Kaputa

Kaputa.lk is the premier online marketplace in Sri Lanka, connecting buyers and sellers for new and used products. Launched in 2010, it has grown to become the country's largest classifieds platform, with millions of listings across categories such as electronics, vehicles, property, jobs, and services. The platform operates on a peer-to-peer model, allowing users to post advertisements for free and negotiate directly. Kaputa has been instrumental in the growth of e-commerce in Sri Lanka, particularly for second-hand goods, and is often compared to OLX or Craigslist in other markets. The site is available in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, catering to the diverse linguistic population. Over the years, Kaputa has expanded its services to include Kaputa Autos for vehicles, Kaputa Property for real estate, and Kaputa Jobs. The company is headquartered in Colombo and employs a growing team. Despite competition from other platforms like ikman.lk and Facebook Marketplace, Kaputa maintains a strong user base due to its early mover advantage and trusted brand. In 2019, Kaputa introduced a mobile app to enhance user experience. The site's traffic spikes during festive seasons and economic fluctuations, as users turn to buying and selling used goods. Kaputa's business model relies on advertising revenue, premium listings, and featured ads. It has faced challenges such as fraudulent listings and trust issues common to classifieds sites, but it has implemented verification measures. By 2020, Kaputa reported over 2 million monthly active users and 500,000 listings added monthly. The platform uses a PHP-based backend and relies on cloud hosting for scalability. It has partnered with logistics providers to facilitate delivery. In 2021, Kaputa launched a 'Buy and Sell' feature that allows users to transact directly with payment escrow. The company also runs a blog with buying guides and market trends. Kaputa's community guidelines include anti-scam tips and a rating system for users. The platform's success reflects the increasing internet penetration and smartphone adoption in Sri Lanka. Kaputa contributes to the circular economy by extending the lifecycle of products. It also supports small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. The website's design is mobile-friendly and optimized for low-bandwidth connections, acknowledging the constraints of local users. Kaputa's search engine optimization ensures that product listings appear in Google searches, driving organic traffic. The company has a dedicated customer support team and a help center. Kaputa's leadership team includes experienced entrepreneurs from the tech sector, and the company remains privately owned. Overall, Kaputa.lk is a cornerstone of Sri Lankan e-commerce.