“Who We Are”

Most of us in this Island know who Otara Gunawardhane is. Otara is an accomplished businesswoman who launched the concept of a shopping mall in Sri Lanka;  the stylish lifestyle Odel mall that sold everything you were looking for in the form of clothing, household items, books, toys, luggage etc.

Thereafter arising from her love for animals, especially caring for the street pooch, she launched EMBARK. 

At present she is dedicating her time to empowering and uplifting incredibly talented and creative Sri Lankans and small businesses that have neither the capacity nor the platform to sell their products.  With that in mind she has launched an on-line business ‘Who We Are’ that reaches all corners of Sri Lanka and the rest of the world.

There is a stunning and diverse range in the ‘Who We Are’ collection, from jewellery and gifts, to fashion and home wares, food, beauty and wellness. Conscious consumerism is at the forefront of this venture, along with the pledge to support creators and their communities through fair and just pricing.  

With the large increase of imported goods, we have all seen traditional and locally hand-crafted goods taking a huge back step almost reaching the brink of extinction; generations of valuable knowledge, technique and heritage are lost.   ‘Who We Are’ challenges us all to rethink our lifestyles and consumer habits, and to develop a mind-set as a ‘conscious consumer’. It challenges us to make purchasing decisions that have a positive social, environmental, and economic impact - without compromising on style, quality and comfort. 

Otara Says ‘Who We Are’ is a true celebration of culture and heritage, and it beautifully captures Sri Lankan kindness and compassion; a future where we contribute in more sustainable and ethical ways to our communities, where people live meaningful lives and we have a greater connection to nature, right amount of local, eco-friendly, sustainable, ethical, stylish, healthy and happy!

“Who We Are” is available on whoweare.lk and @whoweareSL on Facebook and Instagram.