Wild Glamping Gal Oya and Amba Yaalu honoured at SLTC Research and Innovation Awards

Thema Collection’s pioneering hospitality initiatives, Wild Glamping Gal Oya and Amba Yaalu, Kandalama, received multiple accolades for their commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship at the inaugural SLTC Research and Innovation Awards 2025, hosted by Sri Lanka Technology Campus at the BMICH, Colombo.

The event recognised outstanding achievements in research excellence and underscored the importance of academia–industry collaboration in advancing sustainable development.

Wild Glamping Gal Oya, a luxury eco-resort developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, secured three major honours. These included the Outstanding Research Commercialisation Award for Environment and Sustainability Research, the Inclusive Growth Award for Socio-Economic Empowerment Research, and a Merit Award for Outstanding Research and Development.

Conceptualised by Chandra Wickramasinghe, Chairman of Thema Collection, Wild Glamping Gal Oya weaves the cultural heritage of the indigenous Rathugala Veddah community with the rich biodiversity of the Gal Oya region. Designed as a low-impact, village-style glamping site, the property reflects a deep respect for local traditions and the natural environment.

“It was a big cultural change,” Wickramasinghe said. “We had to work closely with the indigenous community. At first, they were not very receptive, and it took time for trust to grow. We lived with them, learned their ways, and showed that we were not there to take, but to protect what exists and create something enduring with nature.”

Also recognised was Amba Yaalu, Kandalama, Sri Lanka’s first 100 percent female-led hotel, which was honoured for its distinctive model of women’s empowerment in tourism. Inspired by his mother, Wickramasinghe established the property to demonstrate and support the capabilities of women within the hospitality sector.

“Amba Yaalu is more than a resort. It is a promise,” he said. “A promise born from the strength of women, inspired by my own mother who raised eight children alone, and rooted in the mango groves beside Kandalama Lake. Here, we are reshaping hospitality to be women-led and women-empowered, with warmth and care delivered at every level. Even our daily suppliers, from mushrooms to flowers, are women, creating a community where female talent thrives throughout the value chain.”