Inception and Local Roots

In a sunny Ceylon kitchen over a century ago, young Charles David de Fonseka made an unconventional choice that would ripple through generations. He and his wife Helen turned away from the family liquor trade and instead opened the door to producing vinegar from coconut sap.

This humble start in 1896 established C. D. de Fonseka & Sons as pioneers in natural coconut vinegar, One of Sri Lanka’s oldest locally rooted food ventures.  Little did they know, this passion for local ingredients and quality would one day intersect with a famous global brand.

Colman’s, a storied food brand founded in Norwich, England back in 1814, gained a new life in Sri Lanka thanks to these local roots. The partnership was sparked in 1971 when the late Mrs. Constance de Fonseka, the matriarch then leading the family business, forged an enduring alliance with Reckitt & Colman’s. It was a turning point that introduced Colman’s Coconut Vinegar to the island, blending an international name with home-grown trust. By the late 1970s, Colman’s Vinegar had become a household name across Sri Lanka. People came to recognize the familiar bottle on their kitchen shelf as a symbol of authenticity and warmth, knowing that behind the label was a local family’s dedication to quality. Through this union of global brand and local heart, Colman’s Sri Lanka was born, firmly grounded in Sri Lankan soil and story.