Life style
Challenges, the turning points and the future of hospitality
Shiromal Cooray talks about
by Zanita Careem
A multitude of several roles, Shiromal Cooray, sister of well known hotelier Hiran Cooray managing director of Jetwing Group of Companies stands out amongst all others when it comes to her story of success and entrepreneurship. She is the Managing Director of Jetwing Travels and Chairman of Jetwing Hotels. However, her role in life is not confined to this. She manages multiple roles with the same ease and grace. A voice for women’s equality, an active industry supporter, a woman entrepreneur, and of course a travel personality , mother and what not!
Q: What are your career milestones?
A: I started as an audit clerk at Ernst and young( then Turquand Young) in Colombo. Then went on to the UK and worked as a Trainee Management Accountant.
My first appointment In Sri Lanka was as the Finance Manager at J Walter Thompson, a popular advertising company. I was privileged to be working under two excellent individuals who moulded my professional career. Working with group of brilliant and talented people it set a benchmark in my career to move forward. I realized the importance of creativity then. I ended up being the Director of Finance and administration.
Later I joined Jetwing travels, in its infancy. By then, my brother was already working with our Dad in the Hotels. I saw the growth, the progress of the company, and the team spirit of the associates and their passion, and was very proud of it.
I also witnessed the beginning and expansion of an investment Bank CAL, the resurgence of a commodity broker, Ceylon Tea Brokers and the birth of a logistics company Logicare, with my partner Ajith. These were great experiences in my life.
To join the Board at the Commercial Bank as an independent non executive and later the Allianz Insurance, Sri Lanka, gave me the much needed experience and exposure to other industries creating a diversity in my career.
Q:
Does the problem of gender bias still exists’ How do you account for this
A: Yes gender bias still exists sometimes consciously but also at times unconsciously. I have seen that most companies in Sri Lanka have sugar coated pills showing the gender equality in beautifully crafted documents, incorporating in their annual reports,adding and giving awards to those female members etc. They also portray a friendly demeanour and make high sounding slogans supporting the women workforce but sadly in practise most don’t walk the talk. This gender stereotype is prevalent in most places still and gender biases are rooted deeply and it is hard to overcome in Sri Lanka and the world. But much progress has happened and the future looks bright for females .
I have been often Been asked by callers in office Are you the secretary and can you connect me to Shiromal Cooray on line. Why/ I used to wonder that people found it surprising to accept the fact that the head or the Managing Director of a company can be a woman. This is a common trait not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world . They think women are weak, cant work for long hours and don’t have the ability. In the past trail blazing women have proved this wrong. Now both in Sri Lanka and overseas women are showing their ability to multi task and take on the roles of care giver and business leader.
Q:
What motivates an entrepreneur like you to climb the ladder of success/
> A: I don’t consider myself as an entrepreneur at all. My father was an entrepreneur .My brother and I consider ourselves as custodians of our business which we are so proud of. Our father created this group giving employment to many. My brother and myself together with Ruan Samarasinghe and a wonderful team have worked to ensure the business will expand and grow.
However what motivates me is seeing our teams working passionately towards our common goals. Our founder’s dream was to create a ‘service culture’ that is ‘legendary’ one that people will talk about and be proud of The teams both at the hotel and the travel sector are continuing to focus and achieve this goal, this motivates me to keep striving harder.
Q:
Are you proud of what you have achieved so far
A:
Yes I am so humbled and proud by what the team and I have achieved so far, we have created an opportunity to showcase our beautiful Sri Lanka to both locals and tourists alike. We are a hospitable nation noted for our smiles and we strive to ensure the brand Jetwing remains as the best hospitality provider in our country.
Q:
What are your challenges and how did you overcome?
A:
I faced many obstacles In my career. I was a whistle blower and even lost my job in the process. That really exposed me to another world and showed how naive I was. But this was also the turning point in my career.
Most often, I have been the only woman at a discussion and getting my opinion heard was difficult at the beginning. Things are certainly changing now as women’s points of view are seriously considered.
Q:
The challenges of being a working mum
A:
It was difficult but I took it up with a positive note. This is going to be themost challenging area for a woman to navigate. The emotions of being a mum and the responsibilities at work are always going to play. She needs to learn to compromise and realize you cannot have it all, or be perfect in everything. Once you realize that navigating the multiple roles become much easier. Sometimes . I have had to juggle between work and office. My mother, in laws and great domestic help made my life that much easier. I am so grateful to them for letting me enjoy motherhood and a career.
Q:
Your strength and weaknesses
A:
My faith and family. I have complete trust in God, My parents my brother,my partner and my son were beside me whenever I wanted them.
I try to look at a problem from different perspectives and try to find solutions.
Q:
The weaknesses
A:
I always believe in the truth and I don’t want to conceal what I really feel. Often people don’t like direct talk. I am very bad at sugar coating things and this puts me in trouble very often. I am often told that the problem with me is not what I say but how I say it, though I keep trying to change haven’t been successful.
Q:
Can you reflect on your success
A:
I worked with a personality with high principles,this was my father who had a deep understanding of people. He always wanted the company to grow with the people. He viewed me as a capable woman For him men and womenwere equal and there was absolutely no glass ceilings . Both my brother and I were given the same opportunities for education and personal development.
Q:
Born and bred into a business family what are your privileges.
A:
Our parents worked selflessly towards the progress of the company and their children. We received a very sound education. We saw how focused one has to be to achieve your goals. The importance of family and working together.
Our associates at Jetwing helped one another, to stand in unison to build the company, Some of the staff members rose to high positions and got the opportunity to climb the ladder of success that was a great achievement and a wonderful experience.
Q:
Did you join the family business by choice
A:
Yes, definitely by choice. Nobody could force me and I had the freedom to chose my own path. I am happy with what I am.
Q:
Your passion
A:
Reading, love to read biographies, travelling and exploring new exotic places. I must mention during my travel I visited Mongolia. I was mesmerised by the beauty of the country and simplicity of the nomadic people.
Q:
Your mantra
A:
Love to help people whenever possible.
Q:
Your source of inspiration that helped you to build your career
A:
My father inspired me to build my career. My father’s choice was to make me to be a doctor, but Circumstances made me what I am today. However I am happy with my self and studying accountancy was my choice Too.
Q:
Who are your mentors
A:
My parents. My mother still instills good values and advises me. My parents have taught me to be humble, to appreciate simple things in life faith, work hard and to help each other.
Author
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Sri Lanka is a land renown for stunning natural beauty. Yet, LUXASIA still managed to usher in a different kind of beautiful to the market through its expertise in luxury beauty retail and omni-distribution.
In November 2019, LUXASIA unveiled its inaugural classy beauty counters at Odel, One Galle Face. Since then, it has brought enchanting fragrances from luxury brands such as Burberry, Calvin Klein, Gucci, and Marc Jacobs, as well as trendy skincare from KORA Organics to beauty-lovers in an exquisite and captivating retail format.
Now, having successfully overcome the challenges in 2020 imposed by COVID-19 and related lockdowns, LUXASIA is ready and excited to thrill Sri Lankan consumers again. This time, it is with the launch of both skincare and make-up collections from the prestigious Japanese beauty brand, Shiseido. Arriving with a glamorously magnificent pop-up at One Galle Face from 8 to 14 February 2020, LUXASIA promises to bring memorable consumer experiences and a feast for the eyes that showcases the best in Japanese beauty.
Leading up to this pop-up, LUXASIA partnered the Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and top influencers of Sri Lanka to excite the beauty community with a sneak peek of what Shiseido have to offer. This campaign garnered more than 100,000 social interactions, with over 1.2 million social media impressions, piquing consumers’ fascination in Shiseido’s award-winning and best-selling serum, The Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate.
Looking ahead into 2021, LUXASIA aims to continue delighting consumers with even more fresh retail innovations to spice up the luxury beauty scene in Sri Lanka. Soon, fragrance enthusiasts can expect a unique pop-up of all the scents that Luxasia carry, featuring new launches from Davidoff and Calvin Klein, as well as other interesting novelties. Beauty-lovers can also expect more limited edition products and gifts-with-purchases, interesting workshops, as well as seasonal offerings in the coming months. Concurrently, LUXASIA also aspires to continue grooming the Sri Lankan beauty community through more entertaining collaborations with KOLs throughout 2021.
LUXASIA sees immense potential in Sri Lanka’s fast-growing beauty market and has been its voice in the international beauty industry. For some time now, LUXASIA has been relentlessly reaching out to numerous luxury beauty brands across to world to interest them in Sri Lanka. While it is encouraging to see the first-fruits, LUXASIA is aiming much higher. Forging ahead, LUXASIA strives to champion and lead the growth of luxury beauty in Sri Lanka, through even more partnerships with great brands, and by continuously delighting consumers.
Author
by Ifham Nizam
Shipping lanes to the south of Dondra pose the threat of ships colliding with whales as the area has very rich marine life which also attracts whale watching boats, says prolific wildlife writer and photographer Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, author of the recently published ‘A Naturalist’s Guide to the Mammals of Sri Lanka’.
He says international shipping industry organizations have written to the government to push back the existing shipping lanes and if no action is initiated, there is the danger of whale watching boats colliding with vessels.
Dr. Susannah Calderon and her colleagues at the University of Ruhuna have recommended the shipping lanes be moved 15 nautical miles south. The cost impact to all concerned will be negligible, but it significantly improves safety at sea, especially at night when the sea is dotted with the lamps from hundreds of small fishing crafts in the path of giant container carriers.
“It is primarily a safety issue though an important secondary impact will be that it reduces fatal collisions with whales, while generating favourable publicity for the government of Sri Lanka. It boils down to moving the shipping lanes further south and saving lives, Wijeyeratne stressed in an interview with The Sunday Island.
Asked what’s special about his latest publication, he said: “This is the first photographic field guide which covers nearly all of the mammals found in Sri Lanka. It covers 96 per cent of the land and marine mammals. The book, which is portable and affordable, also contains a large number of images from 40 photographers which are practically useful in the field to identify 
a mammal to species level. It also covers a number of small, discrete, nocturnal mammals whose existence that even many local wildlife enthusiasts will not be aware of.”
On the book’s coverage of the marine mammals, Wijeyeratne said there are two noteworthy aspects. Firstly, it covers all the species recorded in Sri Lankan waters expect for one, the Omura’s Whale. This will be included in a second edition. Secondly, it uses images of the whales and dolphins (cetaceans) which will show the animals the way a whale watcher will see them on the surface.
Artwork that shows the whole animal is important, but in field conditions, they are often of limited value to identify cetaceans which only show a little of their upper body in sections at a time they surface.
Q: You were the first to publicize that Sri Lanka was the best location for Blue Whale sightings and offered the best chance to see a superpod of Sperm Whales. Can you explain briefly how you set about branding Sri Lanka as a top international destination for whale watching?
A:
I started with field work to ascertain the facts and launched a media campaign initially with Jetwing Eco Holidays and Jetwing Hotels which was supported over many years by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and others in the media and tourism business. I have published 37 articles on whale watching in Sri Lanka. The first, in May 2008, was pivotal as it boldly stated that Sri Lanka was best for Blue Whales. This set everything in motion. My articles give due credit to many people who were a part of this amazing story. This includes Dr. Charles Anderson who first told me it would be feasible to see Blue Whales from the South.
A Belgian millionaire philanthropist who prefers to remain anonymous and helped create the infrastructure for whale watching by 13 tsunami affected fishing youth who set up Mirissa Water Sports and Sue Evans who was important for connecting all of us and Anoma Alagiyawadu (the Jetwing Lighthouse Naturalist) whom I tasked with collecting the initial data for the Encounter Rates I publicized in the media.
Remarkably, no Sri Lankan marine biologist played any role in publicizing whale watching in the early years. However, soon after, they benefited by being thrust into the media spotlight by film crew researchers who had read the publicity which began with my various widely disseminated articles. Having read them, and sometimes after conversations with me, the film crews and the press came to Sri Lanka and incorporated local marine biologists into their story.
At the time I broke the first story, I do not think any of the local marine biologists had even one image of a Blue Whale of a publishable standard or had any idea that Sri Lanka was the best place in the world to see Blue Whales. Hopefully, the increased profile of local marine biologists has made it easier for them to raise the funds needed for their important research.
Q: Did the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau help your efforts with publicity and branding?
A:
Yes indeed. At the start of the publicity campaign, we produced a series of informative and attractive publications designed by Chandrika Maelge. These were printed and distributed at key consumer and travel trade fairs such as the Bird Fair, WTM and Destinations where a number of important press and tour operators were informed about Sri Lanka being a good place for whales. At some of the press drinks events in London hosted by Jetwing Eco Holidays, around 35-45 press people would attend. These events were held in collaboration with the London Office of the SLTPB.
In some years, As many as three of these press events were held allowing personal interaction with a wide pool of media people. Another important and later development is the role played by Nalin Perera who ran the SLTPB office in London for several years and attended many consumer and travel trade fairs. I had developed media briefs for him which he would print and distribute. In one conversation, he estimated that he had printed and distributed over 10,000 copies of this material.
There were others who also disseminated my stories to the international press; a notable example being Chitral Jayatilake who shared my publicity pdfs with various wildlife documentary makers he invited to Sri Lanka.
Q: Did everyone readily embrace your ideas?
It took a couple of years. I remember even into the second year of the publicity campaign there were doubts from the big companies in tourism.
I remember Srilal Miththapala who was then President of The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka speaking to me and joining a celebrity whale watching event I was leading with Shyamalee Tudawe. This was organized by Olivia Richli of the Amangalla in Galle.
Srilal wanted to report back to the association if there was any truth to the claims being made by me about how easy it was to see Blue Whales. On the coastline, the people running small guesthouses readily embraced the story as tourists who were reading my stories turned up with copies of my articles and asked for boats to take them whale watching. The international press also readily took it on as I provided credible data.
Q: What do you say to criticisms that whale watching needs better regulation?
I agree on the need for better regulation and higher standards. The tourism industry has played its part in publicizing whale watching. Other state agencies also need to step up their efforts to regulate the industry in a way that is good for the welfare of the animals and provide a good visitor experience.
Q: What do you expect ‘A Naturalist’s Guide to the Mammals of Sri Lanka’ to achieve?
I would like people to understand that there is still a lot to be discovered about Sri Lanka’s mammals and I hope this portable and affordable guide will find its way into the hands of local naturalists and inspire more research and more practical steps to conserve habitats and species.
Author
Brides and Grooms of Sri Lanka – Reimagined
“Together we’re creating moments of happiness and cherished memories for the new couple and their families” said Founder and CEO of LOVI Ceylon, Asanka de Mel, as he introduced LOVI Ceylon’s Groom collection. Each groom’s look was paired with extraordinary creations from Sri Lanka’s top bridal designers, jewelers, florists, hair and make-up artiste and was captured by story-telling photographers.
The presentation graciously hosted by the Taj Samudra and Shangri-La hotels saw 30 leading designers working hand in hand to infuse fresh ideas, celebrate cultural diversity and show-off Sri Lankan couture—the island’s hand craft heritage.
The stunning bridal costumes were painstakingly made by renowned designers Messrs. Dhananjaya Bandara, Rishard Raheem, and Michael Wijesuriya as well as Mses. Indi Yapa Abeywardena of Brides by INDI, Sonali Dharmawardena, Darshi Keerthisena of Buddhi Batiks, Ramona Oshini, Sandani Perera of IKIGAI Bridal, and Jaish Parathalingam of Aashkii. The newcomer, Ms. Anusha David also presented her couture creations under the label Gabriel.
“We want our Groom and all of the men in the wedding including the groomsmen, dads, young boys and friends, to be themselves–to feel rooted in culture, well dressed and at ease on the wedding day,” says Asanka. Celebrating the religious and cultural traditions including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Kandyan, Malay, Muslim, Sinhala, Tamil and western traditions of the island LOVI Ceylon’s Grooms’ range presented modern sarongs paired with formal shirts, jackets, kurtas and more. They were paired with sarees, dresses, lehengas, pant suits and an array of breathtaking outfits. There were many looks offered for the Sri Lankan diaspora, as well as couples seeking inspiration for destination weddings.
As the designs progressed from sketch to stitching, our jewelry partners Careems, Lalitha, Mallika Hemachandra, Tiesh and Vogue jewelers added their brilliant sparkles with handcrafted fine jewelry made of precious metals encrusted with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. And what wedding would be complete without flowers? Bringing the latest floral creations were florists Designer Flowers, Flowers by Joan and Karen Forbes, Lassana Flora, and Supreme Flora who made the spectacular bridal outfits blossom with their creations.
Breathing life into these wonderful creations with superb hair and make-up was anchor of the shoot, Ms. Nadiya Fernando and her collaborator Omesh, while Ramani Fernando Salons, Shane Perera, Viran Peter, Brides by Leena and Talia designs, also worked magic on the models.
The father son duo Dinuka and Dineth Fonseka of Studio3000 took on the herculean task of capturing all the creations as the anchor photography partner. The works of Ashene Bernard, Amarante Studio, Geeshan Bandara, and Portrait Culture were also presented in imaginative and artistic captures.
De Mel expressed his thanks to the wonderful models who brought the visions and fancies of the designers to life, as well as poet and author Ashok Ferrey for being the MC of the shoot and providing an eloquent commentary, delivered with his inimitable panache!
“We have world class craftsmanship here, it’s fun to work with so many experts, who just happen to be friends, to present a beautiful collection that could nudge the course of Sri Lankan clothing identity” said Asanka when asked about the work that went into this.
As he rightly reminded the gentlemen to choose wisely, “on that special wedding day, when all eyes are on her–her eyes are on you!”
