Some Agents Sell Homes. I Help People Find Where Life Gets Good.

I came to New Zealand with big dreams, a work ethic built over a lifetime, and a deep belief that the right guidance changes everything. Here is my story.

Where It All Started

Some people enter real estate through sales. I came through creativity, leadership, business and community. Those four things have shaped every decision I have ever made, and they are what I bring to every client I work with today.

I started my career as a graphic designer at ZOOM Magazine in Sri Lanka. Nobody, including the owner, quite knew how to launch a publication. So we figured it out together. That experience taught me more than any textbook could: how to take initiative, how to lead when there is no clear path, and how to build something from nothing.

Outside of work, I was deeply involved in the Leo movement, the youth arm of Lions Clubs International. Serving the community, running events, leading people. Those years gave me a foundation in values and human connection that I still draw on every single day.

After ZOOM, I joined Randiwa News, one of Sri Lanka's national newspapers, where I built their digital presence from the ground up. Another blank page turned into something real. Then came my role at Hybrid Media under Rakhita Jayawardena, one of the most respected names in the global aviation and travel retail industry. A globally recognised pioneer in inflight retail and ancillary airline revenue, Rakhita served as CEO of SriLankan Airlines, President of King Power Traveler, and Chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board.

I was brought in to design inflight duty-free catalogues for King Power Traveler. Within twelve months, I was Head Designer. But what I gained there went far beyond design skills. He taught me that vision must be bold, that focus is a discipline, and that if you want to do big things, you have to think bigger than the room you are standing in.

Those years gave me a foundation no classroom could replicate. Then, in 2015, came the decision that changed everything. New Zealand.

Family and a New Beginning

November 2013. I met my wife through the Leo movement. I asked her out. She took a couple of months. Then she said yes, and that yes became the most important word in my story. We married in 2015 and chose New Zealand together as the place to build our future. Today we have two children who fill our home with energy, laughter and purpose every single day. My wife is quietly extraordinary. She supports every challenge, every risk, every late night, every bold move. She is the steady backbone behind everything I do.

Like most migrants, we arrived in New Zealand with ambition, a healthy dose of uncertainty, and a genuine willingness to work hard. I started with odd jobs, as almost everyone does. But within a month, I was given a chance by Tim Connolly at SAS Sport as a graphic designer. Tim founded SAS Sport in 1998, building it into one of New Zealand's leading sportswear and uniform companies with operations across New Zealand, Thailand and Sri Lanka. That opportunity changed the trajectory of my life.

I have lived the New Zealand dream. I know what it means to arrive here with everything to prove and nothing guaranteed. I know what it feels like to work hard every day for a future that is still taking shape. And I know that when a Kiwi family, whether born here or arrived here, is ready to buy or sell a home, it is rarely just a transaction. It is a milestone. It is a statement of where you are in life and where you are heading. That is exactly the weight I carry into every conversation I have as a real estate agent.

Building From the Ground Up

At SAS Sport, I held the role of Creative Lead for the New Zealand operation while simultaneously building and running SAS Creative, the Sri Lankan office, as CEO. As the business expanded, I saw growing demand for creative and operational support and began building smarter, scalable solutions.

I opened SAS Creative in Sri Lanka with two designers, one office, and a starting budget of $1,000 per month. I did not have a business playbook. I had a problem and the determination to solve it. That company grew to 70 people across five departments: design, marketing, IT, demand forecasting and customer service. As CEO, I oversaw growth, systems, staffing, operations and long-term strategy across both the New Zealand and Sri Lankan teams simultaneously.

On the day we launched a major project on behalf of SAS Sport, Tim Connolly said something publicly that I will carry with me forever. He called me one of his Sri Lankan sons. That recognition meant more than any title ever could.

In 2026, I also completed my Master's degree at Media Design School in Auckland. Ten years of building, leading and growing, and I still made time to keep learning. That is just how I am wired.

Community and Culture

Business was never my only focus. Community has always been core to who I am, and in New Zealand, I have put that into practice in a big way.

RED Event Designers is where my passion for storytelling and community comes to life through a lens. Photography has always been more than a service to me. It is about capturing the moments people will treasure for a lifetime. Whether it is a wedding, a cultural show, a corporate launch or a community concert, I believe every gathering deserves to be remembered exactly as it felt. Through RED, I have provided photography and videography across Sri Lankan community events, corporate functions and social celebrations across New Zealand.

Alongside RED, I co-created Sri Lankan Got Talent with Samantha Chaudhry, one of Auckland's most experienced Harcourts agents. Together we built a completely fresh entertainment concept for the Sri Lankan community in New Zealand, featuring hidden judges, multiple competition rounds and a grand final that drew more than 50 contestants.

I also launched Colombo Vibes, a series of events designed specifically for business owners and professionals who wanted more than just a night out. Good music, real food, genuine conversation and a crowd of people who came to connect, not just attend. Four events. Four completely different crowds. Every single one a success.

Through RED TV, we produced original entertainment content including Ethera Nada, a musical programme widely regarded as the first of its kind among the Sri Lankan diaspora overseas. We auditioned singers, filmed their everyday lives and gave them a platform to perform. It connected deeply with the community. You can watch Ethera Nada on YouTube.

Why does all of this matter for real estate? Because I did not just live in Auckland. I helped build its community. I know these streets, these suburbs, these families and what they are working toward. That is not something you learn from a brochure.

Why Real Estate, and Why Now

When I moved into real estate with Harcourts Ignite Realty in Manukau, I did not come in as a beginner. I came in as someone who had spent a decade building businesses, leading teams, marketing brands, negotiating outcomes and most importantly, understanding people.

I work under the guidance of Iresh Tennakoon, Managing Director of Harcourts Ignite Realty and one of the top 2% of agents worldwide. With 9 to 10 years of Auckland real estate experience, 279 confirmed sales and over NZD $200 million in property value sold, Iresh is one of the most respected names in the Auckland property market. His leadership and guidance shape everything we do at Ignite.

Alongside real estate, I continue to build KiwiBridge, a virtual services company designed to help New Zealand businesses grow smarter. When a New Zealand business brings on a dedicated admin through KiwiBridge, they also get access to design, marketing, IT and accounting support as part of one connected system. No overhead bloat. No managing multiple suppliers. Just smart, efficient support. You can learn more at kiwibridge.nz.

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions a person or family will ever make. It is emotional. It is exciting. Sometimes it is uncertain. And that is exactly why having the right person beside you matters more than most people realise.

A house is never just a house. It is where your future starts. It is where memories are made. It is where your family grows into the life you have been working toward.

I do not just want to find you the right property. I want you to feel genuinely ready, genuinely supported and genuinely excited about what comes next. Whether you are a first-home buyer navigating KiwiSaver and Kainga Ora, a family ready to upgrade across Auckland, an investor building a portfolio, or a homeowner preparing to sell, I am here with the strategy, the creativity, the network and the commitment to make it happen.

So whenever you are ready, let us start that conversation.