Since the advent of sites like MySpace and Facebook the internet has been dominated by a wide selection of sites that offer social networking and other such community based interaction. However very few of these cater specifically to a Sri Lankan audience, a nagging fact that led to the creation of www.getakik.lk, a new website that promises to deliver everything from blogging and open user interaction to movie reviews and beach rugby.
Getakik, which took roughly three months to take shape, functions as a news provider, blogging site, and events informer all rolled into one.
This is indeed an ambitious project but one Suren Kohombange and Veran Kaluarachchi, Getakik’s founders, are confident will draw in a faithful following.
“We are targeting the youth especially, we want them to log on to the site and feel free to voice their thoughts and feelings as well as gain information such as foreign news or what’s happening around Colombo; the big parties, the movies, the drama performances,” Suren explains.
Although it is youth centric, there are no strict age restrictions, with Suren adding, “Actually if you are young at heart you can feel free to access the site.”
Both Suren and Veran say they eventually want to see the site’s users coming up with content such as news or event articles and pictures. Users who wish to gain access to the blogging feature on Getakik will have to register as official members, a process that only requires acquirement of a username and password from the site.
“There will also be a twist on the standard comment function on the site. Say one member says he ‘gets a kick from partying’ and another member clicks the ‘like’ option near it, then the member who posted the comment stands a chance to win a cash prize, depending on how many ‘likes’ he earns,” Veran divulges.
Adding to all the online excitement, Getakik will also periodically organize events such as beach football or Rugby competitions which will bring the site’s online fraternity together in the real world.
This novel avenue in social networking is the icing on an already very unique cake, one that promises to deliver a very innovative kick to Sri Lanka’s online masses.
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