Shopping in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has developed into one of the best and most popular shopping destinations in the region, and with good reason. Prices are low and the qualities of the products are high, furthermore Sri Lanka offers an amazing range of products, from the modern to the traditional and exotic. Shopping can be done for gifts, and to remind you of your wonderful holiday here. These items are available in many of the new malls in Colombo, or through specialty stores situated within the environs of Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s vibrant garment industry produces export quality designer brands such as Columbia, Helly Hansen, Next, Nautica, GAP, Victoria’s Secret and Polo Ralph Lauren. These are high-quality products that are exported, but here in Sri Lanka, they can be purchased at bargain prices. One important destination is ODEL Unlimited Sri Lanka’s biggest fashion retail success story. This mall is an ‘excursion’ within itself as it offers the best in designer-wear, Ayuverdic products, Sri Lankan handicrafts, book and CD collections, leather products, and even two restaurants where one can satisfy their hunger. Other very large fashion retailers in the Colombo area are Beverly Street, Arena, and House of Fashions. The success of these local retailers can be attributed to their excellent service, a vast array of clothing options and its low prices. These places definitely have to be visited. Dedicated malls, the biggest of which are Crescat Boulevard, Liberty Plaza and Majestic City offer a variety of garments, handicrafts, electronics, Jewelry, and everything else under the Sri Lankan sun.
Sri Lanka’s traditional handicrafts are, objects carved in wood (masks), made of silver and brass, decorated with lacquer, hand-woven cloth and lace, attractive batik garments and pottery. Produced by skilled craftsmen using traditional raw materials, it is something that is uniquely Sri Lankan. Paradise Road is a shop that specializes in modern novel handicrafts using the skill of traditional craftsmen and local raw materials producing items such as incense candles and even serving spoons made from coconut shells. Barefoot specializes in traditional handwoven (handloom) products with vibrant colors; products include shirts, sarongs and other garments. Using the same production methods Kandygs supplies items such as bed linens, serviettes, curtains, and tablecloths. For traditional handicrafts such as silverware, brassware and coir based products; the best places for a bargain are Lakpahana, Laksala and Lakmedura. Laksala, for example, boasts products that are produced by the same goldsmiths whose ancestors worked for the Kandyan Royal Family.
Gem and Jewelry shops are widespread in this land endowed with precious stones. There are many up-market specialist jewelers, tourists can choose from, offering the widest range of items available such as finished semi-finished products, gemstones, or even custom made jewelry. If you want to be a bit adventurous and utilize your bargaining skills, Sea Street in the Pettah district is a jewel buyer’s paradise. The street is lined with Jewelry shops as far as the eye can see. Sri Lankan Jewelry is usually 24-carat gold, which is unavailable in many other countries; so this is the chance to purchase some items! This is the best place to purchase traditional Sri Lankan jewelry such as head and hair ornaments, earrings, chokers, necklaces, rings, bracelets, waist chains, and anklets.
Remember the golden rules when you are bargaining, be patient, friendly, smile a lot and don’t raise your voice, and you’ll come away from the bargain pleased.
If ceramic items are your favorites, Sri Lanka offers many high-quality products, at relatively cheap prices, and the places to go are Lanka Ceramics, Laklain, and Royal Fernwood, all of which offer Noritake (fine China) products.
No doubt on your trip around Sri Lanka, you would have had an excellent cup of Ceylon tea and developed liking to the various spices that are ever-present` in Sri Lankan food. Why not take a bit of this back with you? Many large tea producers like Dilmah Tea and Mlesna have many shops where tea can be obtained. Both loose tea and tea bags can be bought. These companies have gone one step further by producing teas with special flavorings such as strawberry and apple. This makes Ceylon tea one of the most distinct types of tea.
The duty-free shops in the Departure lounge at the International Airport have vast arrays of collection of all products that Sri Lanka has to offer from handicrafts, jewelry, Ceylon tea and garments to perfumes and liquor. So this is your last chance to get a souvenir or even that last-minute gift for family and friends. Duty-Free shopping in the departure lounge is going to be as exciting as any form of Sri Lankan shopping would be…guaranteed.
