H. DON CAROLIS & SONS LTD, manufacturers of fine hand crafted wooden furniture established in 1860 by Mudaliyar Don Carolis Hewavitarne soon became one of the largest and best appointed furniture companies in Asia. The company began in a very modest way in a corner of Keyzer Street Pettah supplying the Tea and Coffee Planters of European descent with solid, artistic furniture in the best European styles at moderate prices.

In 1886 H Don Carolis & Sons exported furniture to Australia. An Indo-Afric syndicate was formed in London in 1895 to carry out a large furniture business with South Africa. This led to the establishment of the firm‘s first factory "Steam Furniture Work's" in Slave Island. The firm acquired dominance of the local trade in this line with the introduction of improved methods of manufacture, combined with novel designs and a progressive policy that soon spread to fame, not only locally but internationally as well.

By the turn of the 20^th Century Australia South Africa India Burma England Europe & the USA were importing large quantities of fine crafted wooden furniture. Don Carolis obtained Gold and Silver medals for furniture exhibited at the Ceylon Agricultural Exhibitions, the Indian Industrial Exhibition of 1901, the Paris Exhibition of 1900, and the St. Louis Exposition of 1904.

The showroom now occupied a space of nearly three acres (Approximately 13000 square meters/150000 square feet) displaying furniture of every description. Ranging from the finest and most delicately hand-carved cabinets over mantels and drawing room suites to plain solid household and office furniture. It was the first department Store in Asia with over 50 departments. The introduction of the mail order Catalogue in 1907 was perhaps the first in the region & indeed an accomplishment. This enabled customers from numerous countries to place orders for furniture frequently.

Though the principal concern of the business was the supply of furniture upholstery rattan cane goods & coir matting they also offered an extensive variety of other furniture ,lamps, crockery, cutlery, iron beds spring mattresses, marble clocks, carpets, fabrics and much more..

In short all essentials to make the" House Beautiful "

In 1948 the Govt of Ceylon commissioned H. Don Carolis & Sons to create a seventeen piece bedroom suite as a wedding gift to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II.

Don Carolis has since had the unique privilege of providing furniture to both the new and old Parliaments of Sri Lanka, the Presidents house and office, Prime Ministers house and office many Ministries numerous Govt institutions,and the Armed forces. Corporate Establishments Banks Leading 5 star Hotels Resorts Restaurants Churches Schools Hospitals Homes Villas and Apartment complexes are now furnished by the company not only in Sri Lanka but in recent years in India as well as in the Maldives. It continues to export furniture and other home related products to several other countries around the world as well.

DON CAROLIS also has a Freight forwarding packing and shipping division that specialises in sending all products purchased from our stores and customers personal effects to many countries all over the world.