In the heart of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, Browns Hotels & Resorts has marked a milestone as meaningful as it is sweet: the very first harvest of its Sustainable Bee Honey Farming Initiative. What began with a few buzzing bee boxes has now grown into thriving colonies, yielding their first golden honey after eight months of care and dedication.
Launched in July 2024, the initiative was designed to empower rural communities, safeguard pollinators, and enrich local biodiversity. The involvement of the Cultural Triangle hotels under Browns Hotels & Resorts – Hotel Sigiriya, Occidental Paradise Dambulla, and Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort – has been pivotal in bringing this vision to life. Guided by S. K. Kulasinghe, Agriculture Instructor and Beekeeping Subject Matter Officer from the Department of Agriculture, the project engaged local families from the outset. The journey began with a community awareness session in August 2024, where participants learnt about eco-beekeeping and the importance of pollinators to the environment. By November 2024, bee boxes were distributed among community members and hotel properties, equipping families with the resources to begin nurturing their own hives.
Over the months that followed, regular colony audits and expert guidance ensured healthy and thriving bee populations. By August 2025, the first harvest was ready. To celebrate, an event was hosted at Hotel Sigiriya, bringing together the local community to mark their achievement. During the gathering, participants were commended for their dedication and care in nurturing the colonies, and were introduced to the wider vision of Phase Two of the project, which focuses on sustainability, biodiversity, and community empowerment. The event served both as a celebration and a heartfelt thank you for their commitment.
Bee Honey Harvesting from Sigiriya Community Bee Colonies
“This first harvest is a beautiful reminder of what happens when sustainability, community, and hospitality work hand in hand. By nurturing bee populations in the Cultural Triangle, the project creates an impact that stretches far beyond the hotels themselves. Each jar of honey holds more than sweetness: it carries the story of empowered families, thriving biodiversity, and the authentic traditions we are proud to share with every guest.” – Eksath Wijeratne, CEO of Browns Hotels & Resorts
100% Pure Ceylon Bee Honey Bottles from the First Harvest by Browns Hotels & Resorts eco bee honey farming project
Bee colonies, however, do more than produce honey. They play a vital role in pollinating crops, including coconut cultivations, helping to sustain harvests and strengthen the environment on which local communities depend. The honey will be used in the kitchens and Ayurvedic spa treatments across Browns Hotels & Resorts, allowing guests to enjoy flavours and wellness practices that are authentically local while knowing their stay supports the wider community.
Browns Hotels & Resorts now carries another legacy – one that is sweet, sustaining, and symbolic of a future where travel and conservation thrive together, keeping the Cultural Triangle buzzing for generations to come.
