1. A brief introduction about you?
I have been someone who has seen life differently since I was a child. I started my career in the Information Technology field. In 2003, I partnered with a British entrepreneur and started a software company called “Orifim Sri Lanka Adelanka Pvt Ltd.” Initially, I started this company with just a few employees. Now, the company is about 23 years old and employs around 450 people. I am humbly proud of having built such an institution. It gave me the ability to generate employment for a large number of people and also bring foreign exchange to my motherland.
2. What were the reasons for the idea of starting “The Lakeside- Gampaha” business?
I didn’t start building my “The Lakeside Gampaha” with a business motive, which is why I didn’t face major challenges. The challenge was financial. To complete this project, two of my closest people helped me financially. With their help, I built and finished “The Lakeside Gampaha” exactly as I had envisioned it. Now, while I am running this, I have thanked those two close friends and have already returned what they gave me.
3. The reason for starting a business under the name “The Lakeside.”
I am not the type of person who likes to be confined to one field for a long time. I wanted to step away from the IT service I am currently engaged in and explore another field. Also, I have a different perspective on the environment and greenery. I see a unique artistry in everything created by nature. With that vision in mind, I wanted to create a space that could showcase the artistic beauty of nature without harming it. I first created that picture in my mind. To be honest, it was like a dream. “The Lakeside” is that picture I saw in my mind. I never expected to run “The Lakeside” as a business at any time.
4. How the Lakeside Banquet Hall Began?
However, after building this, everyone who saw the place and came there said it was a beautiful place for photos. At first, my friends started coming here and taking photos on various occasions. After that, many people started coming to “The Lakeside” for wedding photos and other various film shoots.
The story of “The Lakeside” becoming a backdrop for wedding ceremonies is different. My daughter wanted to have her wedding at “The Lakeside.” However, October is a month when it rains all day. So, I wanted to have my daughter’s wedding under a roof that wouldn’t leak. That wasn’t an easy task. I had a very short time. Nevertheless, I overcame the challenge somehow. I can be happy today. Among many people who love nature, the name “The Lakeside” is now famous. All the creations within the “The Lakeside” concept are images that formed in my mind. Seeing them become a reality is an immense joy. I am proud that I didn’t employ any architect for this.
Not everyone can make their dreams come true. The reason is that many are not sincerely committed to their dreams. I made my dream a reality by making many sacrifices. When I look back at the path I have taken, I feel pure joy. It’s like the lightness one feels after climbing a difficult mountain peak and looking down. So, I tell everyone who dreams to be sincerely committed to their dreams. One day, you will definitely be able to make your dream come true.
5. What were the challenges and experiences you faced at the beginning of your business?
I started building my “The Lakeside Gampaha” not from a business idea, so I didn’t have to face major challenges and experiences. The challenge for me was financial. I overcame that challenge somehow. To elaborate further on that, I am a person who really likes vehicles, so I have had several vehicles. I also had many other things I had collected. I made sacrifices by giving up those things to bring this place to its current state. But even after selling all those things, I couldn’t complete this entirely. However, to complete this work, two of my closest people helped me financially. With their help, I built “The Lakeside Gampaha” as I had envisioned and finished it. Now, while I am running this, I have thanked those two close friends and have already returned what they gave me. That was the challenge I had to face on my journey.
6. Please provide a small explanation about “The Lakeside- Gampaha” wedding venue.
Yes, to talk about that, at “The Lakeside Gampaha” wedding venue, we mainly focus on weddings. When there is a beautiful place like this, many people think about opening a restaurant, bringing people in, and making money, but my ideas are very different. I thought from the very beginning that I built this for my daughter, for her beautiful day. So, I wanted to continue this. That is, our main goal was to use our wedding venue for someone to celebrate their beautiful day beautifully. So, we give priority to weddings above everything else. Because I gave priority to that, I haven’t made arrangements for other things here. Even though I could start something like that, I didn’t do it. That means, you can’t even come here and have fun outside of a restaurant, because we have built this only for weddings. It wouldn’t be wrong to call it a small village.
7. What other services do you provide within your event hall complex besides hosting wedding ceremonies
Yes, to talk about that, in addition to wedding ceremonies, photo shoots, and various film shootings are done here. There are many pets here: two Huskies, a Labrador, and also birds. Many people use them for their photo shoots. We have vehicles from antique ones to the newest types, and they can also be used for photos. We don’t charge separately for those things. To carry these out successfully, we provide maximum support from our side; during photography, we have air-conditioned rest areas for them to relax. Similarly, if their photography gets delayed or finishes early, we provide them with the required facilities.
8. If someone plans to have their wedding ceremony at your venue, please briefly explain the procedure. How can they contact you for that?
Our method is very simple. That is, if you wish to have a wedding ceremony at our “The Lakeside Gampaha” venue, we have created an easy process for reservations. We don’t take deposits for photo shoots; we ask for their details and reserve the date for them. Payments can be made when they come on that day, and take photos. We also have a simple system for reserving the hall for a wedding ceremony. We are committed to it 24 hours a day. We respond to you at any time of the day.
We are on social media like Facebook and Instagram under the name “The Lakeside Gampaha,” and you can contact us via WhatsApp on these phone numbers: 0773 020 811, 0770 124 672. Our address is “The Lakeside, Thammita, Gampaha”.
9. What is your opinion about the Poruwa.lk wedding proposal service? And if you offer any discount to customers who come to you through Poruwa.lk, please mention it.
Yes, in my opinion, Poruwa.lk is a very convenient matchmaking service done through modern technology, and Sri Lankans can easily find their partner through it. I also think it’s good because it protects privacy.
We offer a 5% discount on wedding ceremonies to customers who come to us through Poruwa.lk. This is valid from the day this magazine is published for 3 months. Such customers must bring the Poruwa.lk magazine with them.
10. Who are the people you are grateful for in your successful professional journey so far?
Many people have helped me in my business journey. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them.
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