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Fresh and eco-friendly creations
Environmentally friendly creations are Eco Gallery's hallmark. 100% hand-painted dresses, sarong kits, wraparounds, ladies' blouses, shirts, kurthas, pantsuits, evening wear, children's garments, made-up Kandyan sarees and painted coloured fabrics are all part of their range.

"We provide professional services in eco friendly interior designing such as oil paintings, wall hangings, floor cushions, table mats, pottery, sculpture, and painted glass," says Bhakthi Panditharatne, the Gallery's main designer. The Gallery has done the interior décor at a 40-room hotel in Yala.

They also provided the dresses for the Miss Tourism International Pageant in 2002. Eco Gallery conducts classes in fashion designing, fabric painting, interior designing, home craft and screen-printing.

Bhakthi Panditharatne was a senior Art Director at J. Walter Thompson for 10 years.

Courtesy or chauvinism?
By Nedra Wickremesinghe
The career path of working women has never been smooth. They often come across obstacles in their career advancement and face resistance from the male-dominated corporate world, so much so that they are rarely accepted into this "old-world " club.

So the feud between the sexes still exists in corporate circles especially between liberated women and self-opinionated macho-men.

The tussle goes on with women demanding equality and fair play and the males resisting their influence.

The end result is total disharmony and discourtesy among the sexes.

This is a vicious circle with women resisting simple courtesies by men, and men unsure of displaying courtesies towards women, as they are uncertain of the female reaction. Where do we draw the line?

Remember that in the business world it is vital to build harmonious relationships whether in office or with clients and the first step is to respect others.

Likewise a well-mannered person is expected to extend courtesies to everyone and anyone, irrespective of their gender.

If, for example, you see a very pregnant lady heading for a meeting carrying heavy files it is common sense (or courtesy) for a man or woman standing near the door to instinctively open it for her.

They say that courtesy is 1/3 common sense or logic and 2/3 kindness. It is also correct for the person who reaches the door first to let others go in first.

Good manners also mean employing social courtesies.

When you engage in business entertaining you still apply social manners. When a woman enters the room, a man should stand up, and sit after she has been seated. He should offer her a drink first before he takes one.

If no waiter is around, the man can help her with her seat when she sits down for dinner, and she is expected to say thank you and not snub him by saying "Oh I can do this by myself! This remark will only portray her as a rude and ill-mannered person - though he will stand out as a gentleman.

Men should extend courtesy, and women should acknowledge it and thank them politely.

A common complaint is that men leave their women colleagues out of their conversation. Whatever the topic of discussion women colleagues should always be included.

How about men and their vulgar jokes and sexist remarks? While a woman is not expected to join in and laugh at vulgar jokes made by men she may find it difficult to reprimand them for making them in her presence.

A better way to show her displeasure is to say, "was that supposed to be funny?"

Whilst a woman is quite capable of introducing herself, it is a little different when it comes to a group of men.

In this situation, the male colleague is expected to introduce her around.

Women's liberation and freedom was not meant to make women aggressive but rather assertive.

Likewise the modern man must show consideration, courtesy and respect.

The confident woman will always acknowledge and appreciate gentlemanly gestures.

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