Small Island, Big Impact
Sri Lanka is no stranger to adversity. From the devastation of the 2004 tsunami and the heartbreak of the 2019 Easter bombings, to the global pandemic and a grinding economic crisis, this island nation has weathered more than its fair share of storms. And yet, time and time again, it rises—carried by the unshakable spirit of its people, their love for the land, and a deep-rooted commitment to community.
When Maudie and Olivia visited Sri Lanka in March as part of their partnership with ÀNI Private Resorts, they were struck by something powerful: a groundswell of energy, passion, and purpose coming from within the country’s hospitality sector. Across the island, from surf towns to tea country, hotels and grassroots initiatives are stepping beyond the bounds of tourism to become engines of real, lasting change. It’s no coincidence, then, that we’ve seen a recent surge in Sri Lankan members joining The Conscious Travel Foundation. This growing corner of our community reflects the momentum we felt on the ground.
Together, these initiatives (and many others) are helping to preserve Sri Lanka’s extraordinary culture, protect its wildlife, and uplift its communities. We loved that these ideas could be transferred from one destination to another, offering adaptable solutions that can be scaled to meet local needs. We wanted to highlight some of the standout projects, individuals and initiatives we encountered—each playing a role in the growing momentum of a movement taking shape across this remarkable island.
ÀNI for Education
Supported by: ÀNI Private Resorts
Supporting fees for over 800 students annually—and growing—ÀNI for Education directly channels tourism revenue into transformative education and skill-building for local youth at the Tallala Vocational Training Institute. When government funding cuts forced the Institute to start charging fees and students started dropping out, ÀNI stepped in. Their funding ensured that vital vocational courses in subjects like IT, Cookery and Bakery, Hotel F&B, beauty and mechanics (amongst many others) continued. These programmes, lasting from four months to 18 months, not only equip students with practical, employable skills but also create a steady pipeline of local talent for the region’s hospitality industry. Many of the students go on to build successful careers in hospitality. During our stay at ÀNI, we met Dula, part of the housekeeping team who also runs the local turtle hatchery in his spare time, and Bigu, who grew up next to the resort, attended the Institute and is now a rising star in their F&B team. The ripple effect is clear: young people gain access to meaningful employment, businesses benefit from skilled workers, and communities become more resilient. We loved that this approach is transferable across destinations: where tourism flourishes, so too can education, when businesses see themselves not just as profit-makers, but as partners in local progress.
Sea Sisters
Supported By: Resplendent Ceylon and Susan Presents
In the palm-fringed surf town of Weligama, a quiet revolution is unfolding in the waves. Sea Sisters is a grassroots initiative empowering Sri Lankan women through free swimming and surf lessons—challenging cultural norms and creating space for confidence, freedom, and community where there was once fear or exclusion. In a country where many women have never been taught to swim, let alone surf, Sea Sisters is not only teaching life-saving skills, but also building a bold new narrative: one where women belong in the water.
Introduced to us by Resplendent Ceylon’s MJF Foundation and member Kalukanda House, supporting Sea Sisters allows them to train the next generation of women surfers, create jobs, and inspire a powerful new generation of change-makers and environmental stewards. Staying in Weligama? Book your surf lessons with these sari-wearing surfers, and watch the next generation of surf pros ride the wave of change!
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WeCare
Supported by: ÀNI Private Resorts
WeCare in Talalla is a heartwarming example of how compassion, tourism, and community can come together to create lasting impact. Founded in 2014 by UK vet Dr. Janey Lowes, who came to Sri Lanka on holiday and never left, WeCare offers vital veterinary care to the island’s beloved “community dogs”—happily free-roaming but typically without access to medical treatment. WeCare fills that gap, providing emergency care, neutering, vaccinations, and now dreaming even bigger with a beachfront dog café and a veterinary nurse training school. Tourism businesses are playing an important role too, from ÀNI Private Resorts donating towels, linens, and monetary support, to hotels helping spread the word to guests.
One of the most meaningful shifts is the growing awareness around the ethical treatment of community dogs—educating hotels that relocating or dumping them is not the answer. Unfamiliar, unvaccinated dogs simply take their place, creating more problems. Instead, WeCare encourages hotels to reach out, get local dogs neutered, vaccinated, and supported to live peacefully in their territories. It’s a win for the animals, the community, and for guests who fall in love with Sri Lanka’s famously friendly canines.
The Tea Leaf Trust
Supported by: Teardrop Hotels
Founding member Teardrop Hotels operate several of their properties amongst the rolling green hills of Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands. Their characterful tea country properties—like Nine Skies, Goatfell, and Camellia Hills—sit at the heart of a community that has long sustained this iconic landscape. In collaboration with the Tea Leaf Trust, Teardrop are working to uplift young people from Sri Lanka’s storied tea estates, funding education and personal development programmes for 18–24-year-olds from tea-picking families—many of whom have limited access to opportunities beyond the plantations.
As part of this collaboration, Teardrop recently launched a free, three-month introductory hospitality course, designed to give students a gateway into the world of tourism. Conducted by the brand’s senior management, the course introduces students to every department of a hotel, helping them understand the scope and potential of a career in hospitality. Over 30 students have now completed the programme, with three young women offered paid internship positions at Teardrop’s tea country properties—offering pathways into meaningful, long-term employment.
Dikwella Lace Centre
Supported by: ÀNI Private Resorts
A cooperative of talented retired garment makers, single mothers and widows located on Sri Lanka’s south coast, Dikwella Lace Centre supports around 20 women who make a living from this centuries-old craft with Portuguese and Dutch roots. Many of the women work from home with the materials provided by the centre, so intricate a technique, it can take three days to make one-meter of lace. More than just a hub for this heritage craft, the centre —which is open to visitors—empowers local women by providing them with sustainable livelihoods through the art of traditional beeralu lace-making. Partnering closely with ÀNI to offer private workshops and demonstrations, the expert lace-makers teach visitors to weave their own lace using bobbins, selling gifts such as table cloths, pillow cases and different styles of lace yarn. Knowing the centre offers economic empowerment for women and their children and perpetuates cultural traditions — we loved this positive impact workshop, for everyone involved.
Elephant Research Centre
Supported by: Uga
As human-elephant conflict continues to threaten Sri Lanka’s already endangered elephant population—now estimated at just 6,000 individuals—member Uga has stepped in with a pioneering solution. In 2020, they launched the Uga Elephant Research Center at Ulagalla, designed to support long-term elephant conservation while helping to reduce tension between wildlife and rural communities.
Working in close collaboration with renowned conservationist Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando and the Centre for Conservation and Research, the centre monitors elephant behaviour, seasonal movements, and feeding grounds. This real-time data not only contributes to identifying safe migratory corridors, but also informs practical conflict mitigation strategies, such as geofencing, correctly placed electric fences, and community education programmes.
Says Sustainability Manager Dilshan David, “We are pleased to have launched the Elephant Research Centre (ERC) and various conservation projects that champion the coexistence of humans, nature, and wildlife. These efforts have allowed us to observe happier communities, the presence of free-roaming wild elephants, and a business that exemplifies the pillars of sustainability through tangible, impactful results.”
Guests are invited to engage directly with the initiative, visiting the on-site research centre and joining expert-led jeep safaris to witness elephants in the wild—transforming a safari into a conservation story, helping to ensure that the elephants of Sri Lanka don’t just survive—but roam free, safely and peacefully, for generations to come.
ÀNI Art Academies
Supported by: ÀNI Private Resorts
ÀNI Art Academies, funded by ÀNI Private Resorts, operates as a working studio for over 50 students enrolled in multi-year scholarships to receive a unique, world-class art education. Students come from all over Sri Lanka to realise their dreams, changing the course of their lives through art. Open to aspiring artists from the age of 18 and upwards, from all backgrounds, the only requirements are that applicants are local residents and bring with them a deep commitment and determination to undertake the rigorous programme. The Academies follow the Waichulis Curriculum—developed by internationally acclaimed artist and educator Anthony Waichulis, co-founder of the ÀNI Art Academies. While Waichulis is best known for his celebrated Trompe L’Oeil works, the curriculum is designed to build strong perceptual and representational skills that support a broad spectrum of realist styles. Each student currently studies within a photorealism-focussed framework, rooted in traditional, renaissance-style mastery, echoing the relationship between master and apprentice. Finished pieces, which can take anywhere from three months to over a year to complete, start at $500 depending on the artist’s aptitude and the size of the work. With an average monthly salary in Sri Lanka sitting at around $150, the opportunity to learn, create and sell art through the academies, exhibitions and ÀNI’s resorts is a powerful example of art driving social change.
Sustainable Operations
With: Authenticities
Innovative, pioneering and progressive, our Sri Lankan members are making things happen. For DMC Authenticities, it’s built into the very fabric of their office operations. By embracing solar energy for the long run, they’ve installed advanced solar panels that power their everyday activities while significantly reducing their reliance on conventional energy sources. This innovative step not only minimises their carbon footprint, but also translates into long-term cost savings, reinforcing their commitment to conscious practices. We got around Colombo using Authenticities EV fleet and they’re now working with members Teardrop and WildCoast to install charging points and widen their EV-reach — pushing the boundaries to renew Sri Lanka, they’re also sustainability heroes in our eyes. Their approach serves as a tangible example of how businesses can integrate renewable energy solutions to drive sustainability and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
MJF Foundation
Supported By: Resplendent Ceylon & Susan Presents
Just a short drive from Cape Weligama, the MJF Foundation Centre—supported by Resplendent Ceylon (represented by our member Susan Presents) is a beacon of opportunity and care for the surrounding community. With a vision rooted in inclusive development, the centre offers a wide range of free programmes: a nurturing pre-school, engaging classes in Science, English, and Art, and a powerful Women’s Development Programme that teaches practical skills like sewing and pottery, enabling women to earn a sustainable income. The Small Entrepreneurs Programme provides start-up grants and material support to individuals with big ideas but limited resources, helping them build or grow their own businesses. Beyond education and enterprise, the centre works with local government agencies to identify children in need of mobility aids—wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers—which are distributed and can then be adjusted at the Foundation’s main centre in Moratuwa. Guests at Cape Weligama are welcomed to attend art shows, science fairs and community concerts hosted by the centre, depending on the schedule—offering a unique window into the centre’s vibrant impact. While originally established to support the hotel’s immediate community, the centre remains open to anyone in need, reinforcing the idea that hospitality can—and should—extend far beyond the guest experience.
Hera Project X
Supported by: Kalukanda House
In a powerful show of creative solidarity, HERA Project X—launched by interior designer and Kalukanda House founder Dee Gibson—has become a rallying point for Sri Lanka’s rising generation of female founders. Designed to foster connection, creativity, and empowerment, this three-day gathering brings together women from across the island working in art, fashion, jewellery, textiles, travel, and photography. The first event of its kind in Sri Lanka, HERA Project X offers more than just a platform—it’s a movement. With a programme spanning panel discussions, skill-sharing workshops, and wellness activities, the initiative opens up space for participants to explore challenges, celebrate successes, and forge new paths forward. In doing so, it breaks down barriers, champions inclusive growth, and shines a spotlight on the power of women-led entrepreneurship to transform both industry and community.
As Dee shares, “In 2023 there was a lack of visibility of not only world class creative entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka, but even less of the women founders and leaders. You cannot be what you cannot see and HERA Project X is a deliberate counterpoint to this. A platform to showcase existing female innovators who are challenging norms and creating impact, has led to a catalyst for change and a powerful ripple effect which we seen grow exponentially in the last 18 months. I am really proud of the creative spirit in Sri Lanka and the women are the bedrock of that, and now the world can start to see it too."
Dee’s intent is to build something that lasts, with the next HERA Project X showcase scheduled for early December 2025 at Kalukanda House.
Our Sri Lankan Members:
ÀNI Private Resorts | Teardrop Hotels | The Fabulous Getaway | Uga | Susan Presents representing Resplendent Ceylon | Authenticities | Kalukanda House
