Flora Tissues and Sri Lanka Sumithrayo Launch ‘Wall of Unspoken Words’ in Colombo

Flora Tissues and Sri Lanka Sumithrayo have launched the Wall of Unspoken Words at Colombo City Centre, inviting the public to express thoughts and feelings they may have found difficult to share.

The initiative formed part of the organisations’ World Mental Health Day programme, creating a public space where visitors could write messages on paper serviettes and pin them to a display. Participants also received green ribbon pins associated with mental health awareness.

The activity aimed to encourage emotional expression and raise awareness of the importance of listening to experiences that often remain unspoken. Visitors who wished to share their messages online were encouraged to use the hashtag #WallOfUnspokenWords.

Sheshaya Surtani, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Pee Bee Management Services, said the initiative was designed to give people an opportunity to begin expressing concerns they had kept private. He linked the company’s involvement to its relationship with customers and families, describing the campaign as part of a broader responsibility towards the people who use its products.

Sri Lanka Sumithrayo Chairperson Suranjani Wickremaratne highlighted the importance of providing a non-judgmental environment for people to share their experiences. She noted that the organisation’s volunteers regularly listen to individuals discussing concerns they may never have spoken about before.

Sri Lanka Sumithrayo provides confidential emotional support through listening and empathy. Its volunteer approach, known as befriending, gives people the space to talk about distressing experiences without fear of judgment. The organisation distinguishes this support from clinical counselling.

World Mental Health Day was observed on October 10. The public message wall offered visitors a simple way to participate in mental health awareness by putting their thoughts into words and recognising the value of being heard.

Through the initiative, Flora Tissues and Sri Lanka Sumithrayo sought to encourage open expression and highlight the importance of compassionate listening in supporting emotional well-being.