That Quirky Little Café

Highly ironically a black cat crossed my path the morning that we were to pay a visit to a café cum B+B that Colombo has been ranting and raving about. Black Cat Colombo is a little hidden gem of a place and if you don’t keep a keen eye out, you could miss the signage down Wijerama Mawatha. The young couple who own the property have basically converted a colonial building in to a B+B fronted by a café and store.

Quirky is probably the best word we would use to describe Black Cat. From the antique sewing machines that have been recycled to make tables, to the old typewriters and retro posters that are part of the interior décor, this place scream originality. They also have a comfy reading room with an old book cabinet stocked with books and magazines as old as the building itself. This part of the building also houses a store that sells batik clothing, hand-crafted jewellery, scented candles and organic spices.

One of the main ideas behind creating this café was to keep things simple, and their menu plays testament to this. Some of the ingredients used in the dishes are sourced from their little vegetable patch outside while the rest we are told come mostly from local suppliers. The menu at Black Cat changes constantly but the drinks remain pretty much the same. Their coffee-based drinks are made using world-renowned freshly ground Temple Grounds coffee so we decided to try an Iced Mocha. To ensure that we have variety we also tried a Naarang Cooler. Both drinks are served in recycled jam jars. The Iced Mocha had a very distinct flavour to it that is quite different to what you would find at the café chain, and we attribute it to the freshness of the blend. The Naarang Cooler is ideal for a hot day and also a definite accompaniment to one of the dishes we picked.

The Chilli Prawn Pasta as the name suggests is A LOT of chilli! No wonder the blackboard menu suggests that you order a drink to go along with it. This dish is not for the faint-hearted. Some of our less ambitious choices were the Alaska which is an open-faced sandwich of rye bread topped with a layer of cream cheese and Norwegian Salmon (the only ingredient sourced from abroad). We can’t begin to tell you how satisfying every bite was. The salmon is fresh and the cream cheese adds a tangy twist to it that melts in your mouth.

Black Cat serves breakfast till 12noon (for all the late sleepers!) so we also ordered one of the most popular dishes on their menu, The Mission. To say the least, finishing this magnanimous portion of typical English breakfast is Mission Impossible unless you have stomachs like ours. It comes packed with 2 hash browns, 2 bulls’ eyes, 2 smoked chicken sausages, 2 slices of brown toast, grilled mushrooms and spinach, tomatoes, caramelized onions and kidney beans. Apart from everything in that plate (which we also love!), we are just so fascinated with their presentation. Our other option was what they call the “Pumpkin Patch”. Oven-roasted pumpkin is topped with feta cheese, caramelized onions, sautéed chick peas and bean sprouts, and is topped with garlic and parmesan grilled chicken. The various textures of this dish properly combine when you wolf down a mouthful and the flavours just burst in your mouth.

After a hearty meal such as this, the only thing left to do is have a dessert. Although there’s no dessert menu at Black Cat per se Dush Rathnayake’s Bellissima CBP sells out before they can even be displayed. Being of the non-alcoholic kind, we tried the classic of course and we will only say that we wish time and time again that Dush would make those jars bigger!

So if you are wondering where the “cat” is, we didn’t really see one during our visit. But we were told that there were a few rescues who have since been adopted by regulars. However, there is a little doggy that guards the place like his own. The café has adopted him as their official security guard and he does a fine job at it. That’s what you call loyalty!

Black Cat B+B is on the first floor of the colonial house. They have 5 rooms in all of which four are “King Rooms” with double beds, and one twin room with two-single beds. The rooms are spacious and ideal for budget travellers. The fact that it is located in the heart of the city and in close proximity to tourist sites, shopping malls and a plethora of restaurants from every cuisine imaginable makes it ideal for travellers who want a place to wind down after a long day in Colombo’s unpredictable weather.

All in all we love this place and aren’t afraid to call it one of our favourites. So here’s our rating…

Location *** (Keep a watchful eye for the signage or you just might miss it!)

Ambiance **** (Comfy! Cosy! Clean!)

Service ***** (The owners are super nice and have rubbed off on the staff!)

Food ***** (Who serves such large portions? Not that we are complaining!)

Overall **** ¼

Reviwed by #FoodiesSL

Address: 11 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07.

Tel: 0112 675 111

Email: blackcatcolombo@gmail.com

Website: www.blackcatcolombo.com

Showing an Indian Colombo

Some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth and literally grow in to established family empires. Some start below the poverty line and sweat their way up to super stardom. And then there are a few who are a combination of both worlds. I found Rohan Shrestha to be of the third kind.

Born of the 6th of March 1985, Rohan is of Nepali origin. The son of one of India’s pioneer photographers Rakesh Shrestha, Rohan grew up surrounded quite literally by “lights, camera, and action”! Some of his earliest childhood memories include tampering with old cameras and watching his dad work his magical eye with silver screen celebrities of yesteryear. What began as child’s play soon became an interest fuelled by a passion to capture the world.

At a very young age Rohan started as an apprentice under his father as well as other prominent photographers in India. Wanting to pursue his passion further he soon found himself travelling to the United States to enroll as a student of the prestigious New York Film Academy. Little did Rohan know at that time that he would fall in love with the Big Apple and soon call it his second home.

An Eye for the Extraordinary

Unlike his father who perfected the art of film photography, Rohan wanted to be more adventurous. In an effort to widen the scope of his creative horizons, he began working on more than mere fashion shoots. He was soon to discover that “playing” with his camera’s techniques, manipulating light in the great outdoors and documenting his personal travels as the “NomadWithin” on Instagram would get him noticed for more.

Rohan’s breakthrough celebrity cover came in 2010 when the Filmfare Magazine invited him to shoot Ranbir Kapoor for their June issue. At just 25 years old at the time, this seemed like a daunting assignment but the results at the end of the shoot were nothing short of phenomenal. The image selected to adorn the cover with Ranbir in red chinos and a black shirt lazing in chair with a look of pure arrogance on his face, gave the actor a completely different persona and opened the floodgates for Rohan.

Since then he has photographed the likes of Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Karan Johar, Anupam Kher, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhishek Bachchan, Anushka Sharma, Vidya Balan, Imran Khan, Ranveer Singh and many others. One of his personal favourite shoots he says was with childhood best friend and neighbour Ranveer Singh.

Rohan is also an ardent nature lover and traveller and has documented many of his travels via his lens. Some of these images have depicted countries and cultures in such detail that today Rohan is also one of the most sought after photographers for global advertising campaigns. His simple depiction of the Japanese Cherry Blossom caught the eye of Diesel. Apart from that he has also shot for advertising assignments for Hermès, Satya Paul, Casio, JBL, Pepsi Co, Panasonic, Myntra, Chamomile, Pepe Jeans, Incredible India and Loreal.

When not capturing celebrities and cities, Rohan can be found in one of his favourite habitats, swimming with sharks. Documenting marine life in various parts of the world has been a passion that he has explored to great degree. Some of the greatest of these predators are yet to be immortalized by Rohan’s lens and is one of the top priorities on his bucket list.

 

The Nomad in Colombo

Rohan has been to Sri Lanka twice before on shoots and was here this time for Swim Week, capturing the happenings for a global fashion magazine. We caught up with him for a few hours to take him around Colombo and show him what no tour guide would probably have in their itinerary.

As a photographer, Rohan loves scouting locations and our first stop is to one of the most iconic in Colombo, the Independence Square. Mesmerized by the artistry of the columns and the history that surrounds Sri Lanka’s monument of independence, he also enjoys the many stories we had to tell him about how Ceylon gained independence from the British Empire. Our conversations lead to the relationship between India and Sri Lanka and inevitably from there to cricket while we make our way to the Arcade. Rohan loves hearing about the fact that this area was once an asylum and his dry sense of humour has us in fits of laughter.

Our next stop is on Highlevel Road to let Rohan try some our tropical fruits. Opposite the BRC ground, he quenches his thirst with a “thambili” and at our insistence tries both “rambutan” and “mangosteen”. Not a huge fan of fruits in general, he is quite taken up with what he calls the “red hairy fruit” and its taste and texture. We are careful to instruct him not to take a bite of the skin lest he ends up with a sore throat. He loves the rambutan but mangosteen not so much.

Thereafter we take Rohan on a mini shopping trip. He loves his bath and shower gels, bath oils and scented candles, so where better than Spa Ceylon. Purchasing enough to keep his bachelor pad in India and New York scented with the fragrances of Sri Lanka for many months, Rohan also stocks up on enough toiletries to flood his shower!

All this activity leaves not just Rohan but all of us starving, and when in extreme hunger one of the best places to head to is Life Food at Perahera Mawatha. Being a self-proclaimed “Foodie”, Rohan is willing to let us suggest his lunch. Our choice, the “Lankan Hero” or Life Food’s version of the classic kottu wrapped in a wheat rotti. Served with local favourite “pol sambol”, spice is no issue for this Indian and he enjoys his hearty meal while we share stories about food, family, films and so much more.

All in all we must’ve spent about 4 hours with this enigmatic man. Through our journey around Colombo though I have learnt that he is an introvert who prefers to ALWAYS be behind the camera, has achieved much is various spheres that people twice his age are still dreaming about, but still remains humble enough to not consider himself a “celebrity”. There is so much more to learn but I’m going to keep that for another day’s conversation when Rohan returns to explore Sri Lanka his way.

Written By Nishu Hassim

Photo Credit: Suren Nimalan (Soul Captures)

One with Nature

Sri Lanka is blessed with nature at its best. Nowhere else in the world will one find golden sandy beaches, lush green tea plantations, dense rain forests, and even history from hundreds of years gone by within 65,610 km2. Every day is an adventure with new things to see and discover. So on a rather unusual Monday morning, we set off to Belihuloya in search of a “Pond in the Sky”.

Situated approximately 150km away from Colombo in the Ratnapura district, Belihuloya is still one of the lesser known tourist spots in Sri Lanka. An area that falls in between the wet and dry zones of the country, Belihuloya (named after a stream that flows through the area) is rich in both flora and fauna, some which are endemic to the country. The area is also dotted with numerous waterfalls like the tallest one in Sri Lanka, Bambarakanda Ella.

Our journey is to Sri Lanka’s first, all-suite, luxury, private bush walks camp, Ahas Pokuna. A lake that is fed entirely by rain waters is credited for the name of the locality, “Ahas” being sky and “Pokuna” being lake in the Sinhalese language. On the shores of this waterway is a wilderness retreat that allows guests to become one with nature and enjoy a tranquil holiday experience like no other.

However our first stop is for breakfast at River Garden Resort. Despite it being the beginning of August, there is a considerable chill in the air as we disembark to enjoy traditional Sri Lankan breakfast. These tranquil surroundings also give us a chance to ask the locals about some of the key sites to visit in the area. River Garden Resort is also run by Eco Team and is a popular spot for travellers taking this route.

To get to the 30 acre private reserve that is Ahas Pokuna one needs to trek for approximately 15 minutes from Mulgama. What awaits weary travellers is three luxury suite tents complete with an arrival deck, sleeping tent, luggage and powder lounge, a fully-fledged bathroom tent that has hot and cold water, romantic star bed/day bed for relaxation or sleep during the day or night, and the first-ever bush bath tub in Sri Lanka. All of this overlooks the grassland in the 1,000 square metres of private space protected by an elephant fence that is yours to enjoy during your stay. Ahas Pokuna is the only property in Sri Lanka that has a private star bed for each accommodation unit, making it one of the most ruggedly romantic locations to stay at.

After a hearty Sri Lankan lunch made out of local produce we proceed for another trek of about 5-6 km. That doesn’t seem like much but this trek took approximately 3 hours and we were told would be of “medium” difficulty”. It turned out to be a battle between man and nature in the form of elephant grass as high as your waist and a slippery mountain. Guided by experienced village trekkers at first we walked along a path created by elephants and other animals. The view on the way is phenomenal as you see plains that connect to the famous Horton Plains National Park. The trekking path took us through dry grasslands, thanks to our pre-warning, the track bottoms and walking shoes definitely came in handy. The trek itself is not for the faint-hearted but if you are in love with the great outdoors then difficulty levels are the least of your concerns. The highlight of the expedition though was the chance spotting of two wild elephants quite content to have 12 people secretly watching them while they grazed. A few feet away from the elephant sighting point what awaited us was a “High Tea” in one of the highest imaginable places. Delicious traditional Sri Lankan sweet meats were served with tea and coffee as we sat overlooking the magnificence of the mountain range we had just conquered.

Once we returned, rested and refreshed ourselves, a scrumptious dinner awaited around the campfire at the dining tent. Before dinner we all sat around the campfire sharing and reminiscing stories of the day’s walks and our experiences in the wild. The jungle under the cover of darkness is a whole new experience with the sounds of crickets and other insects camouflaging the stealthy movements of the bigger animals. We were told that elephants and even leopards roam the area but do not come too close to the camp. The experienced trekking team from Eco Team who run the Ahas Pokuna Camp seemed to know what they are talking about so we slept easy!

Our second morning also began rather early as we needed to catch a glimpse of the many endemic and migratory birds who visit the area. Jungle fowls, peacocks, hornbills, kingfishers, cuckoos and kohas roam the trees while an occasional monkey also kept a watch out on us passing by. I find it difficult to quite describe the experience of living (even if it is for just 1 ½ days) in such close proximity to nature. How I wanted to stay back and live surrounded by silence instead of the humdrum of the city but then, you wouldn’t be reading this. So come and experience it yourself. Let Ahas Pokuna render you speechless!

Information

Colombo Office:

No 20/63,

Fairfield Garden, Colombo 08.

Website: www.ahaspokuna.com

Written by Nishu Hassim

Photo Credit: Sanura Gunawardana

Little corner of China in Colombo – Tong Ni

In the heart of Colombo is an oasis offering a much needed respite to the soul.  Tong Ni Spa, a veritable treasure trove all the way from China. Just walking in, calms the nerves, with its soothing melodies and ambience.

Spas are considered an essential part of the Far East; the Asians in that part of the world are famous for conquering the world with their staggering pace. Yet, almost all of them allocate precious time to pamper and restore their minds and bodies by visiting spas. Many in the city of Colombo are part of a dynamic albeit competitive work force and do not realize that they are stressing themselves to a danger point. They need to take valuable time off to indulge themselves in massages and other mind and soul gratifying (not harmful) rituals, which will enable them to work better in future. At Tong Ni Spa, they specialize in varies forms of massages such as reflexology foot massages, Shitsu back massages and more depending on the customers preference. Professionally trained Chinese and Sri Lanka Masseuses (male and female) offer a specialized service for patrons. The spa which is open 24 hours a day is a cozy nook in the city for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

Spearheaded by the beautiful Chinese entrepreneur Susan, who continues to thrive in Colombo’s business community, the Tong Ni Group of Companies provides a little corner of China through various ventures such as the Tong Ni Spa, Tong Ni Tea Shop and the Tong Ni Barbecue.

Susan who relocated to Colombo many years ago spends her time travelling to and fro from Colombo to China and vis- a- vis, while overlooking the diversified range of products marketed under her group.

The Tong Ni Tea Shop which is situated above the Tong Ni Spa offers an array of authentic Ceylon Teas which are blended to perfection and catered to the tea connoisseurs who visit the tea shop to unwind after a hard day’s work.

Tong Ni Barbecue is an authentic Chinese restaurant offering the most tantalizing dishes. To those who are conscious about their figure, these mouth –watering preparations are ideal as it contains low fat and reduced calories.  The a la carte menu, which is displayed in colourful snapshots for ease of use shows the appetizing dishes which are created using authentic Chinese ingredients flown from the place of origin and concocted by a Chinese Chef. The delectable spread which includes varieties of rice, noodles, vegetables, meat items and seafood is certain to leave customers spoiled for choice. The creative desserts which are made on request are especially for those who wish to indulge their sweet tooth. These items are served with fresh juices or the fragrant jasmine tea, considered a traditional Chinese beverage which aids in digestion by mitigating the excess oils and fats.

Situated in a prime spot, it is the best location to host business meetings or impress a loved one as the restaurant consists of private dining rooms allocated for customers upon prior reservation.

Tong Ni Spa – 372, Galle Road, Colombo 03.

For reservations – 011 5219661

Tong Ni Barbeque -011 5922120

For reservations   – 59, Walukarama Rd, Colombo 03

Written by Rochelle Palipane Gunaratne

Worldlink Travel Group warmly welcomes the luxurious cruise ship The Majestic Princess to Colombo

Princess Cruises’ most luxurious ship, The Majestic Princess, called at the Colombo port recently on her 49-day maiden voyage from Rome, Italy to China. The ship, which can accommodate over 3500 passengers, is scheduled to stop at 23 ports by the time it finishes its first voyage.

Sri Lanka’s Worldlink Travel Group represents Princess Cruises in Sri Lanka. Worldlink Tours is one of the leading sri lanka travel agents, a arm of the Worldlink Travel Group, which is one of Srilanka’s ‘finest’ group of companies in the travel industry.

Worldlink has been in business since 1991, and has been a purveyor of discerning journeys the world over. Mr Ahintha Amerasinghe, Chairman and Managing Director of Worldlink, who himself has been in the travel industry for over three decades, once did say that honesty and integrity together with the excellent service that they offer their clients has been the hallmark of the success of the Worldlink Travel Group.

It goes without saying that The Majestic Princess is truly a star class entity. With 19 decks, 1,780 cabins, and a passenger capacity of 3,560, it is absolute luxury at sea. It must be said that this testament to discerning travel boasts 20 restaurants and bars including 3 main dining rooms, 4 specialty drink options and 6 bars.

The La Mer restaurant is manned by Emmanuel Renaut who is a 3 Star Michelin Chef, and was voted — Chef of the Year — by his Michelin-starred peers. There is also the Harmony Specialty Restaurant that was created in partnership with another Michelin Star Chef by the name of Richard Chen.

It must be mentioned that the World Fresh Marketplace serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from diverse cuisine stations. Expect to indulge in a variety of exotic foods from China, the Mediterranean, and Europe. With luxury being almost a byline, the level of cleanliness and efficiency, which was apparent, is something worth taking note of. The produce that is handpicked and chosen for the passengers are of exceptional quality.

While The Majestic Princess certainly does offer a gastronomic journey that’s designed to titillate the sense, a whole host of leisure activities are also on offer to travelers. The architecture of the whole ship is characterized by long glowing lines with the interior space being extremely expansive and well-festooned with luxurious motifs and baubles that would make passengers feel very special indeed.

With regard to the leisure activities, there is the Seawalk (a glass-bottomed walkway above the ocean); Movies Under The Stars (China’s largest cruise ship movie screen featuring the best of Hollywood and international music stars); Water Color Fantasy (a dazzling water and light show); and British Festival of the World (a festival featuring beautiful British decor, themed dance parties, English language classes, afternoon tea etiquette, enriching activities, and lively musical tribute performances).

It is also worth mentioning that this monolith of luxury offers something known as the Fantastic Journey when it comes to entertainment options. This is a technologically-advanced and immersive musical and cinematic experience at sea, which is produced exclusively for Chinese guests that feature an all-star cast that’s truly international.

No journey that promises so much of luxury is ever complete without absolute comfort. All staterooms offer what’s called a Princess Luxury Bed, which is a custom-designed mattress developed by Dr. Michael Breus who is an America Board-of-Certified Medicine sleep expert. The staterooms also feature luxury linens designed by Canadian designer Candice Olsen.

All guest services The Majestic Princess can boast about are the range of luxury duty-free boutique shops that offer the best when it comes to: fine jewelry, designer accessories, leather items, name-brand cosmetics, liquor and tobacco and souvenirs. Additionally discerning travelers onboard can avail themselves of the Lotus Spa and Salon, Hollywood Pool Club, and 24-hour Room Service.

The Majestic Princess has won a plethora of international awards and accolades, including: Cruise Editors’ Choice Awards (Best Cruises Line 2013); Recommend Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards (Best Cruise Line – Itineraries 2004-2012); and, Cruise International Magazine (Best in Cruise Line 2014 and 2015; Best for Food 2015; and Best for First Time Cruiser 2015).

Princess Cruises possesses a fleet of 18 ships including The Majestic Princess. Boasting more than 360 destinations with around 2 million passengers being carried annually, there are over 150 itineraries (with vacation periods ranging from 3 to 114 days) that one can choose from.

Written by Rohitha Perera

15 Years Of Danu

Fabulousness is an attitude, I’m convinced. Sipping a beer and waiting for Danu to make an appearance at Cinnamon Grand was certainly an exciting prospect. Clad in butt-hugging black jeans with strips torn at the inner thighs, in walked Danu sporting a mustache reminiscent of Ranveer Singh during his Ram Leela days. Danu has arrived, an alarmed thought ran through my beer-drenched neurons. I was not the only one who noticed.

The denizens of Cinnamon Grand turned their heads and tracked his progress with ever widening eyes as he scuttled towards me while I giggled nervously, and decided another bottle of Lion Lager was quite welcome. On second thoughts, make that a Lion Strong, I whispered to the gawking waiter.

Tongue-tied and wondering how to break the ice, which I was unskillfully trying to chip away at, I murmured — It seems that you’re one of those personalities that live for the day, Danu. He opened his mouth, which boasted an envious set of pearly whites that was made from the same stuff the Pearly Gates were, and laughed raucously. The poor piano lady, alarmed, forgot the tune to Pachebel’s Canon D, as Danu whispered back — No darling, I live for two.

Despite the frivolousness, silliness, and all-out shock value that Danu reeked of, he turned out to be an inspirational human being. With two hours of voice recordings snugly sitting in my iPhone, here I am at Mount Lavinia beach mulling over such an extraordinary personality that’s celebrating 15 years in the media field.

We’ve all heard the scandalous comments: “Danu? That queen?”; “I heard he’s a real bitch”; “What is he wearing?”; “Belongs in a nut house”; and, “I wouldn’t let any of my kids or my dog near him”. Yet once the layers of frivolity came undone, I’m hard pressed to find another more human individual that we can all relate to.

Born to a wealthy family in Jaffna, the war and other economic challenges displaced Danu and his family to Colombo. He talked of how after the death of his father, his mother brought him and his sister up with humble means.

Being materialistically spoilt was never an option, and he says how his mother told them that she will never show them anything that she couldn’t afford. Schooled at St. Peters, he talked of how he flunked Math, and still gets nervous before a major gig that he has to compère.

While life hardly smiled fair at Danu, he talks of his mother and sister in such a glowing manner. I’ve finally bought a small car, he says. But I’ve lost the chance to take my Mum around town to show her the night lights, he murmurs. Having lost his mother to colon cancer, it’s now his sister that has become his biggest fan.

In an age where social media has become a marketing juggernaut of sorts, Danu has excelled carving and crafting his media personality into something that secretly everyone envies. From hosting his own radio show to being a brand ambassador to compèring some of the most well-attended events in Colombo, it would hardly come as a surprise that he truly is star class.

Forever enterprising, Danu has branched out into various projects: WTF by Danu; Buzz with Danu; Jaffna Boy; Danu Innasithamby Foundation; and, My Sister’s Kitchen. Offering the best in information and entertainment, I was humbled enough to witness the life story of this well-loved media personality as he celebrated 15 years in media at Park Street Mews on the 25th of July.

As the liquor flowed that night, and a veritable list of Colombo’s glitterati attended to applaud Danu’s 15-year-old milestone at Curve, I did realize that the secret of Danu’s success is in his ability to eke out a laugh from even the most recalcitrant of beings.

The jokes were endless, and there were more laughs than conversations that night. I hope I live for another 15 years, Danu stated as he took the stage, simply because I have a lot of clothes to wear! Adroitly meandering from one topic to another, here was a maestro that jumped from one topic to another and kept a discerning audience wondering as he seduced more laughs from them as the night wore on.

As the show wound down, and everyone clamored to get their picture taken with the man himself, I couldn’t help but muse — How could you not love the guy? I remembered the list of people he thanked with a sense of humility that was unbecoming for a celebrity.

What better way to gracefully accept success than to offer up a humble ode to all those who have helped him along the way; this is, after all, a life that’s more eager to throw obstacles your way than to cheer you on towards success.

For what it’s worth, and judging by his sheer online presence, I’m convinced that we Lankans do need a bit of Danu in our lives; and as you gawk and consume the plethora of perfectly photoshopped images on his Instagram feed, remember that the person truly is far more approachable, zany, and human than you and I could ever be.

Written by Rohitha Perera

Australia’s leading organic baby skincare brand, GAIA, launches in Sri Lanka

GAIA, the trusted natural and organic skincare range in Australia, with a global presence in over 23 countries, held their grand launch event in Sri Lanka, at the Hilton Colombo, on the 19th of August with exclusive agency partners Nyth Global Venture Pvt. Ltd.

Established by Directors, Fazal Ahamed and Mifra Sadikeen, Nyth Global Venture Pvt. Ltd. was created with the goal of partnering with renowned, world-class quality, natural and organic  brands to cater to the niche yet growth intensive Sri Lankan market for toxin free, natural products. Committed to quality and excellence, the company partners with institutions that create natural and extraordinary products and services, while reducing their impact on the environment through green practices.

Nyth Global Venture Pvt. Ltd. launched GAIA, in Sri Lanka with its founder Michelle Vorginec, as they felt that there was a gap in the market for this segment of high quality, naturally derived, certified organic, thoughtfully designed, innovative, and safe skincare products.

The certified organic oils and unique blends of pure and natural ingredients used in all GAIA products mean that they are incredibly safe and gentle to use and don’t contain any hidden toxins and irritants that are harmful. Perfect for use on your baby and children’s sensitive skin as well as mums to be, especially since your skin absorbs about 60 percent of what’s applied on it.

GAIA products have been winners of several prestigious Australian and international  awards since its inception to date, including Mother and Baby, My child excellence awards, Cozycot parenting and more.

Speaking to the press and invited guests GAIA Skin Naturals’ founder Michelle Vorginec said, “We believe that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it, which is why all our ingredients are natural and toxin free. Our products use certified organic oils and are not tested on animals, which mean they are ‘cruelty free’ and ‘vegan friendly’.”

GAIA was founded by Michelle as her eldest son suffered, like many children do, from eczema. Unable to find products that didn’t irritate or dry her baby’s skin she created her own and GAIA Natural Baby was born. Following on the success of this, GAIA Pure Pregnancy, HIT NITZ 4 6, Skin + Body ranges were created.

Mifra Sadikeen of Nyth Global Ventures, being a mother to young children herself, felt an intense responsibility to give them the best possible start, which included using natural, toxin free products on her beautiful babies. When researching products of this nature she came across GAIA Skin Naturals and loved using their products as much as her children did, and they did exactly what they promised. This tried and tested personal experience with GAIA turned her into a passionate advocate for the use of natural and organic skincare products.

Today, many parents are inundated with advice on what to feed their children and how to create safe home environments for babies, but many are still completely unaware of the potential risks posed by everyday basics, body washes and other essential cosmetics. Yet, there’s growing concern that some ingredients used in these products may be inflammatory, toxic and cause a host of diseases including cancer.

GAIA creates natural, toxin-free products specifically targeted to moisturize and are free from ingredients  known to irritate sensitive skin, making it eczema friendly.

The GAIA range of products in Sri Lanka include the Natural Baby  bath and body washes, shampoo, wipes, talc-free powder, body lotion, massage oil, soothing cream and more. The Pure Pregnancy range includes the belly butter, nipple cream and belly oil. There is also the extremely effective and successful HIT NITZ 4 6 range which provides an easy, toxin free, two-step system to help control head lice. All these products are available online at www.gaia.lk with island wide delivery, at selected Healthguard outlets and at MILK at 44A Horton Place, Colombo 07.

Nyth Global Venture was set up with the ethos of bringing award winning, natural and organic brands to mums in Sri Lanka, keeping them and their precious bundles of joy, happy and safe from harmful toxins. They strongly believe in helping parents give their children a better, safer start.

Women of Substance

In mid-July I happen to read an article where a group of more than 150 CEOs from some of the world’s leading companies have signed on to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Although this is good news for many women in corporate roles and those who are entrepreneurs, it also got me thinking as to why such high-powered action continues to be needed to progress gender diversity in the workplace. Why couldn’t this be based on merit on an equal playing field? Of course, years of research, work around this and activism too, shows that this is no easy task; there are cultural and societal constructs, there are in-built systemic issues within society and even the way organizations are structured, which means a lot of conscious work has to happen to move this agenda.

In Sri Lanka we have our own examples of women who have inspired generations to stand up and be heard. Starting from princesses who gave up their lives to save a nation, to the first woman to lead one, Sri Lankan women have had an illustrious history in leadership roles. Our current corporate landscape is also dotted by a few such exceptional women, who not only lead but also inspire.

Recognizing such extraordinary ladies, Women in Management recently held the “Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards 2017” at a gala ceremony. Women business leaders, both corporate and small/medium entrepreneurs, as well as women in the public sector and civil society, were recognized for their contributions in many fields and sectors.

Among the 50 top-notch women felicitated at the ceremony were two women, who although they do very different job roles are yet united, not only by their femininity but also by a common goal of seeing other women progress in their respective areas of work, and thrive within their families and in their communities.

Rajitha Jayasuriya and Shevanthi Fernando are from MAS Holdings. MAS has had a globally recognized women’s empowerment program since 2003; which makes a tangible difference in the lives of female employees at MAS, by empowering them both in the workplace and in their personal lives.

The empowerment initiative focuses on promoting knowledge, awareness, leadership skills, entrepreneurial spirit, attitudinal changes, and the ability to balance work and personal life through four focus areas: career advancement, skills development, work life balance and rewarding excellence. Driving livelihood development and building capacity through sustainable initiatives, MAS is an enabler of long-term socio-economic empowerment of women, their families and communities.

When I had the honour of meeting these two ladies, Rajitha first struck me as a firm and determined leader. The aura that surrounded her emanated a sense of power and self-confidence. She tells me she joined MAS in 2004 when there really wasn’t a legal department and she was unsure of what she was getting in to.  But she was up for a challenge and chose to join MAS instead of going into a more conventional legal role elsewhere, which was the popular advice she got. As MAS grew exponentially, expanded into new geographies and diversified into other fashion and lifestyle areas, the internal demands of driving a globally focused Legal team increased. Today Rajitha leads a full-service all female team of dynamic lawyers, responsible for  all corporate law matters, organizational structuring, local to cross border acquisitions, intellectual property law management and corporate governance across MAS’ local and global operations.

“One of my greatest experiences at MAS has been the empowerment and freedom I had to drive change and to make my own choices in establishing a unique legal function that added value to the organization. As the company transformed, I evolved as a person. Every day was a new challenge, a new opportunity and a new lesson”.

Today, thirteen years later Rajitha is Group Director, Legal for a global apparel giant. She has been involved in some of the most ground breaking decisions taken by MAS in terms of expansion, strategic business partnerships, innovations and people related legal and regulatory matters.

Shevanthi who functions as the General Manager Corporate Communications, CSR and Women Advocacy for MAS Intimates comes across as being very passionate about what she does. She is enthusiastic about being able to impact lives (of mainly women and youth) and communities across Sri Lanka and globally, through her job role. She talks about having “Women’s Advocacy” in her designation which is the reality of how important women’s empowerment is to MAS.

Joining MAS Intimates in 2006 as a Senior HR Executive, Shevanthi was excited about the “buzz” around MAS Intimates, the lifestyle and culture. Although her plan was to work in one of the Ratmalana or Panadura offices, she took up the challenge to join Slimline in Pannala; a place a city-girl like her had hardly heard of. This she describes was probably one of the best things that happened to her.

“Going to Pannala and working with rural women who added the greatest value to our business gave me a whole new perspective. I was used to a typical Colombo-based lifestyle but seeing how the team members at Slimline sustained their families, and being a part of their joys and sorrows truly changed my outlook on life”.

As she progressed in her career in Human Resources at MAS Intimates, these initial experiences and insights gave Shevanthi the organizational flexibility to make the most relevant and impactful decisions for people and communities. Shevanthi moved in to her current role in 2012 where she drives strategy and operations in Social Sustainability/Women’s Advocacy; and develops strategy, plans and executes all branding, external and internal communications for MAS Intimates globally.

More than their personal achievements, highlight for these two women has been their contribution to “empowerment” within the MAS culture. Both ladies echo how the leadership of MAS has always believed in and encouraged not only professional development, but also personal growth, extending support to anyone at any level to achieve their dreams.

Rajitha and Shevanthi are both actively involved with initiatives progressing gender, inclusivity and diversity across MAS.

Shevanthi says “Most companies remain gender-imbalanced and this leads to blind spots, gaps, and missed opportunities, which impact the bottom line, long term growth and employee satisfaction.  The emerging corporate success stories are from companies that are inclusive, innovative and attentive to gender. At MAS we always work towards ensuring a workplace, and life, that works for women.”

“We want all the women of MAS to have the same opportunities we did, and be able to thrive in their work and personal lives on their own terms,” concludes Rajitha.

Written by Nishu Hassim