We kick off the New Year with the latest edition of the Hi!! Best Dressed 2016! Over the years, Hi!! has documented the fashion progression of the glitterati of Sri Lanka, and those of the diaspora with a discerning eye. We have covered all the red arpet events, launches, the most exclusive parties and galas, keeping a look out for those who continuously make headlines - those who have that innate sense of style.

Celebrating the achievements of Sri Lankan women and men the world over, continues to be a reason d’etre of Hi!!. This issue is no exception as we feature our covergirl Kumi Jinadasa. An engineer who works as a mission manager at the Canadian Space Agency, Kumi has seen her career soar to galactic heights. Combining bodybuilding for which she has won numerous awards in Canada, Kumi is the perfect role model who demonstrates that combining passion, determination and a hunger for success can help you literally reach for the stars.

The definition of beauty can often be subjective and contentious and no one knows this better than our covergirl in this issue Sevmi Fernando, the 2nd runner up in the Miss Italy 2019 pageant. Sevmi, born and bred in Italy and of Sri Lankan descent weathered a storm of controversy over her eligibility to represent the modern Italian woman.

With more and more women coming to the fore in all industries we are particularly thrilled to have as our covergirl the dynamic Linda Speldewinde. Identifying a niche in the market for creative personnel in Sri Lanka, Linda founded the Academy of Design which has become a hotbed for creating design talent.

In the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks on Sri Lankan soil after a decade, the country is slowly limping towards recovery. We are grateful to the combined efforts of our valiant security forces in reigning in the terrorist threat so quickly and efficiently. The need of the hour now, is to support each other through these tough and turbulent economic times.

Our coverboy Selva Rasalingam is a dashing actor of Sri Lankan and English parentage. Born and bred in the UK, Selva is a graduate from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and is known for playing roles in Hollywood blockbusters The Mummy, Skyfall and Prince of Persia amongst others. He has also appeared in a gamut of roles on TV, film, theatre and radio ranging from Dr Who and Eastenders to Midnight’s Children and The Riots.

Sri Lanka’s numero uno lifestyle magazine, the Hi!!, embarks on its 16th year. We have come a long way since our start in 2003 and as we go forward we are embracing change. Over the years we have striven to give our readers the best and to celebrate our momentous milestone of turning 16, we have created a new look which we hope you will all enjoy.

Our covergirl in this issue is Brit Sri Lankan model and former Miss UK International Laura Shields. Cutting an arresting figure with brains and beauty in equal measure, Laura signed up to premier UK model agency Elite at the age of 14. Laura went on to represent the United Kingdom and came within the top 10 of the Miss International beauty pageant in 2004 and was placed third in the Miss Europe pageant in 2005.

Our Coverboy in this issue is Paul Upali Gouëllo. Adopted by a French couple, Paul returned to Sri Lanka in search of his birth mother recently. Inspired by the dancers of the French Opera and encouraged by his adoptive mother, Paul Upali had the immense fortune of being trained by the respected Jean Claude Gallotta, a famous doyen of dance in France. Paul is a seasoned dancer who has travelled across Europe performing for various audiences. Smitten by Sri Lanka, Paul Upali yearns to return and dance to his heart’s content in the land of his birth.

Our coverboy, Sri Lankan born Bernard White is one who found fame and fortune in Hollywood, acting in roles across a gamut of Hollywood films from The Matrix and Captain America to the West Wing and ER. Appearing in 40 films he has acted alongside Hollywood greats like Meg Ryan, Keanu Reeves, Nicholas Cage and Robert Redford to name a few. As the nephew of Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medalist Duncan White, Bernard’s desire is to return to Sri Lanka and produce his own film on the life of his legendary uncle.

Our covergirl, Anne-Marie Mediwake is the vivacious co-host of CTV’s Your Morning programme. Of British and Sri Lankan heritage, Anne – Marie moved to Canada as a young child with her family. Despite wanting to study law, Anne-Marie realized her strengths were more in tune with a career as a journalist. She started out at a local cable TV station and moved up the ranks to her current position as co-host on Your Morning, one of Canada’s most watched
morning shows.

Our coverboy Vasantha de Silva is synonymous in the world of hairdressing in Sri Lanka. Fuelled by his passion from the moment he started working in a salon in Milan almost forty years ago, Vasantha has managed to forge ahead with his creative genius and sharp cuts. Equally at home backstage at the Milan Fashion Week or at his salon Kess in Colombo. His quirky sense of style and his ebullient nature add to his star quality.

Our covergirl Amanda Jayatissa is savouring her literary success as the winner of the prestigious Fairway National Literary Award 2018. Her first literary effort ‘The Other One’, is a Sci-Fi fantasy book which took her two years to write. Having been rejected by international publishers Amanda took the brave step of self publishing her book.

Our covergirl Sri Lankan born Sheree Atcheson was voted one of UK’s Top 35 Most Influential Women in Tech 2017. Sheree is also credited with founding the ‘Women Who Code’ organisation in Belfast and is their UK Expansion Director. Adopted by a Belfast couple when she was an infant, Sheree returned to Sri Lanka and connected with her birth mother and was then motivated to launch the ‘I Am Lanka’ organization which aims to highlight other Sri Lankans who are role models. Sheree is on a mission to get more women involved in the IT industry and is working to eradicate gender bias in the industry. Sheree is an inspiration who leads from the front.

Making headlines in the fashion stakes in the Middle East is our covergirl Chathuri Samaraweera, who unveiled her latest collection for her high end label Anaya at the recent Paris Fashion Week. Chathuri, who always wanted to be in the business of fashion, first armed herself with a degree from Monash University in Australia with a double major in Accounting and Finance, before following up with a degree at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. ....

Jet setting Gen next entrepreneur, vivacious Shahili Gomes who launched her new project ‘The Design Collective’ recently is our Cover Girl in this issue. An athlete who represented Sri Lanka in Synchronized swimming at the Asian Games, Shahili graduated with an MSc in Marketing from Imperial College, London. 

Strong, charismatic and confident, Navodinee Wickramanayake is part of a new emerging breed of Sri Lankan youth who is keen to activate change -a game changer. 

International Women’s Day falls on 8th of March and hence the theme of this issue, Celebrating Women! Hi!! celebrates trailblazer Kavindya Thennakoon, youth activist and humanitarian,...

Natalie and Nadiya Amazing Race twins, Anjie Keegel
Marketing Director of the Belgraves Hotel, London, Rafael Nadal Tommy Hilfiger Brand Ambassador, Hide-away W15, Weligama and more...

HI!!: Society magazine produced to international standards, events, happenings, cuisine, interior, travel, leisure and much more.

Series 17 Volume 5 - 2019

Series 17 Volume 4 - 2019

Series 17 Volume 3 - 2019

Series 17 Volume 2 - 2019

Series 17 Volume 1 - 2019

Series 16 Volume 6 - 2019

Series 16 Volume 5 2018

Series 16 Volume 4 2018

Series 16 Volume 3 2018

Series 16 Volume 2 2018

Series 16 Volume 1 2018

Series 15 Volume 6 2018

Series 15 Volume 5 2017

Series 15 Volume 4 2017

Series 15 Volume 3 2017

Hi!! Magazine is Sri Lanka’s first and  premier society magazine and now in its 11th year. Begun with the concept of portraying Sri Lanka in a positive light, Hi!! put within its pages the high fashions of the gliteratti and the literati, parties and the glitz and glamour of not only Colombo but also of major cities around the world where Sri Lankans gather.  It also features trendy Conde Nast winning boutique hotels, resorts and restaurants, the Who’s Who from Hollywood to Bollywood, tourist attractions like whale and dophin watching, what to do and how to do it – with Hi!! projecting Sri Lanka as the ultimate tourist destination.

Best Dressed 2017

HI Best Dressed 2016

HI Best Dressed 2015

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Hi Magazine - HI Best Dressed 2016

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