In a quiet corner of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, something quietly radical is unfolding by the shores of Kandalama Lake. Beneath the shade of mango trees, Amba Yaalu Kandalama, a serene hotel launched in January 2025 by Thema Collection, is rewriting the rules of hospitality – with an all-female team running the entire operation.
From front desk to engineering, and housekeeping to management, every role at Amba Yaalu is filled by women. It’s the first hotel of its kind in Sri Lanka – and for Thema Collection’s founder and chairman Chandra Wickramasinghe, it’s more than a statement. It’s personal.
Empowered by experience
Wickramasinghe, who was raised by a single mother of seven, knows first-hand the strength and resilience of women. But in Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry, their presence remains startlingly scarce – women make up just 10% of the formal tourism workforce.
Amba Yaalu Kandalama is a boutique hotel located by Kandalama Lake, offering 14 rooms, a restaurant, and eco-conscious design inspired by local architecture.
“Tourism is the third-largest source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka,” he explains. “Yet the representation of women remains shockingly low. With the recent economic crisis, women have found it harder than ever to make ends meet. We’ve seen thousands of females flying to the Middle East for work.”
Amba Yaalu was created as a sustainable alternative to this trend – one that allows women to earn a livelihood with dignity, closer to home. “This initiative addresses a burning issue within the country,” he adds. “It fosters community development by showing that women can excel in every aspect of hotel operations, inspiring similar efforts nationwide.”
Breaking the mould, one hire at a time
Hiring an all-female team wasn’t without challenges. With few women trained in supervisory or technical roles, the hotel had to build its own pipeline from scratch.
“In a country that still has traditional views about gender roles, especially in sectors like tourism, convincing young women to join us wasn’t easy,” Wickramasinghe says. “We had to break through old stereotypes and start from the ground up.”
Amba Yaalu Kandalama is operated entirely by an all-female team across all departments.
To build a strong team, Amba Yaalu recruited 20% of its staff from the local community, many of whom were entering the workforce for the first time. The hotel invested in mentorship, on-the-job training, and skills development to nurture future leaders.
“Despite the limitations in mentoring and the initial shortage of experienced staff, the results have been rewarding,” he says. “Amba Yaalu has become a beacon for women, proving they can thrive not just as support staff, but as leaders and changemakers.”
Leadership on the rise
Hotel manager Jeewanthi Adhikari is one such changemaker. “The launch has not only increased female participation in hospitality but also created new leadership opportunities for women who may not have previously considered this field,” she says. “Many of our executive team members are stepping into leadership for the first time – and they’re thriving.”
Women lead every aspect at Amba Yaalu, from kitchen operations to service, challenging traditional gender roles in culinary and hospitality settings.
Even in departments traditionally dominated by men – such as engineering, maintenance, and F&B – women are stepping up. “We had to rely heavily on on-the-job training,” notes Wickramasinghe, but it’s clear the shift is paying off.
“Women feel heard, accepted, and free to express themselves, including openly discussing topics often stigmatised in traditional workplaces,” adds Adhikari.
A guest experience like no other
This new internal dynamic has brought a unique tone to guest interactions as well. “The all-female model brings a unique warmth and authenticity to our service,” Wickramasinghe says. “It’s intuitive, deeply personal. Guests experience a genuine human connection, enriched by the team’s empathy, cultural pride, and attention to detail.”
He believes that this approach isn’t just a human resources success – it creates a more meaningful journey for travellers too. “This not only enhances the guest experience, but adds a deeper sense of purpose – as travellers become part of a meaningful journey that empowers women and uplifts the local community.”
Across Asia, women are rewriting hospitality
Amba Yaalu’s all-woman model is part of a broader movement sweeping across Asia. In Bali, the Bliss Sanctuary for Women is run by a female Indonesian management team, while Marriott’s Westin Hyderabad Hitec City in India opened in 2023 with an all-female team. Dubai’s TIME Asma Hotel led the charge back in 2017 as the Gulf region’s first female-run property.
Bliss Sanctuary for Women in Bali is a wellness retreat dedicated to solo female travellers, offering empowerment, self-care, and community in a female-focused environment.
“Being part of an all-woman working team at Amba Yaalu has been an incredibly empowering experience,” says Adhikari. “I feel proud to be part of a pioneering movement that promotes gender equality, empowers women, and sets a powerful example for the industry and the country at large.”