Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams General Manager and Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, Colombo Hotels Senior Vice President Kamal Munasinghe in this interview shares insights to upcoming lifestyle festival ‘In Good Taste’ on 7 and 8 November from 10.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. at The Shoppes
Q: Could you tell us what your vision is for The Shoppes?
Our vision is for The Shoppes to be much more than a place to shop. As part of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, we see it as a place where shopping, dining, entertainment and discovery come together as a destination where there is always something to experience.
We want The Shoppes to become a place Colombo naturally gravitates towards, whether you are coming to discover a new brand, enjoy an incredible meal, meet friends, celebrate an occasion or simply experience something different. ”In Good Taste” on 7 and 8 November is one of the first expressions of that vision, opening The Shoppes to the wider Colombo community and bringing a new energy to the destination.
Q: What is ”In Good Taste” all about?
”In Good Taste” is a two-day lifestyle festival celebrating the things that bring people together. It brings together food, experiences, activities and entertainment, with something for families, food lovers, lifestyle enthusiasts and people simply looking for a great day out. At its heart, it is about having fun, connecting with others and experiencing The Shoppes differently.
There will be a Culinary Competition, a Cocktail Competition, Art , Dance, Model Search, Make over, and Music competitions with the Industry’s best involved. Chefs Koluu, Dharshan Munidasa, our very own Executive Chef Anish, Harpo, Queen of Cakes Maya Rajapakse, and The Cake Factory Co-Founder Hafsa Hussain, the Cinnamon Life Sommelier Murumbo, Artists Iromie Wijewardena and Raja Segar, Art Connoisseurs Malaka Talwatte , Suresh Dominic and Professor Jagath Weerasinghe, Songbird Soundarie David, Fashion Icons Ramanie Fernando and Brian Kerkoven, Natasha Jayasuriye of the Deanna Dance School, Sean from the Workshop Players, are just a few of the many people who are coming forward to make this event an unforgettable one, with headlines, PR and events putting together the whole event.
Q: Is ”In Good Taste” the first time that a mall in Sri Lanka is conducting a weekend festival? What makes it different?
What makes ”In Good Taste” different is the way we are turning The Shoppes into an experience rather than simply a venue. The festival encourages people to explore, participate and spend time together, creating a sense of community within the space. It reflects how we see The Shoppes evolving into a place where there is always something worth coming back for.
Q: Do you intend to make this an annual event?
Absolutely. We see ”In Good Taste” becoming a signature event for The Shoppes, with each edition bringing something new to the table. More broadly, we want to build a calendar of events and experiences throughout the year that give people different reasons to visit and make The Shoppes part of their social lives.
Q: You are having several competitions at this event and it sounds like a very ambitious undertaking. What is the rationale in having an event of this nature?
We wanted people to take part rather than simply watch. The competitions give visitors an opportunity to get involved, have some fun and connect with others. That sense of participation is important because we want people to leave ”In Good Taste” feeling that they were part of something, rather than simply having visited a mall.
Q: What is your plan to increase footfall and sales at The Shoppes?
Our focus is on creating genuine reasons for people to visit and spend time at The Shoppes. ”In Good Taste” is a good example of this, giving people something to look forward to beyond their usual shopping or dining plans. If we continue creating experiences that people enjoy and want to return to, that naturally creates stronger engagement with the Shoppes.
Q: Colombo now has several Malls, all of which carry almost the same brands. Will The Shoppes be introducing new brands to local shoppers?
Absolutely. We are actively exploring brands and concepts that are new to Sri Lanka and will add something genuinely different to Colombo’s retail landscape. However, differentiation is not only about the names within a destination; it is also about the experiences people can enjoy there. Scope Cinemas, for example, will introduce new cinema technology available exclusively at The Shoppes, offering audiences an experience they will not find elsewhere in the country. Initiatives such as ”In Good Taste” will complement this by bringing together retail, dining, entertainment and culture in engaging new ways. It is this combination of fresh concepts, exclusive experiences and thoughtful programming that will define The Shoppes.
Q: What else is available at The Shoppes apart from the retail outlets?
There is already much more to The Shoppes than retail, from dining and entertainment to events and experiences. ”In Good Taste” brings many of these elements together in one weekend, giving people a chance to explore the space, spend time with friends and family and discover something new. Our aim is for different people to have different reasons to come here.
Q: What are the USPs of The Shoppes?
We believe the biggest difference is the breadth of what people can experience in one place. The Shoppes brings together shopping, dining, entertainment and experiences, while creating a space that is open and welcoming to a wide range of people. ”In Good Taste” is a great example of that, bringing the wider community into the heart of The Shoppes.
Q: The Shoppes are perceived to be Sri Lanka’s premier and most upmarket Mall – how do you intend to maintain that perception and the required hype going forward?
For us, maintaining The Shoppes’ position as Sri Lanka’s premier lifestyle destination is about consistently delivering exceptional standards while giving people something new to anticipate. We have already demonstrated this through landmark experiences serving as the premiere event partner for Spider-Man Brand New Day and staging one of Colombo’s most talked-about drone shows. These were not simply promotional events; they reflected our ambition to create memorable moments that capture the city’s imagination.
Going forward, we will continue to combine a carefully curated retail and dining mix with distinctive entertainment, cultural programming and events. ”In Good Taste” is the next expression of that approach. Ultimately, our reputation will be sustained not by hype alone, but by consistently creating experiences that feel fresh, relevant and worthy of The Shoppes.