Sri Lanka has always carried a deep tradition of craftsmanship and textile artistry, yet the challenge has often been to transform this heritage into a voice that speaks on the global fashion stage. Few have embraced this challenge with as much passion and persistence as Venuka Yasassri Wickramaarachchi.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning fashion, costume design, and creative direction, Venuka has carved a place for himself in both local and international arenas. His work has graced London Graduate Fashion Week, the Aspara Festival in Kazakhstan, and the AQUA Fashion Show in Milan, while his costume designs have been celebrated on cinema screens and international pageant stages.
Now leading his own label, Diamaté by Venuka, he represents a new wave of Sri Lankan designers determined to place the island’s fashion identity firmly in the global spotlight.
Q: Venuka, your career has taken you from retail fashion in Sri Lanka to international runways and film sets. How do you describe your creative journey so far?
A: I see it as a journey of storytelling. My training in textile technology and fashion gave me a strong technical foundation, while working in Sri Lanka’s retail industry taught me speed and adaptability. Costume design deepened my understanding of history and cultural narratives. Whether it’s a runway piece or a film costume, my approach is always to ask: what story does this garment tell? Over time, this journey has allowed me to work across continents, to see my collections on international runways, and to contribute to projects that define Sri Lanka’s cultural identity.
Q: Your collections have been showcased in London, Milan, and Kazakhstan. What inspired these presentations?
A: Each international show carried a unique inspiration but was always rooted in my Sri Lankan identity. At London Graduate Fashion Week, I presented “Transcend Through Historic Elegance”, a collection inspired by Sri Lankan heritage and brought to life using modern 3D techniques to merge tradition with innovation. For Milan’s AQUA Fashion Show in 2023, I turned to the urgent themes of sustainability and rising sea levels—an issue that directly affects island nations like ours—using fabrics and silhouettes to express both vulnerability and resilience. And at Kazakhstan’s Aspara Fashion Festival, I showcased 23 national costumes based on Sri Lankan history, each one representing a different era, creating a living timeline of our heritage for the world to see. These experiences proved that Sri Lankan voices can resonate strongly on international platforms.
Q: Many Sri Lankans know you best as a costume designer for film and television. How has that influenced your fashion work?
A: Costume design is about authenticity and detail. For films like Paththini, Kusa Paba, and VijayabaKollaya, I immersed myself in research to ensure every piece reflected the period and story. That discipline influences my fashion work too. Even when I design for the runway, I think about the narrative: What is the collection saying? What emotion is it creating? Recognition for my film work, including the Lux Film Award for Best Costume Designer and the Special Jury Award at the Presidential Film Awards, reinforced for me that design is about more than aesthetics—it’s about impact.
Q: You’ve also designed national costumes for international pageants. What inspires you in that area?
A: It’s about representing Sri Lanka with pride. Over the years I’ve created for Miss International, Miss World Sri Lanka, Mrs. Sri Lanka World, and Mister Global. Each piece celebrates Sri Lankan heritage—whether through fabrics, motifs, or cultural symbols—but also has the drama and presence needed to stand out internationally. Designing more than ten national costumes for major international beauty pageants has been one of my greatest honours, because it allows me to put Sri Lankan culture directly in front of global audiences.
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Manohari Hewawasam
