Santapaws 2025 celebrates with resilience, harmony, loving and giving

Friday, 12 December 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The much-anticipated Santapaws Xmas Xtravaganza returned this year despite the dire situation in the country, in an effort to help the voiceless and uplift small businesses. The two-day charity Christmas Bazaar, held on 8 and 9 December from 10 a.m. onwards at the Atrium Lobby, Cinnamon Grand, organised in aid of Rescue Animals Sri Lanka (RAS), combined festive shopping and a renewed commitment to animal welfare, reminding the public that in difficult times, the voiceless are often the most vulnerable and the most easily forgotten.

“While people, even a baby can always ask for help, animals cannot. They cannot speak, request assistance, or explain their suffering; they can only look to us appealingly for compassion. Santapaws exists to give them that voice, and every visitor, purchase, and gesture of support directly contributes to their care and protection,” said Rescue Animals Co-Founder and Trustee Anusha David.

This year’s Bazaar brought together resilient small businesses who featured an extensive range of Christmas gifts and seasonal offerings including clothing for ladies, gents, and children, accessories, batiks and saris, cosmetics, skincare, designer handbags, nightwear, artisanal food and beverages, Christmas décor, homeware, stationery, handcrafted items, candles, vegan and gluten-free foods, and a selection of festive specialties from Cinnamon Grand. The event provided a vital platform for small businesses and independent entrepreneurs, many of whom rely on the Santapaws Bazaar for strong year-end sales. Their participation reflects resilience and hope, and the organisers did all they could to encourage the public to support them generously.

Despite being held on two consecutive weekdays, post the floods, the public came out to show their support, while after work shoppers found Santapaws to be a most convenient location for shopping, especially due to the wide range of gifts, décor and household items that were on sale.

RAS were fulsome in their praise and appreciation of their all partners whose collaboration made this event possible: Cinnamon Grand, where visionary CSR initiatives introduced by Kamal Munasinghe continue under General Manager Nazoomi Azhar, supported by Dini Isacs; Zelus as Social Media Partner; Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., as Print Media Partner; Gravitas as Advertising partner, Proimage as Videographer; Brian Kirkoven as Choreographer; alongside numerous friends and well-wishers who contributed their time and expertise to ensure the success of Santapaws.

Santapaws saw different communities, diverse nationalities and religions, collaborating together in a spirit of friendship and harmony, united by a common goal – that of helping the Voiceless and uplifting themselves. “Christmas appeals to everyone, and crosses all boundaries, uniting one and all,” said David

The funds raised at Santapaws will go towards supporting the RAS shelter, their street feeding and sterilising programs, as well as their ongoing legal expenses for cases filed on behalf of elephants, monkeys and dogs. “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened,” quoted Poet, Journalist and Novelist Anatole France.

- Pix by Lasantha Kumara