Globally-acclaimed Meiya & Alvin Toy Collection returns home to delight Sri Lankan children

A globally-reputed but proudly Sri Lankan toy manufacturing company, DSL Lanka Ltd, is poised to launch its famous range of toys to the local market. 

The range consists of a natural line of baby toys combining rubber and fabric, originally based on two charming characters from the accompanying storybook ‘A Day at the Park with Meiya & Alvin’. 

Within a year of its launch in the international market, the book has been translated into seven languages, namely English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and Catalan, and is available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and across 11 European countries. 

DSL Lanka was recently the recipient of the Presidential Award for Toys/Gifts and Games, presented by President Maithripala Sirisena,for the years 2014 & 2015 at the Presidential Export Awards held at the BMICH on the 9th of August 2016.

The Meiya & Alvin Collection is a first ever-infant toy collection designed to promote infant development combining natural, quality materials and commitment to the environment. It has already been awarded the prestigious Dr. Toy Award for the ‘Best Green Toy’ for the entire range. Now infants and children in Sri Lanka will also have access to this world-famous range of toys, which consists of an attractive box with a storybook.

The personality behind this successful venture, DSL Lanka CEO Mano Sheriff, commented: “The Meiya & Alvin Collection was envisioned as a world of innocence where children can just be who they are – a world where the air and water are clean and the purity of childhood remains uncompromised. I am proud of the fact that DSL Lanka innovated the first-ever eco-friendly toy to combine rubber and soft textiles, blending the two favourite textures babies love. The rubber soothes them in their teething years and the soft toy gives them a feeling of warmth and security. My sole objective behind each toy is to ensure a pure and safe product that keeps the Sri Lankan heritage alive, which has in turn raised awareness about Sri Lankan culture and heritage abroad.”

The Meiya & Alvin Collection is populated by lovable Sri Lankan animals such as Meiya the Mouse; Alvin the Elephant (derived from ‘Aliya’ or elephant in Sinhalese); Wallace the Bear (derived from ‘Walaha’ or bear in Sinhalese); Hava the Rabbit; Gemba the Frog; and Tara the Duck. By creating a unique Sri Lankan identity, this collection of toys is a must-have for every child in Sri Lanka in the style of traditional toys of yesteryear which appealed to several generations.

There is a highly sustainable element in the toys. Their stuffing is reclaimed from recycled plastic bottles, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while providing a superior alternative to natural materials, which dry poorly and have a greater risk of forming mould. The rubber part of the toy is made from natural rubber, sustainably harvested from the Hevea tree. It is certified non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free and PVC-free. The hand-painted toys use plant-based non-toxic dyes, making it safe for teething newborns and toddlers. Even the packaging incorporates the sustainability ethos by using recycled board- and soy-based inks. The toys are machine washable for hygiene and longer use. All the products in the collection show great respect for the environment. 

The company conceived the Meiya and Alvin Collection after its first successful branded range, the Bonikka Collection - yet another award-winning collection by DSL Lanka - became popular across the world. 

Bonikka was inspired by a doll that Mano Sheriff herself owned which was passed down through generations of daughters in her family since 1895 as a symbol of love and security.