The perfect team — Sri Lankans
with three different social and religious backgrounds make you feel at home.
"Ruuk Village" wants to take responsibility in coaching and grooming local from Kalpitiya and to provide a social and an economical amendment for Kalpitiya’s future developments.
"Ruuk Village" believes that only through integrating locals into the "tourism" trade, a region can preserve its natural, cultural and social intricacies. Kalpitiya is very special since the local population is made up of Muslims, Hindus, Christian and Buddhists.
Even when there is instability within a country's political system, locals will still keep their doors opened when the bigger investments have already left the country, when the ROI is going to be low and the investors don't get their profit. Ruuk Village shall become sustainable and does not have to carry the burden generating ROI, Ruuk Village should only become independent to grow on its own.
Most of our team members who helped build Ruuk Village from scratch have moved on with their own adventures in the tourism trade. We still work side by side with these individuals and are proud to observe that they are developing themselves and becoming independent. One good example for this is "Susantha Fernanado" who was one of our first team members who supported and consulted us in many different aspects. Today he has now established himself as an entrepreneur. And we are happy to see this development. And anohter example is "Gihan De Silva" Joined us after leaving school, he gathered valuable experiences and has moved on with his "Kalpitiya By Jeep"start-up.
Joined the team in 2016 after leaving her office job in Colombo....
Waruni, Front office manager, Colombo
Waruni has done well in school, even having good results in biology at her advanced Level exams. Her results were not enough for her to get admission to University for medicine
Waruni first started supporting back office tasks as a part time job. She enjoyed working with Ruuk Village she started to come on site to work with the team (on and off).
She is responsible for front office, from greeting guests at check-in to making sure that all your needs are looked after.
She speaks Sinhala & English and has a basic knowledge of German language too. She is also a rising star in "Ayurveda massages", don’t forget to ask her for an appointment for a therapy session by the lagoon
We are glad Waruni has chosen to re-locate to Kalpitiya. We believe that she will grow with "Ruuk Village" and that we are able to provide her a sustainable work & life balance.
You find him always with a smile and ready to help
Gihan - Duty on call , Kalpitiya
Gihan was handpicked by Roshan around 3 years ago. Gihan has been extremely successful in learning the do & don’ts of the trade. He is not working full time with us but joins the team when we need his service.
Very entrepreneur and full of ideas. Born in Kalpitiya to Family of farmers, Gihan has a passion for classic cars.
In case you have some time, arrange a "Kalpitiya By Jeep" session with him, he will surely show you few hidden places in Kalpitiya and take you to places that you would otherwise not be going.
Our Kitchen angels, Kalpitiya for Sri Lankan "Rice & Curry"
Rani, kitchen Lady-2 ("Küchenfee"), Kalpitiya
She has been working in the vegetable fields till now, she joined our team in 2018. She used to wake up 4 in the morning to cook for her family, and then to go to the vegetable fields for the days work. She has been a house wife and a hard worker all her life. She comes in the morning and goes home in the evening, sometimes she would stay back in case the team requires her. She makes sure the kitchen is efficient.
We want Mary and Kanthi to spoil our guests with authentic Sri Lankan dishes. She will spoil you with her breakfast alone, with dishes like:
String hoppers with coconut sambol
"Pittu" with coconut milk
"Dose" with a typical Tamil breakfast curry
always a fresh plate of fruits including many more.
We hope she will enjoy cooking for all Ruuk Village guests in many years to come.
A smily charactor and a hardworking person
Kanthi, kitchen Lady-1 ("Küchenfee"), Kalpitiya
Kanthi was born in Kalpitiya and had been working in the vegetable fields before coming to Ruuk Village. She joined our team in 2016 and is learning fast, becoming a key member of our team. She is living onsite and makes sure the kitchen is efficient. She is also part of the coconut oil making project.
We want Kanthi and Rani to spoil our guests with authentic Sri Lankan dishes. You should definitely try her prawn & Mango salad.
Shehan makes sure your stay is comfortable
Shehan housekeeper/operator, Kalpitiya
Shehan left school in 9th grade as he did not enjoy it. He helped his father with fishing in the Kalpitiya main lagoon, and now he is 22 years old.
When Shehan was interviewed (Roshan) we asked him what he wants to become in five years and he said that he wants to learn English as well as how to become a service oriented person.
We are happy to have him on our team and to train him in the basics of housekeeping and service with a note of quality.
We hope that Shehan enjoys what he is learning at Ruuk Village and that Ruuk Village can provide him a home away from home to grow and to learn a new trade.
Shehan has now taken over other maintenance responsibilities too.
Ruchira our local kitesurfer, he will make sure you are safe at the beach.
Ruchira Fernando - Kite Assistant and Rescue BOAT, Kalpitiya
Ruchira was one of the first locals kiting in Kalpitiya main lagoon. He is a shy character. If you want to do something good for him, make him talk to you in English, which will help him indirectly to improve his language skills.
We hope he improves his language skills, so that we can help him to get his IKO or VDWS kite instructor certificate, which will definitely have a direct impact on his future in Kalpitiya
Alexander - Gardening , all rounder
Alexander has been one of our trusted freelancers over The years. Who has done the roofing of our cabanas, gardening, plumbing and building work.
He has a family who lives not far from Ruuk Village. He is a fishermen and has been working even away on the islands or on the trawlers going fishing for weeks & sometimes even months. He has been requesting a permanent job for a while and we are glad to have included him in to the team.
She does the best Sri-Lankan dishes...dont forget to request her to do her magic...
Shriyani - Supervisor
Shriyani came to Kalpitiya to support Roshan with daily operations. She has been helping the team, managing the team and co-ordinating daily work on site.
She is also a great cook who creates awesome Sri-Lankan menus. If you are lucky she will be around. Don’t forget to request her to make her famous Devilled chicken dish.
chief dude..
Roshan, CEO, Colombo
Roshan was born in Sri Lanka and is now living in Europe (Zurich, Switzerland), working full time in for one of the largest telecommunication infrastructure providers as a "Telecommunication Architect / Engineer", where he makes his living.
In his spare time, he manages daily operations including strategy and guest relations. The local team supports him to guarantee each and every guest who spends time in Ruuk Village feels at home.
With a mixed background (Sri Lanka / Europe), Roshan clearly understands the needs of a guest who wants to discover Sri Lanka.
In 2011, during his first visit to the north western province where he himself had his first kite experience, he realized that Kalpitiya & its citizens need focus.
His mission is to let the local community understand that "good service and quality" does not need to cost a fortune.
Creative dude....
Thileeban, Creative Director, Jaffna
Thileeban was born in Jaffna (northern province) Sri Lanka and grew up in Switzerland where he learned to understand and integrate the European and Sri Lankan way of living. Thileeban has initiated many start-ups in Switzerland (filmerei.ch , kotturoti.ch, currybag.ch, feinheit.ch) and works full time in Switzerland while remaining dedicated to making "Ruuk Village" a success.
During a visit to his motherland, he bumped into Roshan in Hikkaduwa (southern province) and they were surprised to meet each other thousands of miles away from Zurich where they had previously met a couple of times. Roshan invited him to join him to travel to Kalpitiya where a meeting was supposed to take place with the former land owner of "Ruuk Village". Thileeban accompanied Roshan and was thrilled by the idea of "Ruuk Village". The rest, as they say, is history ...
1971 build VW T2 "Ruuk Mobile"
Ruuk Mobile, Taxi, T2 Volkswagen Wolfsburg
One of the very few Volkswagen T2 vehicles which are still running the streets of Sri Lanka. Built in 1971, "Ruuk Mobile" can be hired to pick you up or bring you to the Colombo airport.