Category: People & Events

Parisian couture brand, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), launched its makeup range in Sri Lanka during a formal cocktail event at the Galle Face Hotel. The event was attended by VIP customers of the luxury fragrance, skin care and cosmetics retailer, Exclusive Lines of the Pee Bee Group. Exclusive Lines is the sole agent for Yves Saint Laurent in Sri Lanka.

Yves Saint Laurent was originally a French luxury fashion house that was founded by designers Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge. Currently it markets a broad luxury range of women’s and men’s clothing, leather goods, shoes and jewellery. YSL Beauty products have a notable presence in the luxury beauty market across the globe.

Speaking at the launch, Jerome Georges-Vivien, the Zone Director for Yves Saint Laurent said: “YSL fragrances have already been in the country for some time and we felt that it was the right time to launch the beauty products.”

Exclusivity is important to Yves Saint Laurent stressed Mr. Georges-Vivien and the partnership with Exclusive lines will ensure that YSL products will be presented to customers in the right setting where customers can benefit from the expert guidance of the Exclusive Lines teams at Odel, Majestic City and Crescat Boulevard. Mr. Georges-Vivien stressed that the partnership with Exclusive Lines is very important to YSL.

“YSL was originally known for their couture and thereafter that they introduced accessories, such as watches and handbags. Luxury fragrances followed and that’s where my interest lies. About 25 years ago we never had an opportunity to introduce any kind of couture in Sri Lanka,” said Hiru Surtani Director for Exclusive Lines.

YSL offers a wide range of beauty products for women from lipsticks, eye shadow palettes, mascara and make up brushes as well as several others. The brand has also introduced an extensive collection of perfumes for both men and women. YSL’s fragrance line includes many that are considered pillars of the perfume industry such as Mon Paris, Black Opium, La Nuit de L’Homme.

At the launch event a professional makeup artist from YSL, Lilly Nouilati from the London College of Make-up, demonstrated bold and powerful looks using the make-up range, explaining how YSL products understand and work well with each other.

The products are well suited to Sri Lankan skin tones, Mr. Surtani noted, adding that it is great for customers to have a high end luxury brand available in Sri Lanka. In future he hopes to see many new colors, trends and textures coming in through new products.

Situated on the outskirts of Colombo and surrounded by the tranquil waters of the Diyawanna, Waters Edge Battaramulla is known globally for its breathtaking views and plethora of restaurants that serve up gourmet cooking from around the world. It is also a preferred choice for those who desire breathtaking venues for special events that are located throughout the landscape of the property.

Lead by the ideas and efforts of Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka, Chairman of Waters Edge Chamath De Silva and General Manager Rohan Fernandopulle, the waterfront property has many projects in the pipeline. The groundbreaking ceremony for one of the most ambitious projects to-date was held today under their patronage. The event was also attended by high ranking officials from the ministry, UDA and Waters Edge. “The Station at the Edge” will be a one-of-a-kind entertainment hub that brings together sports and entertainment.

Speaking at the ceremony Chairman of Waters Edge Chamath De Silva noted, “Sports and entertainment have a long history of being an integral part of people’s lives. We as Sri Lankans love our cricket and many other sports have also come up in the recent past. As an island blessed with an abundance of waterworks, we have also seen a significant rise in interest for water-sports. This new centre will be a culmination of both indoor and outdoor activities. Waters Edge is looking to be the hub for sports entertainment in the country, providing a platform for all sports in the country.”

The development project aims to create a recreation, leisure and sports facility on the far side of the water front in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Urban Development Authority. With an aim of introducing sports tourism to Sri Lanka the space will also allow various sports associations and bodies the chance to utilize the area for national and international level sporting events. The centre will facilitate thirty sports including many water sports such as kayaking, rowing and wind surfing among many others. The centre will be segregated into three different categories under extreme sports, leisure sports and kid’s sports.

The main objectives behind the project are to convert acres of land into an area that provides the general public with an opportunity to engage in sports and relax while also providing the youth of the country with state-of-the-art facilities to train at. The preservation of the nature that surrounds the hotel is also one of the causes that sit close to the hearts of the hotel and the UDA with much emphasis being placed on sustainable infrastructure development.

The project will also feature a unique train running along a rail track consisting of seven carriages that will be converted into kitchens and three passenger compartments revamped into restaurants serving up hawker style street food. The platform beside the railway track too will be used as part of the restaurants creating a typical train station atmosphere with the hustle and bustle that is commonplace of a Sri Lankan railway station. Ensuring that the restaurant is accessible to all, food will be affordably priced and made fresh daily. A fresh fish market is also on the cards.

For more information on the project please contact Waters Edge on 0112 863863.

Colombo, Sri Lanka. Swedish Cars (Private) Limited, a new subsidiary company under the IWS Holdings Group, has introduced the all-new S90; Volvo’s new premium 4-door, 5-seat flagship luxury sedan. It is built on the new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), Volvo’s advanced modular product platform that will underpin all new Volvo cars in the 90 and 60 Series.

Since the new S90 was launched in late 2016, the model has won over 30 accolades in a range of categories such as Car Design of the Year, Best Car Technology Award, People’s Choice of the Year, Red Dot Design Award of the Year, to name a few.

Like its siblings in the Volvo 90 series, the XC90 and V90, the S90 carries Volvo’s new design language, with added safety features. The S90 is powered by Volvo’s all-new Drive-E Powertrains, including petrol and diesel. The other key features include the iconic “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlight design and the concave front grille inspired by the iconic P1800 with the Volvo Iron Mark. The S90’s dashboard is made slimmer and has larger wood inserts with a newly designed steering wheel, instrument cluster, seats, and center console. The new S90 is also very roomy due to its longer wheelbase. The all-new Drive-E Powertrains combine the low-fuel consumption and emissions of a four-cylinder engine with the performance of a six or eight-cylinder, and the result is a smooth, powerful ride – with fewer stops at the fuel pump.

The all-new S90 engine is available in both petrol and diesel variants and delivers all the benefits of a high performance, low emission engine with an total power output of 254hp and 190hp respectively, with a top speed of 230 km/h with an economical 2.0-litre engine.

All new Volvo cars also have a connectivity offering called Sensus which delivers an intuitive 9.5 inch touch screen interface that combines car functions, navigation, connected services and in-car entertainment applications. The portrait-oriented touch screen enables easy and fast access to a host of functions and features.

Volvo’s leadership in the field of automotive safety is confirmed in the S90 which includes IntelliSafe, a sophisticated feature that consist of a suite of intelligent technologies that goes a long way to preventing, or lessening the impact of a collision. IntelliSafe anticipates danger and can help you avoid it by acting as a navigation co-pilot who’s always on the lookout, ready to intervene to help keep the driver safe. Volvo’s City Safety Technology, which is a standard on all Volvo models, combines automatic breaking functionality and collision avoidance systems to cover a range of potential accident scenarios and helps keep people safe.

The S90 is fitted with an improved Pilot Assist System which helps the driver to drive the car between the road lane whilst at the same time maintaining a pre-selected time interval to a preceding vehicle. Pilot Assist is another step towards Volvo’s dedication to achieving their Safety Vision which states that by the year 2020, no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car.

About Swedish Cars  

As the newest subsidiary of the IWS Holdings Group, Swedish Cars (Private) Limited is the sole importer and distributor of Volvo cars, parts and service in Sri Lanka since 2016. The 20,000 sq. ft. Volvo Centre Sri Lanka facility in Kandy Road, Kelaniya was recently completed in December 2016 and will serve as a one-stop facility for Volvo sales, service and spare parts to ensure exceptional service levels and convenience to Volvo customers.

Our skin puts up a tough exterior day after day through life and changing weather conditions as our own protective shield. Not taking care of this protective shield makes it weary and the damage is visible as skin appears dull, dry and darkened. This is our skin’s way of alerting us that we need to do more to hydrate, nourish and heal what was lost.

Vaseline, which has been in the forefront of educating consumers about skin care, has now taken a giant leap to heighten its efforts by launching the ‘Skin by Vaseline’ campaign. This will benefit consumers to learn and address skin related issues depending on environmental and physical condition skin is exposed to.

Vaseline hosted an educational and engaging forum held on 10th March at Park Street Mews Colombo, bringing together experts specializing in nutrition, beauty, cosmetics and corporate sector discussing ‘Body-skin care habits and skin health of Sri Lankan Women’.  Joining the panel discussion was Dr. Lasith Uyanege MBBS, Human Nutrition MSc; Director/ CEO Ramani Fernando Salons Ramani Fernando; Editor of The Modelz Magazine and former Miss. Sri Lanka Rozanne Diasz Leanage; Marketing Manager – Hair and Skin Care, Unilever Sri Lanka Nilushi Jayatileke and Brand Manager, Unilever Sri Lanka Munazza Rafeek.

In attendance the experts discussed how to care for skin with a balanced diet and stressed on the importance of using a suitable body moisturizing lotion, while beauticians shared tips on how to follow a regular skin care regime and shared inspirational stories about body confidence in women.

Marketing Manager – Hair and Skin Care, Unilever Sri Lanka Nilushi Jayatileke stated, “Our skin-care regime is mostly isolated to our face. With current environmental conditions, stress levels and our eating habits, it is important that we pay equal attention to our body skin and use body lotions suited to our environments. Using Vaseline Body Lotion daily will help you achieve even-toned skin and give you 24hour moisturization to keep your skin hydrated all day.”

At present Vaseline Intensive Care range has five variant to address the skin requirements of Sri Lankans: Vaseline Deep Restore  made of a fast-absorbing and non-greasy formula restores skin leaving it looking noticeably healthier; Vaseline Cocoa Glow helps rejuvenate dry, cracked and dull skin revealing skin’s natural glow; Vaseline Aloe Soothe calms and soothes any discomfort  and protects skin leaving it fresh and deeply moisturized; Vaseline Healthy White with triple sunscreen restores dry and darkened skin, protecting it from further damage and bringing back skin’s natural healthy radiance; and Vaseline Advanced Repair helps to restore very dry skin in just 5 days. So now with Vaseline protect the skin that protects you.

Rice has been cultivated in Sri Lanka for almost 3000 years and to this day remains a fundamental food in many of our cultural cuisines. Rice in Sri Lanka has played a prominent role in our country’s history, economy, agriculture and most importantly our health and survival for centuries.

Scientifically termed Oryza Sativa, traditional rice is considered as one of the most nutritious staple foods. Historical records have indicated that varieties of traditional rice were revered among the ancients for their nutritional and medicinal purposes. In the past Sri Lanka was known to have produced over 2000 varieties of indigenous rice however, by the 20^th century the number had dwindled to 567. This is mostly due to the growing ignorance among the general public of the importance and value of traditional rice, especially when it comes to matters of health and nutrition.

In the olden days ailments such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes etc. were almost unheard of. Our ancestors lived long, wholesome and healthy lives. Specialists have credited this to the diet followed by our forebears, in which rice took the place of honor.

In general traditional rice has been medically proven to; help reduce, and in some cases prevent, diabetic conditions, minimize cardiovascular conditions, contain antioxidant properties and a low glycemic index, prevent fatty liver, be the best known source of Vitamin B, aid in muscle recovery, reduce or completely prevent blood sugar, be rich in fiber and selenium, and to contain zero cholesterol. Indigenous rice has also been known to prevent gallstones and breast cancer.

Varieties such as Ma-Wee have been recommended for tuberculosis patients and to be effective remedies for purging, constipation and hemorrhoids. Ma-Wee is also known for its importance in religious ceremonies. While other varieties like Kaluheenati are known for their high fiber content and serving as an effective means of controlling the toxic effects of snakebites.  Physicians also recommend Kaluheenati to hepatitis patients and lactating mothers. This particular variety is also said to enhance physical strength and male sexual potency. Pachchaperumal is a type of traditional rice known to be rich in nutrients and protein, while such varieties as Madathawalu are highly recommended in Ayurveda treatment to strengthen the immune system.

The list of benefits offered by indigenous rice is almost endless. Every variety of rice is known to play a role in developing the human body, boosting the immune system and preventing various illnesses.

Today it is a well-known fact that people do not enjoy the same healthy and wholesome lifestyle as their forefathers. People get sick quite often while terms such as ‘high blood pressure’, ‘diabetes’, ‘blood sugar’ and the dreaded ‘cancer’ have become common terms that are used much too often for one’s liking. Health is a greater rarity than wealth in society today and it is all due to the ignorance of people of the valuable assets at their disposal.

By educating the masses on the value and benefits of traditional rice, SLT hopes to promote the standard of health among the citizens of Sri Lanka while also ensuring the preservation of a priceless part of our national heritage. For this reason has SLT published the organization’s annual calendar under the theme “Traditional Rice”, with each month being dedicated to a variety of indigenous rice. The country’s leading ICT Solutions provider also plans to begin a campaign in order to educate, encourage and reward farmers, whilst also promoting awareness among the masses and thus ensuring the preservation and continued development of one of Sri Lanka’s most prized possessions.

Tiesh, one of Sri Lanka’s leading contemporary jewellers celebrated the quintessential Sri Lankan woman with the launch of a dazzling range of imported Italian filigree jewellery with intricate and exquisite craftsmanship.

The exclusive champagne soirée at its flagship showroom at 253, RA de Mel Mawatha was an exclusive Ladies-Only event, to mark International Women’s Day and celebrated its loyal female clients who have steadfastly supported them over the past year.

“This is a collection specially imported from the best Italian manufacturers with the modern Sri Lankan lady in mind. Every piece is unique and totally different to the other. In fact what’s interesting about this collection is its special transformative aspect, where for instance a piece could be worn either as a necklace or a bracelet. Our very special ring which transforms into a bangle is by far the hottest item from our new collection and, I believe, a must have this season” said De Fonseka.

This dazzling Italian filigree collection comprises necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings, all of which bring out the sheer intricacy and timeless appeal of the magic of filigree work. With the special transformative jewellery too, it is quite different to the other collections that Tiesh generally showcases.

“This collection has been created with the intention of capturing the raw beauty of pure gold. Most items in the new collection are in 22kt and 18kt Gold – Yellow, White and the ever-so-popular Rose Gold. Small wonder then that this collection both tantalises and appeals to the visual and creative senses of the discerning woman”, De Fonseka added.

Derived from the Latin word “filum” (meaning thread), filigree is an ancient art form that has been appreciated as far back as 2500 B.C. Twisted and formed to closely resemble lace, filigree refers to the openwork design of an exquisitely entwined bouquet of fine silver, gold or other metal threads. This lacing of metal was originally used to decorate personal ornaments including manuscript covers, armor, crosses and royal crowns. (Source – the Internet).

Tiesh is a highly focused family entrepreneurship with a fine heritage of high quality jewellery and impeccable craftsmanship. Founder / Managing Director Lasantha De Fonseka and his wife Bryony are today joined by the equally hands-on second generation, daughter Thiyasha and son Ayesh who ensure that every piece is unique and thus special. Each stone, and then each piece, passes through the eagle-eye scrutiny of the De Fonseka Family which takes a personal interest from the purchasing of stones through the entire production process up to the finished product.

 As one of Sri Lanka’s leading contemporary jewelers based both in Colombo and at No 676, Peradeniya Road Kandy, Tiesh is not only a jewellery store with a reputation to match. It is also an engaging and hands-on learning experience. A preferred destination by a large numbers of foreign visitors, it houses a gemological museum, a testing laboratory, an auditorium, a jewellery workshop and a replica of a gem mine which is a draw among both local and foreign clients.

The Body Shop in Colombo partnered with HSBC to share expert skincare and makeup advice with customers at its flagship store. A selected group of HSBC Advance clients were invited to a special learning session at The Body Shop’s Bagatale Road premises, where a skincare expert and makeup artist shared tips, tricks and tools to achieve flawless skin and a seamless day to night look with makeup and skincare products.

Advance customers were delighted to have The Body Shop India’s Head of Marketing Aradhika Mehta and Sri Lankan beauty blogger Rush Razzak share The Body Shop’s philosophy and the exceptionally effective new product launches in skin care, make up and body care ranges. With a background in product expertise, Aradhika is highly conversant in skincare and the selection of the right product for your skin. “At The Body Shop our customers are at the heart of our business, in every aspect whether it’s a product or the experience at the store. We want to be close to our customers and that was the main reason for today’s session.  It was the best forum and great touch point for our customers and us and to know their thoughts. We had a great interaction. We know that the average Sri Lankan consumer likes The Body Shop in so many ways and this was a testimony to that.”

Guests were invited to sample The Body Shop’s recently introduced range of expert facial masks as well as its flagship British Rose range of skincare products. The British Rose range was launched in celebration of The Body Shop’s 40^th anniversary last year, and includes body scrubs, body butter, shower gels and creams. The expert masks offer intensive skincare with a range consisting of Himalayan Charcoal, Amazonian Acai, Chinese Ginseng and Ethiopian Honey in addition to a British Rose fresh plumping mask. All products are 100 percent vegetarian and ideal for rejuvenating and revitalizing skin.

Blogger and Instagrammer, Rush aka Dollhouse Colombo, has a keen following by many young Sri Lankan women as a trusted source for advice on makeup. Rush used The Body Shop’s Fresh Nude Cushion foundation, Down to Earth eye quad palette and three limited edition makeup looks that The Body Shop introduced to its Colombo outlets last month. She created a fresh, minimal day look and a smoky eyed evening look on two guests, sharing several handy tips for making the best out of their makeup along the way.

Attendees browsed the store, sampling various products with the added perk of a 25% saving on a range of skincare products and fragrances. They were also able to consult Aradhika and Rush on the products that might best suit their skin. Both consultants noted that The Body Shop products were tailored for versatility; for example foundation is easily customizable for changing skin tones. Rush noted that she thought of good makeup as an investment for her skin-“I always say, invest in good makeup,” she shared. “Yes, you’ll pay a premium, but the rewards are so gratifying, and so good for your skin.”

About The Body Shop:

The Body Shop is an iconic British retailer of ethical cosmetics and toiletries. It was founded by Anita Roddick in 1976 with the belief that businesses should ‘Enrich Not Exploit’. A philosophy of creating the best quality cosmetics and toiletries without exploiting the planet’s resources or people has driven the brand, which pursued sustainability and ethical business long before it became fashionable.

TBWA\ASIA’S CEOS AND ECDS ACROSS 12 ASIA MARKETS CONVEGE IN SRI LANKA FOR TWO DAYS OF PLANNING MEETINGS, AND CELEBRATES TBWA’S 10^TH ANNIVERSARY IN MARKET

TBWA\Asia’s recently concluded first quarter management meeting kicked off in Sri Lanka, hosted by Renuka Marshall, TBWA\Sri Lanka, Managing Director and Subhash Pinnapola, TBWA\Sri Lanka, Chief Creative Officer, in the beautiful coastal town of Negombo.

Philip Brett, President of TBWA\Asia said: “Sri Lanka is a market that punches well above its weight creatively; to bring our management group together here, for the first-ever joint management\creative meeting has strengthened the appreciation of our respective roles, and a deeper sense of pride, ensuring great work will follow.”

Continued Renuka Marshall, TBWA\Sri Lanka’s Managing Director: “Opening our doors to our leadership team to share the very latest thinking, process and ideas, ignited high level discussion between some of our most influential senior leaders, inspiring our agency further.”

Whilst TBWA\Asia’s leaders met, the Regional Creative Powerhouse were also present to discuss and drive the Network’s creative strategy for 2017

Said Subhash Pinnapola, TBWA\Sri Lanka’s Chief Creative Officer “It was indeed an honour to have the full weight of the TBWA\Asia’s creative in our island, where this forum raises the bar across the region. The exchange and exposure to the network’s strategy and direction certainly drives us to continuously deliver world class communication.

Continued Nils Andersson, Regional Creative President of TBWA\Asia “With the first quarter creative council meeting being in Sri Lanka, this island paradise as stated before punches well above its creative weight. As this was a joint meeting with the network leadership team, the exchange of thinking drives an appreciation of not only respective roles, but backgrounds which is evident in the work we’ve seen.

2017 marks TBWA\ 10^th anniversary in Sri Lanka.  Over the last 10 years, under the leadership of Renuka Marshall, the agency continues to be recognised as one of the markets most creatively respected agencies. At the end of 2016, the TBWA\Sri Lanka was awarded Silver in Campaign Asia’s Agency of the Year celebration, and was ranked #2 in Campaign Brief Asia’s much admired creative ranking.

The world we live in today relies greatly on the speedy delivery of fast food and high sugar content soft drinks. This has given rise to a generation of more people who are overweight and regularly have to inject insulin in order to survive. How do we fight this dilemma while still satisfying our sweet tooth? ‘Stevia’ is the latest 100% all natural sweetener that hit the markets with its launch Barefoot recently!

This zero calorie, zero sugar, zero carbs, zero fat sweetener is set to revolutionise the diets of people by allowing consumers to fully substitute unhealthy sugar with this healthier option.  ‘Stevia – Your Sweet Partner’ can be used in anything and everything including your tea, coffee, and fruit juices to sweeten up your life, the good way. One drop of Stevia instead of sugar can add an extra year into your life to enjoy with your friends and family!

Though many sweeteners have been introduced to the market, many are advised against using them because of the health risks. This is mainly because most of them are artificial products. Most calorie-laden artificial sweeteners are also the cause of weight gain and have been found to disrupt an individual’s normal metabolism.

Sri Lanka has a long history of expertise in using plant extracts and natural ingredients in our manufacturing processes. ‘Stevia,’ which is made in Sri Lanka, is produced from all natural plant extracts which ensures that its consumers would not have to face any side effects.

‘Stevia’ will simulate the sweet taste of sugar without all the calories found in table sugar and without increasing your blood sugar levels. This will help consumers to fight obesity and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for heart disease. The natural sweetener will keep your immune system in good condition and also help prevent hypertension and hypotension. ‘Stevia’ will also not cause its consumers gastritis or other stomach ailments and has the ability to prevent stomach cancers. High sugar content in meals is also a cause of dental cavities and other oral problems. However, with Stevia you can say hello to better oral health as it will protect your teeth and your gums.

The brand ambassador of the product, renowned chef, Kollu Ranawake speaking at the launch said “Discovering Stevia was such a treat. I now confidently use Stevia drops to satisfy my occasional need for a sugar fix, well aware that I will not gain weight and neither would it aggravate my system”.

Stevia comes with a full package of numerous benefits to engender a generation of healthier and happier people so why deprive yourself of your favourite treats when you can indulge instead.