Saturday Jan 31, 2026
Saturday Jan 31, 2026
Thursday, 11 December 2025 04:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, in collaboration with the Institute for Future Creations (TIFC), London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London (UAL), and the EU Culture Relation Platform, has hosted Crafting Sri Lanka’s Global Future: Exhibition & Dialogue 2025 on 3 December 2025 at the Sri Lanka High Commission. The event brought together around 70 participants, including academics, designers, and creative-industry partners from the UK, EU, and Sri Lanka, to celebrate the country’s craft heritage, and international collaborations, as part of the Creative Sri Lanka 2030 initiative.
High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera began his opening remarks by expressing his gratitude to international partners and well-wishers for their support of recent disaster relief efforts in Sri Lanka. In his keynote address, he highlighted the importance of Sri Lanka’s craft and creative sectors in cultural diplomacy and sustainable economic growth, stressing the value of global partnerships to support artisans, designers, and creative entrepreneurs. This was followed by Fashion Declares Founder Safia Minney, who spoke on “Craft and Slow Fashion” emphasising craftsmanship’s role in building a responsible and equitable global fashion industry.
The program continued with a presentation by TIFC Robert Meeder and UAL on the European–Sri Lanka Creative Partnership Pilot Hannah Middleton, connecting Sri Lankan artisans with European designers and educators to foster collaborative design, skill-building, and international visibility. A panel discussion moderated by Middleton, with contributions from Sippi Jewellery Founder Sepideh Mojabi, Sri Lankan batik artist Sonali Dharmawardhane, and Minister (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London Somasena Mahadiulwewa, explored creative entrepreneurship, cultural sustainability, women’s leadership, and future opportunities for Sri Lanka’s creative industries.
The event also featured screenings of a short documentary on the Matchmaking Pilot Program 2025 and SEVA – Art, Trauma & Healing | A Cultural Journey in Sri Lanka by Caterina Roppo and Sonali Dharmawardhane, highlighting creativity’s transformative role in cultural preservation and community healing. Participants were also able to experience a mini exhibition of collaborative works from Europe and Sri Lanka, featuring contemporary jewellery, batik, textiles, and design research.
