Homemade Secret, The Local Favourite, and Northern Twist.

The whole experience was flavor some for sure. However, I had my reservations about the place. There’s a saying amongst the foodies I associate that in Lanka, it’s always best to check out a restaurant before it become 6 months old. The truth is that consistent quality does become an issue, and it is something that is worrisome for customers.

Although ISSO is geared more towards a takeaway concept, it is an idea that works well. The microwave box that your meal comes in is quite large, and after you’re done with your meal, you know you’re brimming with satiation. The ambience is warm and cost with the seating arrangement being adequate. The interior is brightly lit, and appears cheerful. As mentioned, the place is geared for takeaways, while there usually are many people who do sit and enjoy themselves.

The menu itself is quite simple and easy to decipher. You can choose the size of the prawn you desire while choosing a carb. A salad is added on for good measure. But these are just additions since the main star of whatever you do choose is the prawn. ISSO is by no means cheap, but given the fact that you’re digging into a meal full of prawns makes the price seem very reasonable.

A voice for wildlife

A voice for wildlife. A project that came to life late last year, has come a long way in a short span of time, with numerous meetings with authorities in trying to bring about positive change in the park, carrying out different projects and public awareness campaigns carried out on different media platforms.

The problems faced by Yala are tremendous, all man-made. Yala is home to the largest concentration of leopards in the world and yet it seems as if we as a country are doing nothing to look after it and its star attraction.

The key issue faced by Yala, to sum up all its problems, is over visitation. Due to the severe numbers entering the park, this has led to ‘traffic jams’ leading to the park and in the park. Because so many vehicles are within the park, when one jeep spots a leopard, all others get informed of it and everybody rushes to get a glimpse of the cat, resulting in either the death of other animals or a leopard itself. Even though according to paper there is a speed limit inside the park, a fact as hard as cement in Sri Lanka is, that 95% of our people do not adhere to road rules and regulations let alone inside a national park.

The team behind A Voice for Wildlife consists of a group of young individuals who feel very passionately about wildlife and are keen to bring about change in the park and thus working with all relevant groups who also have the same ambition. We feel that our generation should be the one to make a positive impact and we must act now.

The group is spearheaded by Charindi Ranasinghe, who together with a couple of other girls got a petition started on Change.org that garnered more than 5000 signatures. This was merely the start.

As days went on the team grew, with the members contributing in different ways, strengthening the proposal to save Yala.

Some of the projects carried out by A Voice for Wildlife are:

Social Media.

Today everything is about Facebook. In fact the starting point of this project was after seeing the pictures of dead animals in Yala circulating on Facebook which drove us to where we are today.

Through our page our key aim is to create awareness though compassion. One of the highlights of our page is that we carry out important wildlife and nature related messages in all 3 languages for maximum reach without any barriers.

Print and Electronic Media.

From time to time, we use these forms of media to keep the public aware of the situation in Yala and we as a people can do. By simply informing people there is a problem, we can create empathy. Without empathy, no good cause can be achieved.

Ground Work.

In order to get more ground information, a team representing A Voice for Wildlife carried out a project in Yala in January to clean the garbage inside the park in the Patanangala area with the permission of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

What the team discovered was indeed shocking. Garbage overflowing for as far as the eye can see. Garbage thrown everywhere including diapers, sanitary napkins and bottles both glass and plastic. All of this particular garbage has been thrown by none other than our own people. This was not the only thing our team discovered.

The lavatory facilities in the park were nothing short of appalling. There were sinks with no taps and as people were using the jungle as their toilets, parts of the area made it impossible to breathe.

Our team has submitted a detailed report on how to overcome these issues.

Wildlife Exhibition.

An exhibition is to be held in the future featuring photographs taken inside Yala and other national parks to raise money for the solutions provided by us.

Last but not least, the proposal born from the petition.

16 suggestions have been outlined in the proposal and some of them include:

Entrance to the park is limited to two sessions – morning and afternoon. Enforcement of opening and closing times to the park and penalties for those overstaying their time.
Vehicle Speed limits within the national park roads.
The pre-booking system should ensure that all jeeps operate at full capacity. I.e. if a family of 4 pre-books a jeep that could accommodate 6-people, 2 additional people will be selected from the online data-base. A premium will be charged if the guest requests for a personalised jeep allocation.
The allocation of a jeep to the Yala Park Office as a patrol jeep, which will be used to check traffic conditions.

Regular patrol of the park by officials to ensure rules and regulations are being adhered to within the park

Apart from all of these, we the people have a moral responsibility from the decision of visiting the park. From the hotel/camp we choose to stay to how we travel in the park. Both local and foreign tourists have a responsibility to ensure we do not litter, we do not encourage the jeeps to speed, to adhere to the park regulations and not feed the animals. Even if nothing else, we must bear in mind that the world is full of a variety of species that must co-exist.

Every living being is interconnected to each other and if one goes extinct, it will have a chain reaction and its us who will have

Sir Ian Jennings: Why he fell in love with Sri Lanka

Sir Ian Jennings is known for a lot of things, but the one thing I know that I’ll always remember is that axiom, which he was generous enough to share with me — One should always have dreams. Truth be told, his life certainly does seem to be the stuff of dreams. In 1993, Sir Ian Jennings landed in Sri Lanka and took on the role of Project Manager at the World Trade Centre — that bastion of the corporate world in this diminutive island.

The heart-warming part of his story is that he was enamored by this serendipitous land and chose to come back again in January 2000 — a new millennium, a new life — to stay. Nowadays, Sir Ian Jennings prefers to lounge by his own private pool, and enjoy the heady sunsets on Mount Lavinia beach while dining at La Rambla. But just like the stately old Roll Royce that stands strong and proud in its classic years in his garage, Sir Ian Jennings too is eager to approach new architectural endeavors via his company PANARCH.

Making a mental note to try La Rambla, Sir Ian Jennings led me down memory lane as he ventured far and wide into the nooks and crannies of his life to show me that it truly was a life well lived. He has never actually left England (how could anyone with all that Devonshire cream and red strawberries?) preferring to travel back and forth to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Before Sri Lanka, he worked in Nigeria and the Middle East for 12 years including 4 wonderful years in Iraq. Returning back again to England, he was elected as a Common Councilman in the City of London for many years before becoming restless for a venture. He was offered the position of Project Manager at the WTC. Being cautious about Sri Lanka, Sir Ian flew out for a weekend of discovery. It was at that time while staying at the Meridien (now known as the Galadari) which convinced him that Sri Lanka was very different to India. Galle Face with her seductive sunsets, and the hospitable nature of Lankans in general were certainly viewed as plus points.

He was of the view that there are things which are far more important than just money, and those things would be loving what you do and spending time with family. His was the first consultancy company to register with the BOI in 1998. Harking back to the good old days, with a wistful look in his eyes, he’d talk about always traveling to Mount Lavinia and enjoying the golden beach with its cerulean blue skies.

At present, Sir Ian Jennings has built a 7-unit apartment in Mount Lavinia and resides there as well. Quite happy where he is, he talks of how he is taken for walks on the beach by his two dogs. Remember how I spoke about dreams initially, well, this life of Sir Ian Jennings is what he has carved for himself rather adroitly. Although he is semi-retired, he is of the opinion that he will never fully retire since that would be surrendering into oblivious complacency, which surely would be anathema for a person of his character.

I suppose it’s an understatement to say that Sir Ian Jennings is a contented gentleman. He agreed; and stated that it’s because he was fortunate to be living life the way he wanted to in Sri Lanka. It’s home away from home for him with Sri Lanka quite British in its demeanor with a laid back style that’s very attractive. He went on to mention the helpful nature of Lankans, which is not something that’s prevalent elsewhere.

Mentioning Galadari as a favorite haunt, Sir Ian Jennings, went on to mention how a small drink (Colombo Gin is a favorite while Merlot is preferred over Cabernet Sauvignon) is always a necessity before a night out at the theatre with his dear lady friend, Averil. Another favorite of his is the rooftop of Cinnamon Red where the view is just fantastic. The Cheers Pub used to be a favorite (when they used to do a proper English-style fish and chips) too initially, and it was at this particular juncture that I found out that Sir Ian Jennings happened to the Project Manager for the Monarch as well.

Speaking of the early days when the World Trade Centre was coming up, he mentioned how he felt that Sri Lankans are very keen to learn. This is apparent in the steady growth in all sectors of the economy. Sir Ian Jennings was of the opinion that this diminutive island could become the next IT centre in South Asia mirroring the success of Bangalore. This statement is quite telling since I managed to get my hands on some interesting data with regard to the IT industry in Sri Lanka.

Consider the fact that in 2007 the BPO workforce was 4,000 while the IT workforce was north of 34,000; today the workforce is over 100,000 with the IT industry worth USD 1 billion. In 2007, the IT industry was worth a mere USD 213 million.

The current aim is to hit USD 5 billion by 2020 while offering employment to 200,000 talented individuals. However, if a forecast is to be attempted at then based on past performance, Sri Lanka is geared to beating the industry prognostications offered up for 2020.

With change certainly happening, Sir Ian Jennings, explained the stark progress Sri Lanka has made throughout the years — a change that he has witnessed with progress rubbing off in all aspects of Sri Lankan life. Steering the conversation towards hobbies and interests, I gleaned that he certainly was a sports aficionado with tennis ranking quite high.

Always a traveler at heart, he enjoys a quick weekend getaway in locations such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. But with time running out for both of us, I just had to pop in a quick question: Favorite location of all time? Sri Lanka of course; as Sir Ian Jennings says — It is my home.

Let’s talk about PR blunders.

In 2015, amid a spate of atrocious corporate communication mistakes, a few things came to light: There’s a thin line between good communication and bad communication, and one wrong message — however well-intentioned it may be — can ruin the reputation of the brand involved.

Let’s take the example of Krispy Kreme, and it’s ill-advised decision to create the Krispy Kreme Klub event, which really affected the brand with its decision to have a tongue-in-cheek take on the Klu Klux Klan. The whole debacle was covered by USA Today, Fox News, and the Guardian. Social media exploded into a frenzy of activity with users posting images of KKK members with doughnuts photoshopped onto their faces.

Let’s also not forget Bloomingdale’s advert to Spike Your Bestfriend’s Eggnog When They’re Not Looking campaign, which seemed to promote date rape. Granted that these may be over-the-top examples for some, but it does show the extent to which communication can cause damage to a brand. In a day and age when the corporate landscape increasingly obeys the rules of a media-driven society, it pays to tread with caution.

So why the long harangue about PR blunders? Well, it’s merely to point at how difficult a task handling the corporate communications arm of a company can be. I had the rare pleasure of interviewing one of the trailblazers of the corporate communications field in Sri Lanka — Ms. Dinithi Somaratne who is Director Communications at The Kingsbury Hotel.

Perfection and attention to detail are such clichés, but clichés have a habit of ringing true. And in her case — all those clichés ring quite true. With a smile lighting up her face, she effortlessly took me on a journey that detailed the crafting and building of a brand that reeks of absolute excellence.

But was there ever a doubt? A doubt, that is, in The Kingsbury Hotel being anything less than excellent? After all it is the brainchild of Dammika Perera — a Lankan billionaire businessman with a visionary style that’s redolent of aesthetic class, which can be seen in every nook and cranny of The Kingsbury Hotel.

True to form, Dinithi, showed me the range of Bvlgari toileries that adorn all rooms at the The Kingsbury Hotel as an example of the quality standards they maintain. As The Kingsbury stand out and be head and shoulders above the rest it has indeed made this star-class property a formidable monolith in the hospitality industry.

With a many years under her belt working in the advertising field, Dinithi is well-versed in the formulating strategy to help steer a brand towards profitability. One would suppose that it’s this experience that helped her craft every aspect of The Kingsbury brand in-house under the guidance of that doyen of excellence — Dhammika Perera.

Seamlessly moving on from one task to the other, Dinithi went onto explain that she loves traveling (Amsterdam ranks quite high on the list!), enjoys her food, and — with a spark in her eyes — that she’s an unapologetic workaholic. It’s very seldom one would come across an individual in senior management who can conceptualise campaigns, art direct, write copy and still play a managerial role in corporate communications, public relations, sponsorships, events and formulation of marketing strategies; working both the right and left brains. Then only we got to know that she is the one who develops all the marketing communication material for The Kingsbury.

Mentioning Irwin Weerakkody who inspired her tremendously when she first cut her teeth in the field of advertising, she went on about how important it is to master your craft and to find one that makes you truly happy. One needs to be ‘formidable’ in their chosen career (Irwin’ s advice from the beginning) and Dinithi says you need to craft it in your own way to be better than the best. This is the best advice, she says, that she could give to the new generation of ambitious young women who desire to make it big in the corporate field.

Dressed with a sense of functionality and inimitability, Dinithi escorted me from the confines of her office downstairs for a cup of coffee. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of a fillip she could or would offer this brand she feels so passionate about. But it was apparent that with her effervescent personality filled to the brim with enthusiasm, I dared to see The Kingsbury Hotel through her eyes — a monument to hard work ethic, absolute passion, and complete innovation.

Designing Clothing As Lively As Her Personality

By: Michelle Alles

Charlene Thuring is the kind of person you’d want to sit back and have coffee and an interesting conversation with. Her remarkable designing talent is taking her label, c.h.a.r.l.e.n.e. to the next level of fashion and since we are not able to resist someone with such a remarkable disposition, we ‘dragged’ her away from her busy schedule for a chat…

Charlene, tell us about yourself and how you got into designing?

I’m the youngest of in a family of 5 and an absolute tomboy. I planned my career path towards architecture, but ended up leaving school to join AOD where i fell in love with fashion which resulted in my label c.h.a.r.l.e.n.e.

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

My greatest strength is asking the question ‘why’ until the question itself runs out of reasons. This has been the main reason for my growing knowledge which as a result has helped me be a better designer/person today.

I used to have a horrible weakness of wanting to do everything that I come across and sometimes messed up royally by not achieving each thing I do to its best, but now I’ve learned to pick and choose!

What would you say is the biggest challenge in the industry?

Sadly, there are quite a few! As a small operation, trying to be successful in a rather small country whose focus on fashion has grown over the capacity the city can hold and also, getting anything done in a timely manner. But the most frustrating one of the lot I would say is that knowing that Sri Lanka which is one of the most popular countries in the world that provide the top quality products for major successful brands, can’t seem to support its local brands with the same quality of work by the smaller manufacturers.

How do you stay fit?

I’m mostly lazy! I have identified for myself that I can’t get motivated to stay fit by myself. I have to have a workout partner or team to stay in the groove or else I take the easy option and watch my food and stay lazy. But when I do get out, my workouts are done by 7 am and I have a blissfully uninterrupted day that follows!

Who are your top three female heroines?

It’s difficult to cut it down to three but here goes:

Natalia Vodianova & Diane Von Furstenberg – For making me believe that dreams really do come true and all it takes is passion and focus
Grace Jones – For a figure I aspire to have
My Mom and my good friend Sayumi – For teaching me to care unconditionally

What is the most annoying question that you have been asked?

It’s actually more of an assumption than a question. When people say “Ah but you work from home, no wonder you have time to do… and so on!”

Describe the wallpaper on your desktop?

Oh my goodness! It’s so boring and now this question makes me want to change it! It’s a picture of my Tyson (my dog) lying upside down on our sofa with his legs sticking out into the air!

If you had 24 hours to live, what would you do?

Hmm…you’ve left me thinking of bucket list items. But nothing would satisfy me more than having Sarinda, my family and Tyson of course spending that 24 hours in a jungle somewhere…anywhere in the world, where we could watch the sun rise, enjoy the surroundings, watch the sun set and sit out in the open under the stars with a drink in hand and having ridiculous conversations as time goes by.

Let’s say you are given the opportunity to star as the leading lady in a romantic movie. Who would you choose as your co-star and why?

You are probably thinking I’ll say it’s someone like Daniel Craig or Leonardo DiCaprio, but I think I would choose between Anthony Hopkins or Sean Connery! Weird i know…WHY? Because it’s not often that you would get an opportunity to act as a lead in a movie and it would be a crime to not choose legends!

If you could go back in time, where and what period would you go to?

Not too far actually, I would LOVE to experience the 80’s and early 90’s at the age that I am now. And I’d probably be in England and experience the whole transition of punk and rock.

If you were given an opportunity to fulfil three wishes, what would you wish for?

My biggest wish would be that human life took a more peaceful route in living
And I don’t mean to offend people who believe in God, but I really wish there wasn’t a God for people to believe in and have so much expectation from this unseen element. Instead, if they took action into their own hands and did the right thing required to live in this world, it would be a much better place
My third wish would be that all the children who are born into this world are all healthy, wanted and loved.

Do you have a good luck charm?

Haha it’s weird! It’s actually not materialistic; it’s an action. Every time I have something exciting coming along and I share it with anyone other than my mom, it has never ended up happening. So as a rule I now don’t say anything until it’s actually in my hands!

What are you currently involved in and what are your plans for the future?

I am currently moving out into retailing my brand, which has been an exciting new step. As for my future plans, I’d love to start a sub line of something other than clothing. And let’s leave it at that!

Raaya Clothing & Accessories: The Tasteful and Classy Side of Fashion

By: Michelle Alles

There are some people you totally hit it off at the start with and the gorgeous Chanika Jayathilake is definitely one of them, as I discovered after 3 hours of hanging out at Uga! She’s sassy, has got style and class by the truckload and when you combine this with intelligence and business acumen, you come up with Raaya Clothing & Accessories, a new store that will definitely be the focal point for all ethnic fashion and glamour in Colombo.

Combining a Childhood Interest with an Adult Ambition

Having completed a degree in Business and Marketing Management in the UK, Chanika returned to Sri Lanka and worked with a leading conglomerate specialising in the apparel marketing sector. Since childhood, she has always been a big fan of Bollywood movies and decided to incorporate this along with her love for fashion into a business. “My knowledge of the Hindi language from all the movies I watched over the years actually comes in very useful when I travel to India to do all my buying since I handpick everything I bring for the store. I’ve always admired how feminine the clothes are and I know we have a lot of stores here that sell Indian clothing, but my differentiation is that I want it to be tasteful; I want every girl having that longing to wear them and feeling confident and classy in Raaya designs. The clothing incorporates fun prints and high street western wear, so the Raaya designs are a mix of anything from chic and stylish to classy and elegant, maintaining their traditional elements, yet also very contemporary.” Chanika revealed.

A Fitting Title

“Because of my strong interest for fashion, I watch all sorts of runway shows online such as the Lakmé Fashion Week and the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week and I am entranced by the intricacy and feminine-like grace of the garments. So I want to incorporate this into my career, because you need to love what you do and do what you love!” she exclaimed. “The name ‘Raaya’ is actually a Sanskrit name for royalty. I want every girl to feel like a princess and look regal, so I thought the name would be appropriate; since its Sanskrit and the clothing is Indian, it all fits together perfectly.”

An Interesting Combination of Brains and Beauty

“My day begins early with a focused start on my work; I do a lot of research expanding my knowledge on the topic and see what I can incorporate to my label, plus excessive site visits. In my spare time, I watch a lot of TV shows such as Quantico, Made in Chelsea and Tyrant, etc. I read, hang out with my friends and also bake dishes! My role model would definitely be my mother; I know it’s a very cliché, but it’s because we have been through a lot together and she has always been there for me. Even though there’s a vast generation gap, she has been able to adapt to the crazy things I do and support me endlessly in all avenues in life!” she said.

Wanting our readers to have a little insight into Chanika’s fascinating personality, I mischievously put her on the spot with a few unexpected questions, but she answered with aplomb!

After Chanika Won An Outstanding Award For Raaya, She Would Tell Her Competitors…

“It is because of you that I was more driven and motivated and this gave me an opportunity to shine brighter. Thank you and I hope you work harder, because it gives me the incentive to work with even more dedication!”

If Chanika could ever wake up in the body of another person, she would pick…and she would do…

“Anna Wintour. She is a fashion industry power figure with so much savoir-faire and is regarded as one of the most influential persons setting trends, and anointing new designers. As to what I would do, I’d expand my brand to an international scale using that publicity!”

I like Chanika and so will all you fashionistas out there in the seasons to come!

Advice to Upcoming Entrepreneurs

“Life is a challenge and do not procrastinate; the biggest strategy that will inevitably fail is that if you don’t take a risk. Face the challenge, be motivated throughout and thrive on your passion. As I always say, do what you love and love what you do! Sometimes I wish I had started Raaya earlier, because time just flies and to get to a certain point, you have to work really hard, but the earlier you start, the faster you can learn from your mistakes and rise above them.” she stated.

Upcoming Plans for Raaya

“I want to eventually have a very happy and over content clientele, expand in the country in the next year or so and expand outside the country in the next 5-10 years, maybe in Singapore and Dubai. Raaya is all about having my clients feeling amazing in ethnic clothing and being able to be confident, self-assured and express themselves better because of it.” Chanika concluded.

Chandi Weerasooriya: A Myriad of Talent, Personality and Beauty

By: Michelle Alles

Chandi’s amiable disposition makes her very much at ease meeting people from all social backgrounds. She’s really easy to talk to and a very fun person with a wacky sense of humour, even when you meet her backstage at a pageant where nerves and emotions are running high (which is where we first met!) She is currently very busy preparing for the Mrs International 2016 pageant but graciously took time off her busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

Tell us about yourself, your family and why you love what you love?

I am light-hearted and simple…confidence could be my middle name. I am married to Muditha Weerasooriya and I have a son. My almost lifelong dream was to help children that need a family and to help them find a happier tomorrow. I am so deeply touched when I see the way they feel about me. They love they exhibit actually touches me to the core and sometimes it pierces my heart to feel all the pain and love when I work with them. But believe me, it is one of the most fulfilling experiences and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What is your purpose as Mrs Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka is a brand in itself and we have not fully understood our potential or learnt how to use our uniqueness in a way that matters. As Mrs Sri Lanka International, my prime focus would be to show the world the true meaning of the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’. I want to use the individuality of our own mixed cultural heritage which is not found elsewhere in the world to highlight and show the world that living in peace, harmony and mutual understanding is not just a mere dream, but an achievable goal in our conflict ridden world. I want the world to sit up and take notice of Sri Lanka, as we have something that they all will want to emulate.

What are your interests other than modelling?

I completed my diploma as a fashion designer at The Academy of Design and then did my Advanced Diploma at the London Fashion School, graduating as a fashion designer. I went on to work at many different fashion houses and while doing so, I took up studying all about makeup which was an added advantage to my design capabilities and career. Furthermore, I graduated from the Scandinavian Makeup Studio in Thailand as a professional makeup artist and gained work experience in there. It was a very triumphant moment for me when my makeup work was published in the prestigious fashion magazine ‘Rare’ in 2015. I also love sports and have participated in many different sports activities while in school; basketball, netball and athletics were among my favourites. I won national colours in basketball by representing the national basketball team at the age of 17 and count it as one of my key achievements in my sports career. I also represented the central province netball team and the school athletic team in my journey in sports.

Who are your heroes/heroines?

The heroine of most women is their mother, as is mine. She has done her best to raise me, she made sure that I valued myself and that I should never let anyone walk over me. She is one of the most strongest women I know and the bond between us is pure and everlasting.

What are the most memorable moments in your life?

Definitely becoming a mother because it is the only way I have realized the depth of fulfilment in a woman. When you become a mother, you are no longer the centre of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children.

Who are the 3 most important people in your life and why?

My son and my parents; they are precious and important because nothing of blood can be replaceable.

Describe your personal style.

I’d definitely say that the best way to describe my personal style is versatile. I hate conforming to a specific style because I’m always open to stepping out of my comfort zone and switching up my looks.

What are some of your main interests and hobbies?

I enjoy music and dancing. My hobby would be gardening as I love the smell of soil and watching plants grow. It is very rewarding to see the results of my work. Gardening makes me happy in so many ways.

Name 6 things that you hope to have or accomplish during your lifetime?

Eat all types of different food from around the world
Start a movement in Child Protection
Learn to shoot a gun
Fulfil what I have carved in the woods
Raise a happy and healthy child
Grow old with the person I love

What’s the one item of clothing you wear the most?

My jeans

What are your 3 biggest achievements?

My son
Becoming an ambassador to represent my country
To be able to bring a smile to another person’s face just by my presence

What’s planned for the future?

The future is never just one choice…it’s a thousand and they never stop. I will choose my future every day of my life. And if I wake up one day to find that I regret the choice I made the day before, then I make a new one. I don’t worry about whether I might be wrong someday; I worry about whether I’m right now. Tomorrow can wait.