M L H takes a momentous step towards social sustainability with AOD

Mount Lavinia purchases custom designed hotel range produced by the North- Palmyrah artisans working in Palmyrah Development Borad Centres in Jaffna and Mannar.

This project, 'Design for sustainable Development' (DFSD) which provides stable livelihoods for artisans in rural and war-affected areas in Sri Lanka, was initiated by the Academy of Design (AOD) under the invitation of the reawakening project of the Ministry of Economic Development. DFSD is currently executed under the Palmyrah Development Board (PDB) under the Minitsry of Traditional Industries. The project helps artisans and communities engaged in craft through design, product development while connecting high-end clienteles such as the Mount Lavinia Hotel with the artisans through large quantity production orders.

Artisans from Jaffna, Pungudutivu Island and Mannar visited Mount Lavinia Hotel recently, to present the completed order of Palmyrah products to the hotel.

The General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel, Anura Dewapura accepted the products from the artisans. "Mount Lavinia has always been a firm supporter of ecological and social sustainability and has made it an integral part of our corporate value system.

We were delighted to place an order for the products made by these artisans, not only because it helps to establish better livelihoods for them, but also because their new products are specifically designed for our purpose and curate by the project set up by AOD which makes the entire project feasible.

I am honoured to accept this delivery of the products from the artisans themselves," said Dewapura.

Senior Advisor to the Minister of Traditional Industries Jegarajasingham and Personal Assistant to the Minister of Traditional Industries K. Dayananda, also attended the event representing Minster of Traditional Industries. Representatives of the Sri Lanka Palmyrah Board were present for the event too.

Managing Director of AOD, Linda Spledewinde expressed her thanks to Mount Lavinia Hotel for pioneering in social sustainable hospitality; "This marks the beginning of the involvement of Sri Lanka's hospitality industry with rural livelihood development and thereby becoming a part of the national development agenda through a new angle. We are confident that other leaders in the hospitality industry will join hands with us too."

"Our Income has increased over five fold because of these orders - AOD has worked with us very closely and treat us very sincerely. This order from Mount Lavinia Hotel has helped us to have hope for the future," stated artisans from Jaffna Pungudutivu Island Palmyrah Weaving Centre.

The artisans from Mannar, Pavilanpattu stated that they have had no steady income before this project but now they have a new livelihood that has created for them with a new centre being developed for Plamyrah Weaving.