The document summarizes interviews conducted with residents of Kalutara, Sri Lanka to understand their lifestyles and behaviors. It describes the daily routines of several individuals, including a mother who buys meals from local shops due to lack of time to cook, a retired couple who go to the supermarket three times a week and entertain guests, and a carpenter who supplements his income by selling coconuts and plantains. It also mentions landmarks in Kalutara like the Bodhiya tree and Kalido Beach, and local industries like a truck market and a woman's sewing business catering to children. Overall, the document outlines the daily lives and livelihoods of different individuals in the Kalutara community.

1. Kalutara in a nutshell

2. Kalutara

4. Bodhiya

5. Kalu Ganga

6. Tourism

7. Kalido Beach

8. Mangosteen

9. Richmond
Castle

10. Kiri Mati,
Bola Mati
(Porcelain)

11. The objective of the Kalutara Market Visit
was to find out the lifestyle behaviour

12. Devinda
(Married & have 2 kids)
“ I wake up at 5 & drop kids at school at 7am.
I have rice for both breakfast & lunch.
It’s less expensive if we cook our own meals
but often we buy meals as we don’t have
time to make.
For dinner we usually have bread
or string hoppers.
Kids like to eat bread, they don’t like rice.
We buy what they have from shops
down the road.
Usually I check the expiry date
before I make a purchase.”
Daily income is based on number of hires.

13. Mrs. Samarasinghe
Married with 3 kids
“We opened the shop after
my husband retired from work.
People often buy small sized products.
Kids buy TipTip, Toffee, Bubble Gum etc.
Dry fish (karawala) and Soya Meat
have good sales.
We use the wooden stove to cook as the food
tastes much better. We also sell wood
at our shop.”
Runs the shop to stay occupied.

14. Mrs. Rodrigo
(Retired) “Worked at the Agriculture department
in Peradeniya. (They are Catholics & had 2 cars
& 2 Rosa buses, parked in their garden)
We go to the supermarket approximatly
thrice a week.
If we know visitors are coming we make cutlets
and ‘wade’. We also serve tea or coffee.
We get small milk packets (400g). Due to the
cost of living poor people can’t afford to
purchase 1Kg packets.”
Educated & wealthy but leads a very simple lifestyle.

15. Ranjith
Married with 2 kids
“I’m a carpenter and I sell king coconuts and plantains
as a part-time business. The price of wood depends
on designs & origin of trees etc. But now people tend
to use steel as it is long lasting, easy to maintain and
can easily be customised. It’s a threat to our industry
but we still survive as there are people who prefer the
wooden finish than metal.
At school, kids are asked to bring food according
to a meal plan. They like to eat biscuits and other
junk food.”
Works hard to feed the family.

16. “The ‘Bodhiya’ is 2500 years old. All Buddhists
who pass the ‘Bodhiya’ make it a point to stop
and worship. They also drop in monetary
offerings. But now there’s a slight reduction
of the offerings we get since the inception
of the highway.”

17. “I was a government servant, now retired and doing this
business for the last 3yrs. I couldn’t just stay
at home after working for 32 years and then I started
doing this. I come here every day (365 days).
I get to socialise with people and it’s a good way
to pass time.
This truck business was there in this town even before
I started (4+ yrs old). It’s unique to our town.
Different types of vendors come here. They sell
vegetables, fruits, clothes (including lingerie)
and accessories.
We pay 60/- daily to the municipal council.
(It’s for the parking space) If there’s a vehicle parked
when we come in the morning we have to wait till
it leaves to start our business.
During seasonal times it’s a different story. We have
to pay higher rates and we get parking spaces of our
own and no one else can own it.”
Sirisena
& Truck business
Done not as a business but to pass time.

18. Mr. Senanayake
“I’m working at the airport (Katunayake) –
Aviation department as a security. Work is based
on shifts. We (staff) can get a discounted
package if we need to fly anywhere.
Many foreigners visit SL now since the war
is over.
We consume natural traditional products. We get
daily items from the shop close by. We go to the
‘Pola’ to buy vegetables.”
Husband is the sole owner for the family.

19. “I’m working at the Coconut Cultivation Board
(It’s semi government) as a peon.
I get 9000/- per month. As it is not sufficient
to maintain the family, I run this three-wheeler
during the weekend. I could earn approximately
700-800/- per day.
I’ve 4 sons. Two are still at school. 1 is in the
Navy & 1 is following a course at a government
institute.
For Avurudu we usually have to spend 50,000/-
for gifts alone. We buy the gifts from the town.”
Mr. Gurusinghe
Does multiple jobs.

20. Mrs. Ranmali
Entrepreneur
“I like to sew items for kids. For 6 years I used
to sew at home then I decided to get this space
on rent.
One reason for choosing this location it is close
to the baby clinic.
I sew on Poya days and Sundays too.
I have 3 children. 1 is married & have kids.
2 are working.
I usually wake up at 5am.
I light the oil lamp everyday and worship.
I also offer flowers.
I’m good at cooking (can cook for 100+ within
a short period) & I take cake orders too.
I’m a member of the women’s society. It’s good
because when we need to get loans we can get
it through the society.”
Entrepreneurial mindset.

21. Thank You !
A presentation created by Leo Burnett (SL)
Brand Planning Team
March - 2014