Thema Collection Receives Green Business Leadership of the Year Award for the Third Consecutive Year!  

Colombo, Sri Lanka | 28 October 2026: Thema Collection was recognized as the Green Business Leadership of the Year 2026 – Hotel Sector at the 15th Annual Green Building Awards & Green Economy Forum, organised by the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (GBCSL). It was held at the BMICH.

The company was also recognised in 2024 and 2025, and this latest win reflects steady progress across its growing portfolio. The award is a national honour for hotels that show leadership in sustainable tourism through green building principles and sustainable hospitality practices. It recognize organisations that drive innovation, manage resources responsibly, and create meaningful environmental and social impact through energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation and environmentally responsible hospitality.

Mr. Chandra Wickramasinghe, Chairman of Thema Collection, said: “For us, being green was never a separate project. We wanted to build something truly Sri Lankan, with our own food, our own design and our own people. When you invest in remote communities, the benefits remain there. Around our hotels, many people now have a steady income and a bank account of their own, and local suppliers, from the flower grower and the mushroom farmer to the tailor who makes our uniforms, have regular work with us. To me, that is what sustainability truly means, and we will continue on this path with patience and commitment.”

Thema Collection began in 2011 with the opening of Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa, the first venture of its Chairman, Mr. Chandra Wickramasinghe. From that single resort, the Collection has grown into 17 distinctive properties across Sri Lanka. Each was built around a concept that speaks to its own setting, drawing on the surrounding landscape, the natural environment and the communities nearby, so that no two properties look or feel alike.

That thinking carries into how the properties are run. Because they were designed to sit comfortably within their surroundings, most are equipped with solar power systems and wastewater treatment plants, while teams are recruited from neighbouring villages and guest experiences showcase the authentic food, crafts and traditions of the area. In this way, the character of each destination shapes both the building and the stay.

“The credit goes to our teams at every property,” noted Mr. Maxime Wickramasinghe, Director – Marketing & Business Development. “For us, sustainability is the way we run our hotels, from the energy and water we use to the waste we produce and how we work with the communities around us. Sri Lanka is so blessed that sometimes we forget we have to look after it. We started measuring our carbon footprint 2 years ago, because you can’t improve what you don’t know. There’s more to do and we want to keep improving, little by little, each year.”

Mr. Ashan Karunananda, General Manager – Sustainability & Business Development, commented: “Our guests now increasingly notice and value our sustainability efforts. They ask about our projects, take part in them and speak about them in their reviews. This reaffirms that we are on the right path, and we remain committed to sharing what works so that others in the industry can follow.”

As Thema Collection continues to expand across Sri Lanka, its approach to hospitality stays closely tied to the natural environments, local communities and destinations in which it operates, reinforcing the importance of consistency, accountability and long-term commitment to responsible hospitality.