A many-splendoured business gem of Ratnapura

Made in Sri Lanka

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

ICT SOLUTIONS: Nawamani Group is a well-known company in the district of Ratnapura. Hailing from the city of gems a dynamic businessman handles the company.

Managing Director, Rasika Rajapaksa is the person behind the success of the company and he develops it day by day.

"Nawamani Group was established in 1970s. It is our family business. The company was involved in the gem and plantation industry. In 1980 the company decided to expand their business towards sales of electronic, electrical and home appliance as sole agents for Abans Ltd., in Ratnapura.

The company is presently engaged in business, dealing with leading home appliance companies such as Hayleys, Uniwalkers, Singer and Browns," Rajapaksa reminisced on the beginnings of the business.

Rajapaksa said that there are around thirty to forty people employed in the estates. "Tea leaves and rubber is collected by the workers in our estates. We supply only the raw material to the factories. We don't go for tea auctions. It was the family business. Our company also owns gem mines. I hope to reach the international market and export gems,"

Recently he visited UK to expand the gem industry. "I made a few contacts abroad. The foreign buyers prefer Ceylon gems. It is not easy to enter the gem markets but I hope to export gems in the near future," Rajapaksa said.

While managing the rubber, tea and gem industries Rajapaksa diverted his business into another area. Using his knowledge of computers he formed Nawamani.com, an IT center.

"Nawamani.com was formed in year 2001 with the objectives of providing Information Communication Technology (ICT) solutions such as computer hardware, software, web designing, interactive company profiles, ICT education and training.

It is the franchise holder for Singapore Informatics Computer School," Rajapaksa said. "We provide IT training, develop software and provide accounting packages to small and medium scale businesses. Regional students can get international recognition through our computer center. It is a part of International Informatics Holdings Limited. So the students can get the same standards at a low cost," he explained.

He added that the students can go abroad or continue their computer studies in Sri Lanka. "The certificate is recognized. So they can continue up to the degree level.

Internationally recognized examining bodies such as National Computing Center, UK, Informatics Academy, Singapore are engaged in issuing certificates for those who complete our courses," Rajapaksa said.

"Our center caters to students after their O/Ls and A/Ls. They can keep themselves occupied in something worthwhile. Rural community, women, employers and employees of various organizations, agencies and government departments, job seekers come under our target groups," he said.

The institute is also an approved testing and training center to conduct international computer driving license (ICDL) and E-citizen exams in Ratnapura under ICDL Asia Pacific. "We have linkages with forty universities in UK, USA, Australia and Canada.

The institute is fully equipped with resources such as library facilities, practical labs, business facilities and Internet facilities. The audiovisual equipment is also available for training," Rajapaksa said.

Nawamini.com provides employment for five including the trainer, lecturers and course counselors. "I got a scholarship to go to Japan. There I learned corporate management and how to improve productivity. I was also chosen to manage the Nanasala center at Maha Saman Devalaya, Sabaragamuwa. I hope to expand the market in IT.

Business for Peace Alliance gave a large exposure to the communities. I got the opportunity to discuss the matters in the field and share the knowledge through BPA," he explained.

Rajapaksa is the Director of Sabaragamuwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, committee member of Ratnapura District Middle Scale Rubber Planters Association and steering committee member of Ruhunu Sabaragamuwa Disaster Relief Fund.

"The objective of our company is to offer better products and services to both external and internal customers. I hope to bring about several changes benefiting the rural community who are not exposed to IT," he revealed his future plans.