Though his father's wholesale and retail business was stable by this time, there was no change to the idea of building up his own business.
As the eldest son of the family, his main objectives were to get a strong financial base to perform his duties towards his father, mother, siblings, to support his father with the household finances and to start his own new business instead of working under another person and thereby to provide maximum service to the people in his area.
With these objectives in mind Mr. Bandara Weerakoon started his business in 1984 by selling several trees as timber from a land belonging to his father. Since capital was insufficient, his father and mother gave money for the son’s business by mortgaging two paddy rice fields. Cautiously using that money and realising his parents' objectives, he started a small-scale production of furniture to expand his business.
But first, it was necessary to find a suitable place. The business was started as ’Bandara Weerakoon Furniture Manufactory’ in a shop rented with the assistance of B.M. Jayatillaka, the Grama Niladhari Officer of the Mawathagama Divisional Secretariat’s Office,
During this period, for the purposes of further education, he joined business management and leadership training at the Wisdom Trainer International College and at the London English College. The trainer of those institutes, Mr. Kuma Iddamallena has over 30 programs to help the wellbeing of life, which he has studied in about 40 countries. During these several years, Mr. Bandara Weerakoon studied with great dedication the following programs and by putting them into practice, he has made his existing business, family life and social life successful. It must be mentioned that he is presently studying further and exploring a variety of programs. Among them the following programs were studied:
1. Sales Heroes: (Sales Heroes)
2. Money Business & You
3. Business Secrets.
4. Super Change.
5. RIBS Yoga.
6. Iddamal Healing.
7. Be a Brand.
8. Time Management & Productivity.
9. Love, Life & Marriage.
10. Exam Secrets.
11. West Plus Wisdom.
12. Highlight Leader.
With the knowledge gained through them and with a great commitment and effort, Mr. Bandara Weerakoon was able to supply very high quality products to the market. With special new designs, a brilliant and reasonable pricing policy, a friendly and efficient after-sales service etc he was able to expand the business from year 1984 till now and make it an exemplary business in the region.
Also must remember the constant help received for all these endeavors from loving wife Padhma Wijesundara, who is like his shadow, the mother as well as from the children Nipuna Weerakoon, Nipuni Weerakoon, Cholani Weerakoon.
As the manufacture expanded and the business became popular with customers, a great necessity arose to start a showroom in a city location with modern conveniences for their convenience. As a result, and with the support of the People's Bank, a land was bought in the center of Mawathagama town and in the year 1999, with the blessings of all, a showroom of over 15,000 square feet, with all the modern conveniences, of a kind never seen before until then in Mawathagama was opened.
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