By Kshalini Nonis

The Island Market will be held on September 27 at the Town Hall car park from 11 am to 5.30 pm.  We had a chat with Nisreen Dissanayake, the Founder and Social Entrepreneur.          

Can you tell us briefly about the Island Market and the main reason for having it?

The Island Market was founded in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic by Founder and Social Entrepreneur Nisreen Dissanayake. Having witnessed the immense struggles faced by many, especially women, during this time, the market was born out of a vision to give back to the community.

The pandemic brought about a severe loss of jobs, financial instability, and uncertainty. Many women, in particular, were forced to step up, finding ways to support their families. Out of this adversity came resilience: women began turning their skills, creativity, and passions into home-based businesses, using their time at home to craft unique products and services.

Recognising this wave of creativity and entrepreneurship, The Island Market was created as a platform to showcase and support these small businesses, especially female entrepreneurs and differently abled individuals. What began as a response to a crisis has since grown into a thriving community space, where businesses can flourish, causes can be supported, and people can come together to celebrate local talent.

When and where will it be held?

This time, The Island Market will take place at the Town Hall car park space in Colombo 7, on 27 September from 11 am to 5.30 pm.  Against the backdrop of this iconic building, the market will showcase the true spirit of community, creativity, and empowerment.

Who are the featured vendors?

The market will feature a diverse range of vendors, offering everything from delicious food, juices, to handmade treasures. Explore unique items such as macramé, jewellery, clothing, tote bags, lighting, men’s accessories, soaps, candles, essential oils, notebooks, artwork, collectables, ceramics, and pottery and lighting

Can you tell us how, through the Island Market, you hope to encourage female home-based vendors as well as extend support to those facing physical challenges or have special needs?

At The Island Market, we are deeply committed to creating an inclusive platform that goes beyond commerce, focusing on empowerment and opportunity.

• Female Entrepreneurs:
 We prioritise and encourage participation from women-led businesses, especially home-based entrepreneurs. Our platform helps them to showcase their products to a wider audience, which helps them gain visibility, build confidence, and expand their customer base.

• Physically Challenged Vendors: 

We actively extend support by providing stall space free of charge,  accessible stall spaces, ensuring barrier-free arrangements at our venues, and offering logistical assistance where needed. We also highlight their businesses in our marketing campaigns, giving them greater exposure and recognition.

Through these efforts, The Island Market strives to level the playing field, enabling both female entrepreneurs and differently-abled vendors to thrive, grow sustainably, and become valued contributors to the local economy.

How have you contributed to charitable organisations?

At The Island Market, giving back has always been at the heart of what we do. Charitable organisations are offered free spaces at our markets to help them raise awareness and support their causes.
Over time, we’ve also contributed through various initiatives, including:
· Food drives and dry rations packs for those in need.
· Providing water through RO (Rivers Osmosis) systems in areas without access. (Village in Mannar)
· Helping build a roof for an elders’ home
· Donating to ‘Light a Future’
· Donating sanitary napkins to ‘Free to Flow’ movement
· Contributions to the Cancer Hospital

Tell us about your collaboration with Child Action Lanka (CAL) to overcome some of the issues faced by them.

Child Action Lanka (CAL) is dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged children across Sri Lanka. Their primary approach involves raising funds through the sale of upcycled products, including tote bags, table runners, kimonos, and other handcrafted items. These products not only promote sustainability by repurposing materials but also provide a meaningful way to generate income that supports CAL’s various charitable initiatives.

The Island Market’s support for CAL’s initiative aligns with its commitment to community development and social responsibility. By offering a prominent space for Child Action Lanka at the upcoming marketplace, as well as promoting them as a collaborative and creating more publicity and awareness for their initiative.

The Island Market provides CAL with a vital platform to showcase and sell their upcycled products. This partnership will help increase visibility for CAL’s work, attract more customers, and generate essential funds to continue its programmes aimed at helping disadvantaged children.

Supporting CAL through the market underscores the importance of community involvement in social causes, fosters sustainable practices, and demonstrates a collective effort to create positive change. It’s a meaningful way for the marketplace to contribute to social betterment while
promoting eco-friendly and socially responsible products.

Tell us about Sri Lanka’s largest picnic at the Island Market Pop-Up, together with Materclass.lk.

Our primary focus was on enjoying outdoor spaces and creating a large picnic on the lawn at Town Hall. That’s what inspired us at The Island Market to host a public picnic, and we partnered with Masterclass to bring it to life. The idea is to foster a sense of community where people can come together to eat on the lawn, spend time, meet new people, and share moments through food. The lawn itself is such a beautiful space, and we want to encourage as many people as possible to be a part of it. We will be hosting a variety of sweet and savoury bakers delighting the crowd with their home bakes.

How successful have such Island Markets been in previous years?

From our very first market with just 15 vendors to our most recent one with over 90, The Island Market has grown beyond expectations. With every event, the demand, footfall, and number of vendors we support continue to rise. Many of our vendors have gone on to secure retail opportunities and expand their businesses thanks to the exposure they have received through the market. It’s been incredible to see small home-based businesses grow into established brands through this platform.

Can you tell us about the type of crowd you attract?

The Island Market is truly a community event that appeals to a very diverse audience. On one end, we have young children who enjoy activities such as the bouncy castle and fun kids’ programmes, while at the same time, it’s an engaging space for parents, families, and even the elderly who can spend a relaxed and enjoyable day together.

It’s very much a family-friendly event, but what makes it unique is that it also attracts Colombo’s high society, who appreciate the exclusive shopping experience curated from carefully selected home-based businesses. Beyond that, we see a strong interest from tourists as well, who are drawn to the market for
authentic Sri Lankan products, from local artisan handicrafts to speciality home-made goods.

So, in many ways, The Island Market brings together people from all walks of life, offering not just shopping but a vibrant cultural and social experience for everyone.