Biography of Dhanika Perera: Founder of Bhasha and Payhere - Digital Payment Solution
Biography of Dhanika Perera:
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Dhanika Perera's journey from a Computer Science student at
the University of Moratuwa to a pioneering entrepreneur began unexpectedly
during his bachelor's studies in 2011. His innovation, Helakuru, aimed at
enabling Sinhala language support on mobile devices, has since empowered over
10 million Sri Lankans digitally, becoming a renowned brand in the country.
Revolutionizing Online Payments
Recognizing the need for reliable online payment solutions
in Sri Lanka, Dhanika introduced PayHere as the country's first Central
Bank-approved Payment Aggregator platform. This innovation has facilitated
online payments for over 3500 local businesses, challenging and transforming
the landscape of digital transactions in Sri Lanka.
Bridging the Online Payment Gap in Sri Lanka
Dhanika Perera, the founder of Bhasha and Payhere,
identified a significant issue for Sri Lankans: the absence of a reliable
online transaction method like PayPal, which was unavailable in the country.
This gap prompted him to create Payhere, offering a localized online payment
solution tailored for Sri Lankan merchants.
Founder and CEO of Bhasha Lanka (Pvt) Ltd
Since July 2011, Dhanika Perera has been leading Bhasha
Lanka (Pvt) Ltd as its Founder and CEO, envisioning the company as a catalyst
for bridging Sri Lanka's digital divide. Bhasha operates under the Software as
a Service (SaaS) model, innovating and marketing software products such as
Helakuru, PayHere, Esana, and ShopHere to various customer segments. Dhanika
plays a pivotal role as the Chief Designer, providing strategic leadership and
driving product innovations.
Founder and CEO of PayHere
In April 2016, Dhanika Perera founded PayHere as a spin-off
from Bhasha, aiming to revolutionize online payments for local businesses in
Sri Lanka. PayHere, recognized as the first non-bank Payment Service in the
country, facilitates secure and efficient online transactions for over 3000
businesses globally. As CEO, Dhanika focuses on executing PayHere's vision of
"Digitizing Payments of Every Sri Lankan Business" through diverse
payment options that are accessible and affordable.
Previous Experience: Lionbridge Technologies Inc.
Before founding Bhasha and PayHere, Dhanika Perera gained
valuable experience as a Localization Professional and Language Quality
Inspection Specialist at Lionbridge Technologies Inc. from June 2010 to
September 2013. He contributed remotely, specializing in Sinhala language
localization, demonstrating his early expertise in linguistic and software
localization domains.
Early Career: WaveNET International (Pvt) Ltd
During his university internship from February 2011 to
August 2011, Dhanika Perera served as a Software Engineer Intern at WaveNET
International (Pvt) Ltd. This role provided him with foundational experience in
software engineering, setting the stage for his subsequent entrepreneurial
ventures in the tech industry.
From School Project to Startup: The Origins of Bhasha
Dhanika Perera's journey into entrepreneurship began during
his school days with the creation of මානවයා
(maanawaya), a Sinhala software developed as part of his A/L project. This
early passion for localization continued into his university years, where he
conceived the SETT Browser.
Biography of Dhanika Perera: Founder of Bhasha and Payhere - Online Payment/online transaction method/online payment/Journey Dhanika Perera/Success
SETT Browser and Startup Incubation
Originally a university project, the SETT Browser gained
momentum when Dhanika participated in the AITI startup incubator (now MIT-GSL)
in 2011. The program provided a foundational experience in startups and
entrepreneurship, culminating in the product winning the prestigious mBillionth
South Asian Award in the same year. This accolade also marked the inception of
Bhasha as a company, with the SETT Browser as its flagship product.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite early success, Dhanika faced significant challenges.
Notably, the SETT Browser was released commercially without Dhanika even owning
an Android device for testing—all product trials were conducted using
simulators.
Building a User Base
Contrary to expectations, Dhanika quickly garnered a
substantial user base for the SETT Browser. Leveraging his existing personal
blog and addressing a clear market demand for Sinhala language support on
digital platforms, he successfully attracted users to download and use his
products.
Introducing Helakuru: Expanding Digital Sinhala Capabilities
In 2012, Bhasha was formally incorporated, paving the way
for the launch of Helakuru. This innovative product addressed the limitations
of the SETT Browser by enabling users not only to view content but also to
communicate in Sinhala digitally, marking a significant leap in Bhasha's
evolution from passion project to profitable enterprise.
Monetizing Innovation: Helakuru's Evolution
After launching Helakuru, Bhasha faced challenges in
monetization, with traditional advertising strategies falling short. Their
pivot to premium features like Sinhala word prediction initially struggled to
attract paying users due to its technical nature. However, in 2017, they
discovered success with customization options such as themes and UI
enhancements, garnering over 200,000 premium subscribers today. This shift not
only made Helakuru financially viable but also enabled Bhasha to reinvest in
further innovations.
The Mission of Bhasha and Payhere
Dhanika's vision encompasses Bhasha's goal of localizing
software for Sri Lankans and Payhere's role as a substitute for PayPal in Sri
Lanka. He describes it as a "comprehensive solution for online
payment," providing Sri Lankan online merchants with accessible,
cost-effective online payment acceptance facilities.
Empowering Sri Lankan Merchants
Payhere offers a platform that allows Sri Lankan merchants
to set up their accounts free of charge, contrasting with the fees imposed by
local banks. This initiative aims to empower local businesses by facilitating
convenient and affordable online transactions, thus boosting the digital economy
in Sri Lanka.
Empowering Sri Lanka's Online Economy with PayHere
Recognizing Sri Lanka's digital payment hurdles, Dhanika
launched PayHere to fill the gap left by international providers like PayPal
and Stripe. Despite initial regulatory challenges, including fund reimbursement
complexities, collaboration with Sampath Bank resolved operational hurdles.
After a year-long process, PayHere successfully relaunched in March 2018,
attracting 500 merchants. This initiative underscores Dhanika's entrepreneurial
resolve in tackling local challenges with innovative local solutions.
The Essence of Entrepreneurship: Passion, Persistence, and
Perseverance
From a university project to leading a digital technology
enterprise, Dhanika's journey exemplifies the core tenets of successful
entrepreneurship: passion, persistence, and perseverance. His ability to
navigate challenges and innovate solutions underscores his commitment to
advancing Sri Lanka's digital landscape.
Recognitions and Achievements
Dhanika's contributions as an innovator and entrepreneur
have garnered numerous accolades both locally and globally. He received the
mBillionth South Asian Award in 2011 for his pioneering work with Helakuru and
has been honored with awards such as e-Swabhimani and NBQSA for his impactful
innovations. His leadership and innovation have also been recognized by
institutions like the University of Moratuwa, CSSL, and SLASSCOM, where he has
been awarded titles such as Emerging Entrepreneur and Most Innovative ICT
Entrepreneur of the Year.
Commitment to Digital Empowerment
In 2019, Dhanika was honored as an 'Iron Soul' by the
Government of Sri Lanka for his significant contributions to the digital
empowerment of the country. His inspirational entrepreneurial journey was
further recognized in 2021 when he was named an Outstanding Young Sri Lankan
Role Model, underscoring his transformative impact on Sri Lanka's digital
ecosystem.
