In March 2020 the world came to an abrupt standstill. For the first time in history a common thread of fear and uncertainty connected people, and it was during this time, Keshini Ann Suraweera felt an urgency to create a platform that would allow Sri Lanka’s small business owners to survive the brutal impact of the pandemic.

Positioning itself as a trader’s market of home-grown brands and businesses, The Creative Isle CAN Market, has, over the last two years, successfully promoted and created new opportunities for local entrepreneurs of micro businesses. Today, the CAN market at One Galle Face Mall continues to mobilize local artisans, having enabled them to survive through the pandemic and the economic downturn. 

As the first lock down in 2020 came to an end, the Can Market was launched at the Colombo City Centre with the support of the Foundation of Goodness where, its ambassador Muttiah Muralitharan was invited as chief guest. Due to the growing popularity, the CAN weekend market celebrated its first anniversary with the move to the One Galle Face mall. Acknowledging the collaboration with Can Market, Herve Duboscq, General Manager, One Galle Face Mall stated, “we are delighted to partner with CAN market at OGF and thereby support local entrepreneurs through the Foundation of Goodness to showcase their products. OGF Mall and CAN market share many values, visions, and beliefs. One of them is to support and promote local homegrown entrepreneurs, small businesses, and sustainability focused CSR initiatives. This partnership mutually benefits the Mall, CAN Market, and shoppers who can find one of the largest selections of sustainable, local products in one location.”

Sri Lanka boasts of a rich history of arts and crafts. Artisans and micro businesses are the backbone of Sri Lanka’s rural economy. This segment contributes to the national economy through exports and tourism related urban buying trends. Yet as Sri Lanka faces unprecedented times, most small business owners who were losing hope and sidelining their visionary ideas, have looked to the CAN weekend market to create opportunities for revenue. The CAN weekend market bridged the gap between rural and urban communities. However, what is distinctive about the CAN Weekend Market is that this platform has created not just B2C opportunities but in many instances opened B2B doors. The Exponential growth of these businesses give credit to the Can Weekend Market as being the vehicle that steered them towards realizing their fullest potential. As Sri Lanka endeavors to recover from this economic crisis the Creative Isle’s CAN Market celebrates its second anniversary. A partner of the CAN Market from its inception, Kushil Gunesekara, the Founder of Foundation of Goodness stated, “we sincerely hope that with Can Market successfully celebrating two years they will enhance opportunities in creating many Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, second to none, giving the training facilities, guidance and exposure, harnessing the enormous talent, skills and so much potential we see day in and day out in rural communities.”
 

The second-year anniversary celebrations took place at the One Galle Face Mall on the 29th of October 2022. The President’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Sagala Ratnayake was the chief guest. Mayor of Colombo, Hon. Rosy Senanayake also graced this occasion. The guests took time to speak to the local business owners and view their products displays spread across three levels in the mall. Focusing on sustainable and community driven businesses, the market features products of home and lifestyle, fashion accessories, food products, herbal products, cosmetics, soaps, and fragrances. The CAN Market is a multi-partner drive that upholds small businesses across the island. The CAN Market together with the One Galle Face mall, invites you to come experience the Can Market, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10am to 10pm.