Mangala Karunaratne built one of Sri Lanka’s most established software companies. Now he’s helping the next generation of founders do the same.
As Founder and CEO of Calcey Technologies, Mangala set out in the early 2000s to prove that Silicon Valley-grade product engineering could be delivered from Sri Lanka. Headquartered in the United States with its engineering hub in Colombo, Calcey grew from a boutique firm into a global technology partner, building critical digital products for high-growth startups and Fortune 500 companies including PayPal, Stanford University, and Fresh Fitness Food.
His approach broke with the outsourcing playbook of the time. Drawing on his years in Silicon Valley, he rejected low-cost “body shopping” in favour of close, collaborative product development. He championed flat structures, deep technical ownership, and continuous learning, and in doing so turned Calcey into one of the most sought-after workplaces for software engineers in the country. Through the Calcey Springboard scholarship, he also opened fully funded pathways into tech for talented students from non-traditional backgrounds.
Mangala also founded Asaya Sands and Asaya Summit, a boutique hospitality brand creating distinctive stays that blend beachfront living and work with mountaintop wellbeing, thoughtful design, and a strong sense of place.
Today, Mangala’s focus extends beyond his own companies. As an active mentor and angel investor, he backs early-stage founders and speaks openly about the promise of Sri Lanka’s digital export economy. His message is simple: with rigorous engineering, ethical leadership, and real belief in local talent, Sri Lankan companies can compete at the very top of global tech.
For founders building durable, export-focused software businesses, his journey remains a blueprint worth studying.
