Chandrawatani Kantharasa

Rising with Determination : The Story of Chandrawatani Kantharasa

As a part-time accountant, former Deputy Secretary of the Community Center, and President of the Rural Mothers’ Association, Chandrawatani Kantharasa has trained women, provided loans, and created jobs, two of which she offers directly in her own business.

Her turning point came in 2010, when she was 52 years old. With family expenses mounting and limited income, she knew she could no longer rely on small, irregular earnings. The question was: what could she do that would create steady income while also serving others?  [1807]

The answer came from her own surroundings. In her village, natural ingredients were abundant, yet few people were producing herbal products. She realised she could turn her knowledge into something valuable: a traditional herbal tooth powder. With just 50,000 Sri Lankan rupees in savings, she took the leap and started her business.  [1180, 1802

The beginning was not easy. Production was slow, transportation was costly, and convincing customers to try something unfamiliar was a daily battle. There were moments when she wondered if she had made a mistake. But each challenge became a lesson. She experimented with ways to improve quality, learned how to market her goods, and began adding new products such as chili powder, kurakkan flour, odiyal flour, jasmine powder, flat vada, murukku, and vadagam.

Her second big breakthrough came when she connected with Viluthu Company’s Sanjeevi platform. This opened doors to 10 retail outlets across Jaffna, allowing her products to reach households in Inuvil, Vadamaratchi, Thenmaratchi, and even overseas. Today, she sells over 300 packets of her herbal tooth powder each week, and her initial investment has grown into a lucrative business. 

For Chandrawatani, success is not just measured in profits. It’s in the women she trains, the jobs she creates, and the example she sets for her community. Her dream now is to build a dedicated production space, improve storage, and invest in modern packaging and husking machines.

Her message is clear and unwavering: “Women like me should not stay at home. With perseverance and self-confidence, anything is possible.”

From a modest kitchen table to shelves in shops across Jaffna, Chandrawatani’s journey proves that with courage and vision, even the smallest beginnings can grow into something remarkable.

 [1805]