From Housewife to Resource Bank Owner:
Story of Srimali Karunaratne, Journey of Empowerment and Circular Impact
When Srimali Karunaratne joined Phase 2 of the PHINLA project, she was stepping into a completely new territory. A housewife with no prior experience in waste management, Srimali was determined to build a better future for herself, her family, her community, and the environment.
Over the past year, with support from PHINLA, Srimali received comprehensive training in waste management practices, including collection, sorting, segregation, and safe handling of materials. She also gained vital knowledge in health and safety protocols, as well as in financial management, recordkeeping and business management. Equipped with this knowledge, she began collecting recyclables from households in her neighborhood, diligently tracking her collection progress and ensuring all safety measures were followed.
Today, with the coordination support of Janathakshan, Srimali has established a partnership with Logicare, a private sector company that now supplies her with polythene, cardboard, and bale strap (PP strap) from their operations. She carefully segregates these materials and sells approximately 500 kgs of sorted material to the Wattala Material Recovery Facility (MRF), developed under the PHINLA project.
Her entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. Seeing the potential to scale her business, Srimali created two job opportunities employing neighbor resource collectors for sorting and segregation. To support her growing business, the PHINLA project provided her with a resource bank, marking her transition from a resource collector to a Resource Bank Owner, a significant milestone in her journey of empowerment.
Srimali is now pursuing her NVQ Level 4 certification in the Recycling Industry Assistant Program, further enhancing her technical knowledge in recycling and waste management. With the support of the PHINLA team, she has obtained her business registration, trade license, and she’s in the process of obtaining the Environmental Protection License.
Looking ahead, Srimali has set her sights on expanding her supply chain by engaging additional suppliers and strengthening her operations. With guidance from Janathakshan, she is steadily building a resilient, community-based enterprise that contributes to a circular economy.
Srimali’s story is a powerful reflection of the transformative impact of the PHINLA project and Janathakshan’s commitment to building sustainable livelihoods. Her personal journey is not only a testament to resilience and determination; it is also a catalyst for environmental stewardship and economic empowerment within her community.
