By Chandeepa Wettasinghe
L. M. Jinasena & Co., a company affiliated with the Jinasena Group ventured into the furniture industry recently with the opening of the contemporary furniture store ‘SPACE’ in Colombo 07.
“It’s hard to find pieces in Sri Lanka that are contemporary,” L. M. Jinasena & Co. CEO Lalin Jinasena said.

Jinasena noted that he had been designing buildings and interiors, but that there are no economies of scale or expertise to manufacture contemporary furniture in Sri Lanka.
While the furniture in SPACE is all hand-picked and imported by Jinasena, he added that he would like to start local manufacturing in the future as well.
He said that he was prompted to open the store after designing his own hotels but having to import a lot of furniture.
“These are much easier to maintain than dated furniture. We also have affordable beds that are unique,” he said.
Jinasena said that SPACE will cater to clientele with unique tastes, whether for home or business use, especially restaurants and hotels.

SPACE, situated adjacent to Buddhist Ladies’ College in Town Hall, includes chairs, sofas, living room sets, beds and bedroom furniture, dining table sets, unique lighting and mirrors, wall art, rugs and framed photos captured by Jinasena.

He founded L. M. Jinasena & Co. in 2006 after working within the Jinasena Group with his father Dr. Nihal Jinasena.

L. M. Jinasena & Co.’s leisure sector includes the popular Casa Colombo hotels in Colombo and Mirissa, as well as the newly opened Juce Hotels brand.
Its retail brands include Gonuts with Donuts and Chop Chop Kottu, while Lalin Design and Lalin Gallery make up the design and art industries.