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Extending hand of friendship

DUBAI — Sri Lanka, the small, enchanting island nation is famous not just for its coconuts and coasts, but also for its proud heritage and history.

“This is the 8th year that our country is participating in the Global Village. We are here not for commercial reasons; we are here to use this forum to highlight to the world that Sri Lanka is a peace loving, friendly nation. And we are here extending a hand of camaraderie to the rest of the world assembled here in the Village,” says Neil De Silva, Project Manager of the Sri Lanka Pavilion.

Great detailing has gone into the construction of the façade of the pavilion that depicts the Sigiriya or the granite stone natural formation famous in Sri Lanka, considered the 8th wonder of the world.

These granite structures have on them natural paintings that are more than 1,000 years old and the UN has categorised the entire formation as a protected ancient relic.

Evidently, a lot of thought has gone into the products that have been brought all the way from Sri Lanka for displaying in the Global Village. For instance, leather being a prime product, a variety of leather goods with exclusive contemporary designs are on sale. Besides, handicraft items, hand-made flowers but with natural colours and near-natural appearance, hand made non-toxic educational wooden toys, ceramic ware comprising kitchen storage jars and ornamental flower vases — the variety truly does the nation proud.

The Bathik print on fabrics is another specialty from Sri Lanka. “It is one of our heritage products and is entirely hand made. An exquisite design is first made on the fabric and portions of the design are covered with wax. When the fabric is dipped in colour, the uncovered portions accept and absorb the colour; the procedure is repeated with other areas of the design, thus resulting in enthralling design work and combination of colours. This is an art form that is being passed down generations and the skill is a legacy acquired from ancestors,” informs De Silva.

The 750 sq. m pavilion space comprises 37 retail units of varying sizes, out of which 50 sq. m is designated as a specialty supermarket and sells authentic Sri Lankan foodstuff and grocery. “One such item that is gaining popularity is the brown rice replete with the husk and for the first time this is being introduced to the UAE through the Global Village.

The uniqueness of this brown rice is that it helps reduce the sugar and cholesterol levels in the body and considering that close to 70 per cent of the UAE population suffer from both ailments, it is a good time to introduce brown rice into the eating habits of the populace,” remarks De Silva.

Furthermore, a health spa within the pavilion offers rejuvenating foot and head massage; this is not all, for a paint shop with a difference sells not just the oil paints, but also paintings of Rasitha Sanjeewa — one of Sri Lanka’s best known, modern art painter, whose painting has found place in the Britannica 2003 edition.

Ayurveda that is practiced with rewarding results is hugely popular in Sri Lanka and a special Ayurveda shop within the pavilion stands testimony to this fact.

“The Ayurvedic medicines are made from herbal bases and the products come from a very old and renowned company in Sri Lanka called Siddhalepa. Changing with the times the company has now introduced Ayurveda medicines in the ready to use form, instead of its original grind and paste formula. Another Ayurvedic product – the Triphala tea offers good cure from gastritis.”

“Sri Lanka is a friendly nation and we welcome visitors to our pavilion not just to browse through our history and heritage visible through our products, but also to have a taste of our famous Ceylon tea and pineapples that is our special offering,” smiles De Silva.