At 35, Ms Shanya Amarasuriya is steering a 154-year-old luxury legacy into the modern era. Under her creative leadership, the company – founded in 1872 by Balage Porolis de Silva after he sailed from Sri Lanka to Singapore – continues to balance heritage with forward-thinking innovation.
It is this exact harmony that earned her the NEXT ICON Award, which celebrates family business leaders under 40.
“At B.P. de Silva, we often say there is a difference between preserving tradition and becoming traditional,” Ms Shanya explained. “For us, the goal has never been to freeze the business in time, but rather to carry forward the values and spirit that made it meaningful in the first place.”
Chinese luxury magazine ICON celebrated its annual ICON Ball at Resorts World Convention Centre on May 26. Beyond a gala of fashion and performances, the event featured the NEXT ICON Awards, where Ms Shanya was honoured.
According to the awards’ knowledge partner, the Singapore Management University (SMU) Business Families Institute, B.P. de Silva was recognised for its ability to balance heritage, innovation and purpose.
“Under Shanya’s creative leadership, the business has continued to evolve in a way that feels fresh, authentic and relevant to a new generation, while still respecting its legacy,” said Associate Professor Mandy Tham, the academic director of SMU Business Families Institute.
As Ms Shanya was unable to attend the ceremony, her brother, Mr Rehan Amarasuriya, accepted the award on her behalf.
“My favourite memory about working together as a family was all of us coming back from college for the first time and participating full-time in the business,” said Mr Rehan, who is a director of The 1872 Clipper Tea Company and B.P. de Silva.
For Ms Shanya, her own favourite memories are the red-eye flights she took with her father, which offered uninterrupted one-on-one time with him.
“I loved observing all his little rituals, like how he would take out a tiny jar of honey from his suitcase and add just a few drops into a pot of tea we would share, or how he would be happily number-crunching on his beloved financial calculator whilst unconsciously bobbing along to music through his oversized headphones,” she said.
As the creative director, she has evolved not just her business but also her role.
“In many ways, my role has become less about controlling every detail and more about preserving and articulating the spirit and emotional essence of what B.P. de Silva stands for as it continues to grow and evolve,” she said.
Balancing life as a mother of two, she now focuses primarily on fine gem sourcing, designing, and client care.
Ms Shanya reiterates that the award is not just for her, but a representation of the hard work of her entire team.
“More than anything, it is a reminder that heritage is not simply inherited. It is something each generation must continue to honour, nurture and thoughtfully carry forward for the next,” she said.
