In a remarkable journey that began in 2015, Maia Donadze, the passionate founder of Maia Cheese, has achieved a milestone that promises to put Sri Lankan cheese on the global map. When we last spoke to her in 2022, Maia had vowed to elevate Maia Cheese to international recognition, a promise she has fulfilled with determination and hard work. Recently, her team’s extraordinary effort paid off at the prestigious Wisconsin World Cheese Championship in the USA, an event that occurs biennially and attracts entries from around 4,000 cheese makers from around the world, including prominent cheese-producing regions in America, Europe and Australia.
Settling down in a cozy chair for an interview with the Sunday Observer at thier residence and Maia Cheese factory in Madipola, Matale, Maia and her husband Sheriozha Anthony Wijekoon shared the backstory of their remarkable achievement, which began two years ago. Understanding the level of excellence required for such a competition, she and her team crafted special cheeses specifically for this event. “The cheeses we competed with were made entirely by my girls.
I haven’t put my finger down; it’s their cheese. I can proudly say it’s Sri Lankan cheese,” Maia added, highlighting the dedication and skill of her all-female team. Remarkable achievement Maia Donadze Maia successfully navigated numerous challenges in export logistics and international compliance, thanks to support from the Industry Development Board (INDP) and timel.
