Ramani Fernando: The Entrepreneur Who Transformed Sri Lanka’s Hair and Beauty Industry

From a small room at her home in Colombo to a recognised salon brand, Ramani Fernando has built a business around professional excellence, continuous learning and a passion for beauty.

From Passion to Profession

In Sri Lanka’s evolving beauty industry, Ramani Fernando stands out as a pioneering entrepreneur who transformed a personal interest in hairstyling into a successful business. Through decades of dedication, she has helped elevate professional hairdressing and beauty services while creating opportunities for others to build careers in the industry.

Her journey began with an interest in fashion and design. After leaving school, she pursued hairdressing, eventually gaining valuable experience in the United Kingdom. There, she worked as a stylist’s assistant at Gerard Martin – London Gold before progressing to a junior stylist position at Raymonds. Starting with basic tasks and learning from experienced professionals gave her a strong foundation in the craft.

Building a Brand from Home

After returning to Sri Lanka, Fernando established her first salon in a small room at her home on Elibank Road, Colombo. Working with limited equipment and an assistant, she gradually developed a loyal clientele through personal service and word-of-mouth recommendations.

At a time when traditional roller settings were popular, she introduced modern haircuts and blow-dries that offered clients a more contemporary look. The response helped her business grow, eventually leading to the expansion of the salon into her home’s garage and, later, a wider operation.

What began as a modest venture developed into the Ramani Fernando Salons brand, demonstrating how technical expertise, customer trust and a willingness to adapt can form the foundations of a sustainable business.

Investing in Skills and People

A defining element of Fernando’s business philosophy has been professional training. Her organisation has developed a network of salons and a training academy, helping aspiring hairdressers and beauticians acquire practical skills and industry knowledge.

According to the company’s official profile, the business has grown to more than 15 locations in Sri Lanka, with franchise salons in Bangladesh and India, while employing more than 200 people. The organisation also emphasises continuous training to keep its teams informed about changing techniques, products and international trends.

This emphasis on skills development extends beyond the immediate business. A well-trained workforce strengthens service standards across the industry and creates pathways for young people seeking professional careers in hair and beauty.

A Presence in Fashion and Beauty

Fernando’s influence also extends into fashion. Her salon team has been involved with Colombo Fashion Week for many years, creating hairstyles that complement designers’ collections and runway presentations. Such collaborations have helped connect professional hairstyling with Sri Lanka’s wider fashion industry.

Her career has earned industry recognition, including the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award in Sri Lanka in 2006, alongside achievements in hairstyling competitions and professional associations.

Looking Ahead

The continued growth of the hair and beauty sector brings opportunities as well as challenges, from changing consumer expectations to the need for skilled professionals and updated techniques.

For Fernando, the business she has built represents more than a chain of salons. It reflects the value of learning, consistency and investing in people. Her journey offers an example for aspiring entrepreneurs: a successful brand can begin with limited resources, provided it is supported by expertise, perseverance and a clear commitment to quality.

As Sri Lanka’s beauty industry continues to evolve, her contribution remains an important part of its professional development.