The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, in collaboration with the Institute for Future Creations (TIFC), London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London (UAL), and the EU Culture Relation Platform, successfully hosted Crafting Sri Lanka’s Global Future: Exhibition & Dialogue 2025 on 03 December 2025 at the Sri Lanka High Commission. The event brought together around 70 participants, including academics, designers, and creative-industry partners from the UK, EU, and Sri Lanka, to celebrate the country’s craft heritage, and international collaborations, as part of the Creative Sri Lanka 2030 initiative.
High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera began his opening remarks by expressing his gratitude to international partners and well-wishers for their support of recent disaster relief efforts in Sri Lanka. In his keynote address, he highlighted the importance of Sri Lanka’s craft and creative sectors in cultural diplomacy and sustainable economic growth, stressing the value of global partnerships to support artisans, designers, and creative entrepreneurs. This was followed by Founder of Fashion Declares Safia Minney, who spoke on “Craft and Slow Fashion”, emphasising craftsmanship’s role in building a responsible and equitable global fashion industry.
The programme continued with a presentation by Robert Meeder of TIFC and Hannah Middleton of UAL on the European–Sri Lanka Creative Partnership Pilot, connecting Sri Lankan artisans with European designers and educators to foster collaborative design, skill-building, and international visibility. A panel discussion moderated by Middleton, with contributions from Founder of Sippi Jewellery, Sepideh Mojabi, Sri Lankan batik artist, Sonali Dharmawardhane, and Minister (Commercial) of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, Somasena Mahadiulwewa, explored creative entrepreneurship, cultural sustainability, women’s leadership, and future opportunities for Sri Lanka’s creative industries.
The event also featured screenings of a short documentary on the Matchmaking Pilot Programme 2025 and SEVA – Art, Trauma & Healing | A Cultural Journey in Sri Lanka by Caterina Roppo and Sonali Dharmawardhane, highlighting creativity’s transformative role in cultural preservation and community healing. Participants were also able to experience a mini exhibition of collaborative works from Europe and Sri Lanka, featuring contemporary jewellery, batik, textiles, and design research.
Sri Lanka High Commission
London
09 December 2025
