Can you tell us a bit about your background and education?

I was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka – and I came to the UK to study Historical Studies at the University of Bristol. Somehow, two decades later, I find myself, having worked in advertising, fashion marketing, interior design, the co-owner of two restaurants (Kolamba and Kolamba East).

How has growing up in Sri Lanka informed your work today?

I grew up during the throes of the civil war in Sri Lanka. And while Colombo was sheltered from the most destructive elements of the war, military checkpoints, suicide bombers and the closure of schools were aspects of everyday life. My roots are firmly in Sri Lanka, and I am an incredibly proud Sri Lankan – I sound like a tourist board whenever I hear someone asking about travelling there! I was raised to strive towards the hope and ideal of a united Sri Lanka – not one divided by ethnic or religious difference – and, because of this, I felt it was integral for me to showcase the multiculturalism of our little island in my work and restaurants, rather than the division we had grown famous for.

Can you tell us about Kolamba?

Kolamba is a love letter to Sri Lanka, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of our homeland and all the wonderful and simple yet delicious classics we grew up on.

You have recently opened your second venue, Kolamba East. What do you hope this restaurant will achieve?

I hope this restaurant showcases to an East London audience what Sri Lankan cuisine is all about. Our food is still severely under-represented in central London and, along with other restaurateurs, we hope to keep spreading the word and gain a following of people who are interested in discovering a different type of South Asian cuisine.

What inspired you to get involved with the hospitality industry?

I think what you learn with any industry when you are self-employed is how to utilise multi-industry skills – be that in design, hospitality or advertising. Being client-facing, learning to problem solve and always being prepared to pivot and teach yourself new things. I have always been interested in hospitality and my first design project two decades ago was for a bar my friends opened in Colombo. However, the impetus for Kolamba definitely came from my husband [restaurateur Eroshan Meewella], who is the foodie.

Have you faced any challenges related to your gender? If so, how have you overcome them?

Absolutely – men often have louder more authoritative tones, but I have learned to ensure I do not second-guess my skills, value or opinion and go with my gut.

What advice would you give specifically to women in leadership roles?

Drown out the noise and go with your instinct. You have to be tougher; you have to be more thick-skinned but ultimately you have to be focused. Also, if you are a mum, cut yourself some slack. We can’t do it all, but we try very hard and sometimes that is emotionally exhausting.

What milestones are you most proud of?

Kolamba Soho recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. That is an incredibly proud milestone given we were first-time operators, survived COVID and have gone on to grow this business and expand.

How do you find a healthy work-life balance?

I’m not sure that I do. Eroshan and I are workaholics, and we’re rarely away from our phones and emails. It’s not the healthiest way of doing things but I do think the success behind any project is attention to detail and as owners of two different businesses, we owe it to ourselves and our employees to give the business the full attention it deserves.

What’s next for Aushi Meewella?

I’m about to launch an affordable virtual interior-design service called The Stylish Friend with my business partner Priscilla Kandasamy (a fellow Sri Lankan). It’s been too long that this sector was reserved for a privileged few, so the premise of this venture is to democratise interior design and make elevated style accessible to more people.

kolamba.co.uk; thestylishfriend.com