Sri Lankan entrepreneurs Janik Jayasuriya and Johann Harsha Fernando are embarking on a new venture that aims to elevate a local brand to the international market. Their collaboration marks a significant development in the landscape of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship as they work together to launch and expand Celeste in the United States.
This partnership was officially established during Jayasuriya’s recent trip to the U.S., but its inception can be traced back to their connection through the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE). The concept gained momentum during a COYLE business delegation visit to South Korea, where discussions between the two founders crystallized into a unified vision for Celeste’s U.S. expansion.
Celeste, which was founded amid the challenges of the global pandemic in 2020, has rapidly evolved from a local startup into a leading on-demand online supermarket in Sri Lanka. Operating around the clock, it serves over 200,000 customers and has completed more than three million orders. Its remarkable resilience and adaptability during COVID-19 were highlighted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Celeste has also received accolades at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards, and Jayasuriya was honored with two Asia Marketing Excellence Awards from the Asia Marketing Federation in 2025.
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Fernando’s journey is equally compelling, showcasing a successful Sri Lankan enterprise in the U.S. He established HVA Ceylon and has successfully navigated one of the most competitive markets globally, developing robust market knowledge and distribution capabilities. Under his guidance, HVA Ceylon was recognized in the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for three consecutive years: 2024, 2025, and 2026.
The collaboration between Jayasuriya and Fernando not only signifies a partnership but also brings together two remarkable entrepreneurial narratives: one that has thrived in the U.S. market and another that has successfully adapted during a global crisis, now poised to take a Sri Lankan brand to the international arena.
This partnership underscores the importance of COYLE in connecting Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, facilitating a relationship that blossomed through its network and was solidified during an international business delegation, eventually evolving into a cross-border collaboration.
Together, Janik Jayasuriya and Johann Harsha Fernando aspire to demonstrate the potential of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and local businesses to achieve remarkable success through collaboration, resilience, and the drive to compete globally, ultimately putting Sri Lanka on the world stage.
Photo Caption: From left: Janik Jayasuriya, Founder and CEO of Celeste, and Johann Harsha Fernando, Founder and CEO of HVA Ceylon, formalize their partnership to jointly establish and grow Celeste in the United States during Jayasuriya’s recent visit to the U.S.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
