AAHAASA Collection founder and architect Nath Rankothge is the subject of an extended Biz Brief interview in the August 2026 edition of LMD — The Voice of Business, Sri Lanka’s pioneering business magazine, published as its 32nd Anniversary Special Edition and compiled by Yamini Sequeira.
The conversation traces a journey that began more than a decade ago with a personal desire to reconnect with Sri Lanka. Having grown up in Australia and worked internationally as an architect, Rankothge returned to create Nisala Villa and, later, Aarunya Nature Resort. Aarunya, which opened in 2018, became what he describes as a living laboratory where architecture, landscape, wellness and hospitality could be explored together — and where it became clear that the island’s greatest opportunity is not to imitate established luxury destinations, but to create something entirely its own. “The country offers an extraordinary combination of nature, culture, craftsmanship and warmth that remains largely undervalued,” he tells LMD.
On why AAHAASA was conceived as a collection of distinct properties rather than a single destination resort, Rankothge points to Sri Lanka’s diversity and to the case for a high-value boutique model: smaller properties allow owners to be more intentional, to build stronger relationships with surrounding communities and to minimise environmental impact while delivering a far more personalised guest experience. “Aahaasa is not a collection of similar hotels,” he says. “It is a collection of distinctive places connected by a shared philosophy of elevating people through place.”
The interview also unpacks the name itself — Aahaasa, meaning “to the sky” — and the belief that travel should elevate the mind, body and spirit. That philosophy runs through the shared concepts of Aarambha, Aarogya and Aahaara, each interpreted differently according to a property’s location and character, whether overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Range, nestled within a regenerated tea estate or set beside a secluded southern beach.
Looking ahead, Rankothge describes an ambition to establish AAHAASA as a globally recognised Sri Lankan hospitality brand, expanding selectively into destinations that share its appreciation for nature, culture and purposeful travel — and a hope that Sri Lankan brands can compete internationally without losing their identity. Aarunya’s recent recognition by TIME as one of the World’s Greatest Places 2026, he notes, reaffirms that a deeply local vision can resonate on a global stage.
Read the full interview here: LMD, August 2026 (pages 174–175)
