“The chairman wanted to start a new hotel with a new concept,” said woman manager Jeewanthi Adhikari.
She explained how the idea sprouted from twin blows that hammered the island’s tourism industry – first Covid-19, then the 2022 financial crisis and subsequent political unrest that toppled the president.
“It has been a really bad time,” the 42-year-old said, noting that when vacancies arose, only men were hired. “We wanted to create opportunities and attract more women.”
Owner Chandra Wickramasinghe, president of the Thema Collection group which runs 14 hotels, said he wanted to showcase what women can do if given the chance.
“Unfortunately, there is no gender equality in Sri Lanka’s hotel industry,” he said.
Hotel Amba Yaalu is designed to promote women in a tourism sectorGetty
The blame rests on a mix of factors – lack of training, a culture where women are seen first and foremost as mothers, and very low wages which lead to the perception that women may as well stay at home.
“In our men’s society, when it comes to women working in hotels, it’s one nice girl in the reception and housekeepers to clean,” he said.
“I wanted to go a little bit further.” For the 33 rooms of the Amba Yaalu – meaning “best friend” in the island’s Sinhala language – a team of 75 women handle every task, including those traditionally seen as for men.
They are enthusiastic, like maintenance worker Hansika Rajapaksa.
“People think it’s difficult for women to be involved in maintenance,” the 28-year-old said.
“But after coming here and undergoing training, we also can carry out the work that is expected of us without any difficulty”.
Meanwhile, Dilhani, who gave only her first name, feels confident in her role as a security officer after 15 years in the army.
“I have experienced war... I have manned roadblocks,” she said. “With that experience, it is very easy to do our work here.”
Others want to set an example.
“This a good opportunity for women to demonstrate their talents, to showcase our skills and courage to the new generations”, said 23-year-old chef Upeka Ekanayake.
Old habits were initially hard to break, manager Adhikari said.
“Our experienced staff were used to working around male colleagues,” she said. “Automatically, they waited for someone else to do things, because that is how they had been trained.”
But the owner said he shrugged off the doubts of colleagues.
“Some people didn’t believe in it,” said owner Wickramasinghe, who dismissed the misogynists who scoffed that an all-women team would just “start gossiping”.
The hotel has been welcomed as an “excellent initiative” by Nalin Jayasundera, president of the association of tour operators.
“We want to encourage even more women to join the tourism industry,” he said, adding it made a “very good impression on our customers”.
Clients have taken notice.
“I felt like I could speak up and answer questions ahead of my partner without them looking to him for confirmation,” one Canadian tourist wrote in a review on a booking website.
Women’s rights activist Nimalka Fernando said the initiative was “really path-breaking for Sri Lankan society”.
While she noted Sri Lanka was the first nation to elect a woman as prime minister – Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1960 – tradition, culture and the labour market continue to block women’s rights.
She pointed out that women dominate the sectors that provide the country with its main sources of income: textiles, tea and foreign remittances.
“Women are treated as an exploitable commodity,” she said. “The important thing now is to give dignity to female labour.”
The Amba Yaalu is only the first step, acknowledges its manager, but it is making a change.
“We have single mothers and mothers with two or three kids,” Adhikari said. “Here, they don’t have to suppress what they want to do in their life.”
Wickramasinghe said it as a way to highlight the lesson he learned as a boy. “I’m inspired by my mother... she became a single parent with eight children,” he said.
“She was working in a hospital at the same time and she managed very well. So I realised the power of a woman... that they can do wonders.” (AFP)
Eastern Eye got the inspiring Indo-Caribbean fan favourite to share 10 musical moments and inspirations from her journey.
Song: I have been blessed to release many songs with incredible artists and am grateful for them all. Iz Ah Indian Wedding gave me an opportunity to showcase Caribbean culture and music, and took us to the grand finals of the biggest chutney soca stage in the world, the Chutney Soca Monarch 2025. The grand wedding day song depicts the dulha (groom) joining his dulhan (bride), dancing and celebrating in unity to the ‘bujaay’ dance. For this fusion song, I collaborated with international soca artist Olatunji Yearwood, who crossed barriers as a contestant on The X Factor UK.
Finalist: Being in the finals at the Chutney Soca Monarch last year was already a win for me, and placing second in the queen category was surreal. Our presentation had over 80 crew and cast members. This year, I was not able to complete my presentation and had to improvise the ending due to technical issues. Despite this happening in real time, broadcast live worldwide, we still placed second again – by only one point. The stage is where I feel my best self, and having over 80 people on my production team, I already felt like a queen.
King: Seeing my super talented husband Rick Ram win the Chutney Soca Monarch 2024 will always be one of our family’s most memorable moments. Rick had been competing for over 18 years, and finally, when his name was announced, my heart was full. I got to see him receive that well-deserved crown, winning not only the Chutney Soca Monarch but also the Chutney Soca Road March title. His win was life-changing. Our international shows around the world multiplied.
And ,with her husband Rick Ram
Video: Iz Ah Indian Wedding brought the colours of a wedding to life, from the stunning outfits to the infectious energy. The cast included my husband Rick, international dance guru Michael Salickram and his dance company Shiv Shakti, along with social media influencers. The video was captured by Nirmal Singh, who flew in from New York. Within 24 hours of release, it got over a million views collectively on social media.
Hero: Growing up listening to the voice of the legendary Lata Mangeshkar positively inspired me. Her timeless music awakened intense emotions within me. I hope to make music that touches people in the same way.
Collaboration: I love teaming up with Rick because you can see and feel the chemistry between us on stage. We created the Hindi Spanish fusion song Forgiveness along with the hot and spicy traditional chutney track Du Bakar. Working with my husband is definitely my dream collaboration.
Family: All those who have supported me have become friends, and many are like family. With over 500,000 followers across social media platforms, I am grateful for every single one of them. I love my people; they know I am human with real issues and identify with me. Meeting them in person and seeing them enjoy my music motivates me to work harder and be better.
I could not live my dream of performing without the support of my immediate family, who help with our children and businesses when we are out of town. I am forever grateful to them.
And ,with Olatunji Yearwood
Dance: My love for music stems from being a professional dancer performing with a dance company. At 13, I performed as a dancer for Bollywood singer Abhijeet, alongside my then teenage friend Rick Ram, who some years later became my husband. We both started performing at the same time, and look where we are now – still performing together.
Icons: I gain inspiration from powerhouse women including Shreya Ghoshal for her warm personality, talent and incredible voice. Despite the criticism she faced for doing things differently, Priyanka Chopra’s versatility in managing multiple roles and careers has inspired me in my own endeavours to become more independent and believe in myself.
Connection: When I am not on stage, I am a trained cosmetolo-gist with 20 years of experience. I manage and own a beauty business, complete with a spa and hair salon, along with the clothing store Fashion District by Vanessa. Helping to enhance women’s natural beauty and making them feel better about themselves fills my heart with joy. Helping others and making people happy, whether through my businesses or music, motivates me greatly.
Ultimately, I am a mother of two beautiful children – our daughter Kandy, 16, and son RJ, 10. Everything I do is for them, to inspire them and teach them that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
Instagram: @vanessaramoutar
She will bring the album to life through raw poetry, urban beats and striking visuals in an immersive performance at Union Theatre in London on May 18. It will see her navigate themes of resilience, love and identity, set against a backdrop of London references and powerful musical soundscapes.
Eastern Eye caught up with the top British talent ahead of what marks a new beginning, and asked her to share 10 memorable artistic moments.
And ,with Arjun
Working with Arjun: The first one will always be with the producer of my three bhajan albums – Arjun. He and I started making music together when I was 15 years old. We did not know if it would go anywhere; we were just making music for fun. He was passionate about production, and I felt the same about bhajans. Somehow, we made something magical. I was – and am – very blessed to have made three albums with a best friend who is like a brother to me. Every musical memory in my heart first goes to him. We have spent countless hours laughing in the studio, and that is worth everything.
Music shop moment: I remember going to Rhythm House, one of the best music shops in South Mumbai, when The Bhajan Project came out. I saw my album – released by Sony Music BMG – stacked neatly in rows. It felt surreal, like a moment out of someone else’s life. I picked up the CD and posed for a photo. A salesman said, “Ma’am, you cannot take pictures like that, but you should buy the album – it is very good.” I was so proud – even though he did not recognise me as the singer.
Unforgettable encounter: Before a performance at Trafalgar Square, a teenage girl approached me. She was holding one of my albums, now more than 10 years old, and told me she had always hoped to meet me and have it signed. She said she had listened to the album on repeat since childhood and had memorised the Hanuman Chalisa thanks to The Bhajan Project.
Storyteller: I remember performing in Holland, where I evolved from being a singer in to a storyteller. I was no longer just singing songs – I was taking the audience on a journey. I spoke about Lord Shiva and Parvati, and the deep emotion I felt was reflected back to me when I saw a member of the audience in tears. I was humbled by the love in that moment.
Phone call: At 22, I remember walking to an international pay phone in Mumbai and calling Arjun. I said to him, “We need a demo – I have a meeting with Sony Music.” That was the moment my life changed direction. What a blessed ride it has been since then.
The dance: This is not a musical moment but a dance one – when I performed my Kathak Rang Manch Pravesh in 2024, after decades of training. On stage, I had to simply breathe – as if I was Goddess Durga. I took on her pose, her stance, her personality, her fire, her energy, her trident – and I felt a power I have never felt before. In dance, I lost myself and found myself.
Great guru moment: It was sitting with my Guruji, Dr Abhay Shankar Mishra, in Delhi. When he played the tabla for me and I danced to its rhythm, I was transported. It is a moment I still dream of.
Stage delight: I wrote a play called Borders in the Bedroom, which sold out in New York City and later in London. I remember vomiting backstage before the opening night in London – something I had never done before a performance. The sound of the audience laughing at my writing, their sheer joy – it was exhilarating.
New beginning: I was sitting in a hotel room when I wrote the first track, We’re Done, for Queen of Wands. I was alone, as I usually am – and that is when creativity strikes. I poured out my heart without realising that an entire album would follow. It was a moment of pure creative spontaneity, one I do not even feel I can take credit for.
Unboxing: I will always remember opening the box that contained the Queen of Wands vinyl. I love Frida Kahlo, and that felt like my Frida moment. Even as I type this, my vinyl is on the table next to her art collection book – and I feel like I made her spirit proud. I wrote something that is me, that has my life and love inside it.
Queen of Wands at Union Theatre, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR on May 18. www. uniontheatre.biz and www.shivali.co.uk
