Sri Lanka guide
Guest
Home Country: countryx
|
 Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 10:11 am Post subject: Shopping in Colombo, Sri Lanka Guide |
 |
|
Shopping in Colombo, Sri Lanka Guide
Overview
Shop for gems, especially sapphires, moonstone and cats-eye. Other items to look for include hand-woven textiles, sarongs, fabrics, brassware, wood carvings, handmade lace (in Galle), ceremonial masks (in Ambalangoda), ceramic drinking gourds, batiks, bronze and tea. (Tea varies in quality, so if you are buying in bulk, ask for a tasting.) Do not buy any souvenirs made of coral - creation of these items contributes to the destruction of the reefs. In Colombo, a store called Barefoot sells a huge assortment of products made from brightly colored, hand-woven, naturally-dyed fabric. It's expensive by Sri Lankan standards, but the quality of the work justifies the expense.
Do not buy gems as an investment or with the idea that you'll make a lot of money reselling them when you return home - unless you know a lot about gems. Otherwise, you'll be lucky to break even. Gems are best purchased in Colombo, where prices are better and it's easier to get the stones evaluated. Beware of the rare brown cat's eye - it might be highly radiated to produce or accentuate the color. The Sri Lankan Gem and Jewelry Exchange in Colombo has a gem-testing laboratory, as does the Assay Office of the National Gem and Jewelry Authority. The merchants in the exchange will bargain with you and appear to accept the findings of the gem-testing lab. (It's a free service for foreigners.)
If a tout or guide brings you into a shop, you will usually end up paying more. Shop owners raise their prices to pay the tout's commission for bringing you there. Bargaining is expected, especially outside of government shops. Souvenir shopping in government-operated stores, using hard currency, is a tame experience. Go out and bargain with the local merchants: They are good-natured and sometimes loud, but the encounter is often a better souvenir than the item purchased.
Shopping Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm. Most stores are also open on Saturday morning.
Banking Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am-1 pm. In larger cities, many banks are open until 4 pm, and some are also open on Saturday morning.
Best places to Shop :
Antiques
Barefoot – 704, Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 258 9305. Email: sales@barefoot.lk www.barefootceylon.com
Besides hand woven fabrics, books, café, and gallery, Barefoot also offers a range of antique items.
Hermitage – 28, Gower Street, Colombo 5. Tel: 250 2198.
An authentic gallery of Art Antiques and Collectibles. Local as well as overseas antiques are available which are good quality and in mint condition.
Paradise Road – 213, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 268 6043.Open 9am-7pm www.paradiseroadcolombo.com Email: paradiserd@eureka.lk
Paradise Road is one of the most popular shops in Colombo for not only antiques but also home décor. Reproductions are available as well as art, pottery, glass, porcelain, statues, dolls, window, and doorframes, scented candles etc. A must if you are in Colombo.
Roux Brothers – 7, De Fonseka Road, Colombo 5. Tel: 5339016. Email: kraux@eureka.lk
Www.asiabusiness.com/sl/rauxbrothers
Roux Brothers have been restoring and selling antiques for over 40 years. Although specializing in wooden furniture. Glassware and lampshades are also available.
Serendib Gallery – 36, 1/1, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7.Tel: 4710002.
Email: info@theserendibgallerycom www.theserendibgallery.com
Specialises in art and antiques from Sri Lanka such as coins, brass, sculpture, furniture, terracotta and paintings. Specialities are books and rare Sri Lankan maps.
Clothing
Arena – 338, T .B Jaya Mawatha, Colombo 10. Tel: 5555338
Email: arenaint@eureka.lk Open daily including Poya days from 10:30am-9pm
Arena is one of the leading clothing shops in Colombo. It offers winter as well as summer clothing – for ladies and gents -- a range of shoes, bags, accessories, children’s clothing and a separate lifestyle and home section.
Barefoot – 704, Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 258 9305 Email: sales@barefoot.lk
Though best known for their handloom they have a wide range of items. Hand-woven fabrics such as tablecloths, bedspreads, curtains, and clothing items. Known for their unique designs and vibrant colours. Other items are creative soft toys from mice to elephants, gifts, home décor, antiques, books, sarees and shalwars of exclusive designs in hand-woven cotton and silk.
Beverley Street – 438, Duplication Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 256 4777.
Open 24 hours of the day. Reasonable pricing but not a great atmosphere.
Cotton Collection – 26, Flower Road, Colombo 7. Tel: 257 5299/ 257 5300. Outlet at Majestic City, Colombo 4 and Liberty Plaza, Colombo 3.
The shop offers great winter clothing and a large range of kids’ clothing from bathing suits to nighties. They also have a nice selection of T-shirts for ladies and gents.
Hameedias – 54, Galle Road, Colombo 6. Tel: 250 5192-3.Outlets located at Majestic City, Liberty Plaza, Jaic Hilton and Crescat Boulevard.
The best place for men’s suits. You can either get them ready made or tailored to suit your taste. Also available are men’s shirts and shalwars for ladies.
House of Fashion – 28, R. A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 5. Tel: 250 4639/ 250 4641.Open 10am-8pm Sundays 10am-3pm.Closed on Poya days.
Popular with both foreigners and locals of every class of society, offering an enormous selection at very affordable prices. Besides clothing, it offers a large range of other items such as toys, sports goods, baby items, bath towels and mats, and even a greater choice for teenagers and adults. It is always a busy place but checkout is very fast and you cannot find a more affordable place.
Odel Unlimited – 5, Alexander Place, Colombo 7. Tel: 268 2712-3 Email: info@eodel.com www.eodel.com
Outlets at Majestic City, Colombo 4, Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo 2 and Odel Warehouse, 38, Dickmans Road, Colombo 5. Open 10am-8pm Sun: 10am-6pm
Definitely the most popular department store in Sri Lanka set in a beautifully designed interior. Offers brand-name clothing at great prices and has everything you need in one shop-accessories and jewelry, shoes, bags, cosmetics, home ware, sunglasses, tea, books, music, a hair salon, café, florist, watches, swimwear, winter clothing, sports wear, play section for kids, candy and chocolate store, bath products, sushi bar, plants and an excellent selection of Sri Lanka T-shirts. An Italian ice cream (Il Gelato) parlour is also present. Definitely the place to go shopping while in Colombo.
Cricket & Sport Goods
Adidas – 78, Havelock Road, Colombo 5. Tel: 259 3527/ 4208381-4
One of the very few shops offering international quality sportswear.
Reebok – 55, St. Anthony’ Mawatha, Colombo 3. Tel: 257 3078. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm.Closed on Sunday and Poya days.
Clothing and accessories for both sport and leisure.
Sathosa Sports – 56, D. R Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo 10. Tel: 243 7425/ 2432241-2
A large shop with a wide variety in sports goods.
Souvenir Shop – 35, Maitland Place, Colombo 7. Tel: 4714599
Located inside the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, has a range of authentic cricket memorabilia for all cricket lovers.
The Cricket Shop – 31/1A, St. Anthony’s Mawatha, Colombo 3. Tel: 257 3843 www.cricketshop.lk
Has excellent value cricket equipment.
Jewellery
Agasti Jewels – 62, Havelock Road, Colombo 5. Tel: 258 7137. Open 10am-6pm
A spacious set-up with a stunning collection. Sure to find something that suits every personality.
Alankara – 42P, New Wing, Ground Floor, Liberty Plaza, Colombo 3. Tel: 257 6526 Email: sales@alankara.net
The best place for diamond studded jewellery.
Ceylinco Gem & Jewellery Salon – 32, Queens Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 258 3018. Www.itmin.com/gems Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-6: 30pm
Unique in the world of Jewellery, they have created a unique setting of diamonds called ‘’Clear Carbonlokd’’ which is a transparent setting and results in a magnificent reflection of light to reveal the true beauty of the diamond, which is not possible in any other setting. This unique method was developed in Sri Lanka and is now sold worldwide.
Ridhi Design Studio – 20D, Guilford Cresent, Colombo 7.
Silver Jewellery in modern and classic design. Custom-made orders are also undertaken and there is something for every age and budget.
105 Lalitha – 442, R. A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3. Tel: 257 7451-2 Email: lalitha@sri.lanka.net
A trusted name and one of the leading jewelers in town. Regularly come out with new designs and shapes for their Jewellery. The shop has a spacious set-up and offers the widest range in gem-studded jewellery.
Sri Lankan Handicraft
Eco Gallery – Horton Place, Colombo 7. Tel: 4715480/ 0777 480277. Email: ecogal@eureka.lk
www.ecogallery.com
Promotes eco-friendly natural products such as woven cotton, hand turned pottery, wrought masterpieces in metal, wood, wax, stone and paper.
Elephant Walk – 61, Ward Place, Colombo 7. Tel: 269 1056.Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm.Sun. & Poya days 10am-6pm
The store is housed in a bungalow designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. You can find anything from wine racks to garden furniture, Sri Lankan pots and vases, to chairs and tables from Indonesia. Also available are organic bath products from Sri Lanka and Bali and beautifully potted organic foodstuffs.
Kalaya – 116, Havelock Road, Colombo 5. Tel: 258 8399
Most of the products are crafted using traditional methods but the designs are modern. Items available are rugs, cushion covers, bedspreads, table linen are great for your home and make great gifts.
Laksala – 60, York Street, Colombo 1, Fort. Tel: 232 92 47/ 232 3513-4.
Run by the Sri Lanka Handicraft Board it offers everything Sri Lanka has to offer in wood carving, brass items, furniture, silver ware, leather, batik, spices, tea, books and cards. Very affordable prices.
Prasanna Batiks – 35, Main Street, Colombo 11, Pettah. Tel: 243 8462.Outlets at Majestic City & Crescat Boulevard.
Sri Lanka is known for batik and you get everything here from shirts to sarongs as well as traditional handicrafts.
Shoes
Laksmi – 1-26, Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3. Tel: 5518325. Outlets at Majestic City, Colombo 4 & Hilton Jaic Tower, 200 Union Place, Colombo 2.
Good selection of shoes at affordable prices.
Leather Collection – 26, Flower Road, Colombo 7. Tel: 257 5299.Outlet at Majestic City, Colombo 4.
Provides great quality leather shoes and bags in the latest brand name designs such as Luis Voitton, Christian Dior and Gucci. Lovely designs and though it is a bit on the expensive side it is value for money.
Tea
Dilmah Tea – MJF Group, 11, Negombo Road, Peliyagoda. Tel: 293 3070 Email: info@dilmahtea.com www.dilmahtea.com Outlet at Odel Unlimited, 5, Alexander Place, Colombo 7.
The company exports about 95% of its products. Has a wide choice of Natural Ceylon tea and fruit flavours in attractive gift packs.
Mlesna Tea Centre – Branches: Majestic City, Colombo 4. Liberty Plaza, Colombo 3. Hilton Jaic Tower, 200 Union Place, Colombo 2. Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3, and Airport departure lounge.
Teas are sold in ceramic ornaments, wooden boxes or in just plain cardboard boxes and other tea items such as enjoyable and creative cups, strainers, boxes etc. |
|
Register
Log in
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
