Born in Galle, Janaka has four children with his wife Manel and is a Tourism & hospitality Consultant having worked and experienced in several leading tourists' hotels in Sri Lanka. He faced tsunami while working as General Manager of famous Unawatuna beach resort and was lucky to survive. He often survives on only a few hours sleep a night and operates VSL, Janaka is no stranger to work hard; at the young age of 12, he began cooking pastries and cakes after school to help support his family. Janaka, designed VSL to offer volunteers a true grassroots experience where volunteers are placed into existing community projects and experience village life. He explains, “VSL provides an opportunity for volunteers to open up their belief in their own potential”. At the start of “VSL” project in 2010, Janaka’s enthusiasm motivates the volunteers with which he shares his home with and not at a hotel. Later the “VSL” volunteer house came in to accommodate volunteers as the growing up of his children needed their own space. The Volunteer house is just adjacent to Janaka’s home; therefore, the volunteers have the privilege of enjoying local family living experience.