Celeste and HVA Ceylon Partner to Take Sri Lankan Quick-Commerce Brand to the United States
Sri Lankan entrepreneurs Janik Jayasuriya, Founder and CEO of Celeste, and Johann Harsha Fernando, Founder and CEO of HVA Ceylon, have entered into a strategic partnership to establish, operate and expand Celeste in the United States.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the international expansion of the homegrown Sri Lankan brand and brings together two entrepreneurial journeys shaped by innovation, resilience and international growth.
The partnership was formally established during Jayasuriya’s recent visit to the United States, following an association that began through the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE). The relationship gained further momentum during a COYLE business delegation to South Korea, where discussions between the two entrepreneurs developed into a shared vision for introducing Celeste to the US market.
Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Celeste has evolved from a Sri Lankan startup into one of the country’s leading on-demand online supermarkets. The business currently serves more than 200,000 customers, has completed over three million orders, and operates around the clock.
Celeste’s growth journey, particularly its ability to adapt and scale during the pandemic, has received international recognition, including coverage by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The company has also been recognised at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards, while Jayasuriya received two Asia Marketing Excellence Awards from the Asia Marketing Federation in 2025.
Meanwhile, Fernando brings extensive experience in the US market through HVA Ceylon, which he established and successfully scaled in one of the world’s most competitive business environments. His experience includes developing market knowledge, operational capabilities, infrastructure and distribution networks within the United States.
Under Fernando’s leadership, HVA Ceylon has been recognised on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for three consecutive years — 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The new US venture will combine Celeste’s expertise in quick commerce, digital retail and brand development with HVA Ceylon’s US market knowledge, infrastructure and operational expertise. The partnership is expected to provide a strong foundation for establishing Celeste within the American market while creating opportunities for further international growth.
Beyond its commercial objectives, the partnership represents a notable example of Sri Lankan entrepreneurial collaboration extending beyond national borders. It brings together one entrepreneur who successfully built a business in the United States and another who developed and scaled a homegrown Sri Lankan technology-enabled retail business before taking it to the global stage.
The partnership also highlights the role of COYLE in creating connections among Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and facilitating relationships that can evolve into international business opportunities. What began through an entrepreneurial network and an overseas business delegation has now developed into a cross-border commercial partnership.
With Celeste’s US expansion, the two founders aim to demonstrate the potential of Sri Lankan businesses to compete internationally by combining local innovation with global expertise.
The collaboration reflects a broader ambition to showcase Sri Lankan entrepreneurship, resilience and homegrown brands on the world stage, while creating new opportunities for international market expansion and growth.