Vikum Rajapakse is the co-founder and Managing Director of Kantala (Private) Limited. He completed his Bachelor of Science in business and economics in the United Kingdom. Vikum has a keen interest in promoting equitable and sustainable economic development through Sri Lanka’s traditional craft sector. He gained professional experience in asset management and private investments in the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka before co-founding Kantala (Private) Limited in 2013. In addition to his work with Kantala, Vikum is the Founding Partner of Positive Impact, an advisory service that shares the knowledge and experiences of its partners in the Social Enterprise sector to deliver services that guide the vision and mission-led transformation of entrepreneurs, organizations, and sectors. He also provides financial management training for participants of the entrepreneurship program conducted by MAS Holdings (Private) Limited's Women Go Beyond initiative. Vikum is a steering committee member of the Mapping Creative Industries in Sri Lanka project which was initiated by The British Council in Sri Lanka to support the development of a more creative economy and a contributor to the Social Enterprise Forum of Good Market Sri Lanka. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Rangala (Knuckles) Bio Fence Project for Sustainable Livelihoods

27 farmers participated in training about the uses and benefits of the Hana plant. This project created bio-fences using Hana plants (Agave cantala), which grow in a rosette, and have moist, thick, long, and prickly leaves. Hana plants are ideal for use in bio-fences to limit wildlife and human conflict and the spread of bushfires. The plant is also abundantly available in the area and native to the local ecosystem. The hana plant is highly sustainable, and requires no water, fertilizer, insecticides, or pesticides, making it easy to maintain and cost-effective for farmers. First, a nursery was set up to germinate and provide free plants to a cohort of 27 farmers along with technical expertise to set up and maintain the bio fences. Farmers were provided with the technical expertise on how to care for the fences and avoid damage during the plants' formative months. Training was also provided to the farmers to sustainably harvest the leaves and extract the fiber.

"We didn't know the many uses of the hana plant before this project. We used to remove hana plants from our land thinking it has no commercial or specific use. However, since being educated about the plant, its suitability for a bio-fence and commercial uses, we are happy to be on board this project as it provides us with an important resource to protect our land. " - Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience

Vikum was a participant in the IVLP Project Social Entrepreneurship in the United States, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education.

Vikum's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "It was an educative, inspiring, and engaging experience, learning about the amazing things social enterprises do in the US, finding ideas for new initiatives to undertake in Sri Lanka, and engaging with a cohort of inspiring leaders throughout the world who remain a close network of supporters."

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

Los Angeles, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; San Antonio, TX

Country: Sri Lanka

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