Six years ago, I moved to New Zealand from Sri Lanka with my husband, Iroshana (Shan), and our 2-year-old daughter, Isuli. It was a big change for our little family, and I had to leave behind everything I had been doing back home. A year after we arrived, we welcomed our second daughter, Iyana, and I became a full-time mum. While my husband was working on a dairy farm, we began enjoying the peaceful, family-oriented lifestyle that New Zealand has to offer. As my kids grew older, I began to find a little more free time for myself. About two years ago, I started thinking about doing something, but I didn’t know where to begin. Around that time, some of my friends noticed my talent for baking. One day, my close friend Shalika asked me to make some cupcakes for her, and that simple request sparked something in me: maybe I could turn this into a real business. Baking and decorating cakes has always been a hobby of mine, and all my inspiration comes from my mum. She was a home science teacher, and as a child, I loved watching her bake. Those moments sparked a lifelong love for creating beautiful and delicious cakes. When I finally decided to share my passion more widely and posted about Sprinkles on social media, I was overwhelmed by the support I received. The wonderful Balfour community welcomed me with open arms and gave me the confidence to keep going. Their encouragement has meant the world to me and helped turn a simple hobby into something truly special. Sharing and enjoying cake with loved ones brings people closer together and helps us celebrate life’s special moments. For me, Sprinkles is more than just a business, it’s a blend of passion, creativity, and the joy of making others happy. One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is seeing the smiles and excitement on my customers’ faces when they receive their custom-made cake. It’s those moments that make everything worthwhile.
