Creative Isle, in collaboration with Colombo City Centre, launched the weekly, 3-day Ceylon Artisan Network (CAN) Market, at the Colombo City Centre - Atrium on August 28, 2020. The launch event welcomed Chief Guest - Sri Lankan Cricket Legend, Muttiah Muralitharan.
The CAN Market was created as a platform to support micro-entrepreneurship from across the island and will take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The weekend market will feature vendors from around Sri Lanka, showcasing their export quality products at wholesale rates, whilst allowing them the opportunity to form new trade partnerships with bulk buyers. Focusing on sustainable and community-driven businesses, the fair will consist of home and lifestyle products, fashion accessories, artisan food products, herbal teas, and Ayurveda cosmetics, soaps and fragrances, etc.
Muttiah Muralitharan stated at the event, “There are many talented entrepreneurs in our country, but they lack the opportunity. Foundation of Goodness is all about empowering such individuals.”
The CAN Market further supports and features recycle and up-cycle initiatives and products, and will be an opportunity for creative entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative products and services to the B2C and B2B markets.
Speaking at the launch, iconic businessmen and corporate leader - Dilith Jayaweera, addressed the gathering as a means to encourage and uplift the spirit of entrepreneurship, noting, “I am passionate about entrepreneurship and commend this initiative. Sri Lanka needs to recognize true entrepreneurs and value innovators.”
Speaking with Creative Isle, Founder - Keshini Ann Suraweera, noted, “The crux of this project was birthed during the imposed COVID-19 lockdown, when many creative entrepreneurs experienced a downward trend in growth, stunting their ability to continue with their business efficiently. Identifying the gap in the current business landscape, I wanted to provide local vendors with space where they could showcase their raw talent, which may otherwise have been undiscovered simply due to the lack of a platform to present themselves.”
The CAN Market has received immense support from partners such as Colombo City Centre, the Foundation of Goodness, National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) and UNDP, in a bid to further uplift Sri Lanka and support its SMEs and Entrepreneurs, most affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative welcomes on board Scope Cinemas as the cinema partners and Antyra Solutions as social media partners.
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