Our Founder
Learn the story behind Lanka Jewels and the passion driving our craftsmanship in Mission BC.
Growing up near Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ken Selvaraja recalls searching the riverbanks for colorful pebbles, hoping they might be sapphires, garnets or zircons. Even decades after Sri Lanka's independence from Britain, ‘Ceylon’ sapphires are still cherished for their bright blue hue, distinct from the deeper indigo shades of those found in Australia or Thailand.
While in nursing school in England, he met Sandra, who would become his wife, and the couple decided to move to Canada. Ken worked as a psychiatric nurse at Riverview Hospital, but his passion for gemstones never faded. He pursued courses at the Gemological Institute of America and honed his skills in jewellery design and goldsmithing. What started as a hobby, crafting pieces for friends, eventually turned into a thriving business, leading Ken to open his own store in Mission in 1979.
With no formal business plan and little equity beyond a small house in Mission, securing a loan was a challenge. "My business wasn’t just about providing for my family " Ken says with a laugh. "I have a wonderful team, many of whom have been with me for years — they really put up with me".
Ken remembers a lesson from his mother. When he was growing up, she always put a little extra rice in the cooking pot. One day, he asked her why, and she said, "There might be a hungry person who comes by, and we must give them food. You give and it will all come back to you. If it doesn’t, then nature takes its course, and that’s okay. You have to cultivate that spirit of generosity".
Ken instilled in his team a deep commitment to caring for customers, delivering quality service and getting involved with the local community. From a small counter in Mission, he grew his business into the beautiful Lanka Jewels store located at 346 - 32555 London Avenue.
Though Ken has retired from the business, you will yet see him in the store meeting customers and sharing his joy for the community.