21/08/2026
From the quiet, palm-shaded roads of Northern Sri Lanka to the grand global stages of Vienna and Canada... every great story has a beginning.
For Journe Srilanka, those roots were planted right here at home: at Yarl IT Hub .
When we started in 2022, we carried a deep love for our homeland, a vision for community-based tourism, and a backpack full of uncertainty. Like many first-time founders from a region rebuilding after decades of war, we whispered the heavy questions to ourselves: Were we experienced enough? Could a startup from Jaffna truly make an impact beyond our shores?
Everything shifted on the stage of the Yarl Geek Challenge (YGC) 2022. Standing there as Second Runner-Up wasn't just an award; it was the first time someone outside our team truly listened, looked us in the eyes, and told us without words: "Keep going. You're building something that matters."
Behind every milestone we proudly celebrate today-from our World Summit Awards (WSA) 2025 Global Win in Culture & Heritage (https://wsa-global.org/winner/journe/ ) to carrying our local stories internationally through Canada's DMZ Soft Landing Program - lies an invisible, unbreakable foundation built by YIT.
YIT didn't just organize pitch competitions. They built our confidence when we had none, introduced us to mentors who challenged our thinking, and fostered a sacred ecosystem where local founders lift each other up long before the world believes.
Today, as Yarl IT Hub celebrates its monumental 15th Anniversary, we invite our entire Jaffna business community, fellow entrepreneurs, and changemakers to celebrate with us. We aren't just celebrating an organization; we are celebrating the heartbeat of our local ecosystem:
The volunteers who stayed late into the night to organize events.
The mentors who chose encouragement over criticism.
The alumni who returned to light the path for the next generation.
Every young entrepreneur who walks into YGC carrying nothing but a fragile idea-and walks away believing it can change reality.
To every business owner, startup founder, and dreamer in Jaffna: Your vision matters, and your roots are your greatest strength. Thank you, Yarl IT Hub, for believing in startups before they had customers, in founders before they believed in themselves, and in the boundless potential of Northern Sri Lanka.
Happy 15th Anniversary, YIT! May the next fifteen years inspire thousands more dreamers to become founders-and thousands more ideas from Northern Sri Lanka to change the world. 🚲🌴
