Mihira Wickramarachchi – Chairperson and Owner of J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company
The Chairperson and Owner of J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company, Mihira Wickramarachchi is a name well-known in the world of healthcare services. Acclaimed for his contributions in the fields of Optometry, Audiology and Otorhinolaryngology, Mihira champions the needs of the differently-abled, while running one of the leading providers of electromedical equipment, spectacles, sunglasses, contact lenses, lens solutions, medical equipment, audiology and hearing aids in the country.
Beginning with the inception of his career journey, Mihira explained,
“From a very young age, I was always interested in technology and healthcare. I attended many workshops, seminars and courses overseas that focused on vision and hearing, which aspired me to get into this field. I graduated from the University of South Hampton, and began my ventures there on.”
“My interest in technology and the need to take care of the less fortunate is what drove me in the direction of Optometry and Audiology. I wanted to help the 2% of differently abled among the population in Sri Lanka”, said Mihira of what inspired his choice of career.
Speaking of what inspired the creation of J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company, Mihira narrated,
“After graduating from college, I saw the gap in the market for professionals in Audiology and Optometry. There was no private or government set up for Audiology, the deaf community was neglected. There was a need for proper management and rehabilitation of hearing loss.”
Discussing J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company’s growth into a popular brand in the local and international healthcare sector, Mihira stated,
“Since its inception in 1976, J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company has grown to into a world class brand. One of the main features of our organization’s growth, is its clear commitment to technological innovation, and providing the best hearing and eyecare, which goes on par with the latest technologies and highest standards. We aim to bring the best globally known brands to Sri Lanka, and provide a world class service to our customers.”
Questioned as to how J. M Wickramarachchi & Company maintains its reputed high standards, Mihira replied, “We are very customer oriented; we believe that we are in an industry where quality is everything. What keeps our standards high is a dedicated and highly skilled staff. We have internationally trained product and technical managers. Our Audiologists and Opticians hold foreign recognitions, and are trained overseas in product knowledge and technological updates. We also work with reputed global brands that provide high quality products.”
“Quality, affordability, accessibility, accuracy and dedicated after care services. Also, the international brands that have given us our reputation worldwide”, responded Mihira, when asked what powers the customer chain of J. M Wickramarachchi & Company.
On the topic of what differentiates J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company from other organizations of its kind, Mihira said, “Our main focus is our clients and their wellbeing. Our highly professional staff and our aim to provide an A grade service are what set us apart from other companies in this sector.”
Describing how the requirements of the public have changed over the years in relation to optical and hearing, Mihira noted, “Eyewear has now gone from being a need to a want, as a fashion statement, making it a demand in today’s society. Hearing aids have become more accepted as a quality of life improving device and more people are getting comfortable wearing them.”
Of the companies that make up J. M. Wickramarachchi & Company, Mihira explained, “The main companies are Wickramarachchi Opticians, Wickramarachchi Hearing Care and Wickramarachchi Diagnostics, which provide technology for the Healthcare industry. We also have the Wickramarachchi Institute of Speech and Hearing (WISH Foundation), which is a non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation for hearing impaired children by enhancing their creative skills.”
The CEO kindly provided expert advice for maintaining healthy hearing and eyesight –
“My advice is to be careful with noise exposure; this includes listening to extremely loud music for a long period of time; noise induced hearing loss causes permanent damage to the ear, and do consider having frequent ear checkups done to avoid infections in the outer/middle ear, which can also cause hearing loss. Get infants screened at an early age to rule out any hearing problems. When it comes to eyesight, avoid staring at your screen for long periods of time, I recommend the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, you should look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a break. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you should protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. You should invest in sunglasses that block out at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays. For additional protection, polarized lenses to reduce any glare while you drive; if in case of diabetes, patient should screen their eyes for Glaucoma. Regular hearing and vision screenings should be done to maintain good health.”