Kasun Harshalal, a senior student of Horizon Lanka Academy, Mahavilachchiya started a small computer lab on January 15, 2008 with the idea of starting a small business. He had to be satisfied with two old PCs one, a Pentium III and the other a Pentium I. Though many doubted his endeavor, all what Kasun knew was that one PC is enough to make an impact if there is determination and proper planning. After all Horizon Lanka too was started with a used 486 model PC ten years ago. So, why not try with two Pentiums after 10 years?

He rented an old abandoned house in the village for a small fee and started the computer lab. He named the computer center as Lakna.

To everyone’s surprise, within few weeks, around 100 junior students enrolled to study computers at Lakna. He has just three used PCs now and teaches what he learnt from Horizon Lanka to the students in Tract 4 area of Mahavilachchiya. He started with Microsoft Windows Operating System and now teaching Microsoft Office. Soon he will teach other areas such as graphic and web designing as well.

Children come to Lakna Computer Center after school. Parents are happy that the children get a decent IT education for an affordable price. The students who learn the basics at Kasun’s computer center can join Horizon Lanka Academy to follow standard courses. This eases Horizon Lanka’s burdens of spending time on the basics.

Apart from IT teaching, Harsha also does some CD sales, typesetting, providing MP3 songs, images and wallpapers for mobile phones.

Kasun does not have a video camera or a still camera. But this man who does not know the word NO, used a Sony Ericsson K510i model mobile phone and got stills of a kid’s birthday party and made a movie with Windows MovieMaker software and charged a whopping 1,500 LKR (14USD) from the client. The client, the child’s parents were very happy about the quality of the movie and paid the fee without bargaining. (We will later upload the movie file to the site if the parents agree to show Kasun’s talents.)

Kasun needs few more PCs, a laser printer, a color printer, a video and still camera to introduce new services to the community. He also needs a network hub and some networking cables as well. He welcomes even used equipment. Horizon Lanka gave him a broken scanner which but Kasun has repaired it and now it works. Kasun also received some used computer parts and monitors from EuroCenter DDC, Colombo and now in the process of repairing them.

You are welcome to help this enterprising young man by giving him a helping hand. If he has a LankaBell CDMA phone, he can have access to the Internet and do more service to the students. He says there is potential even to start a cybercafé for the villagers when the computer classes are not held.

Horizon Lanka wants to see more enterprising youth to develop the village. It is these youth who will take the lead from us from now on. info@horizonlanka.org