Kuddy Baba Kids Play Zone, located in front of the famous Anjaneyar Kovil in Marutharmadam, Jaffna, recently opened its doors to the public as the first indoor play environment in the region, designed for both kids and parents.
The founders of Kuddy Baba are a Jaffna couple; a government-sector professional and her husband, a software engineer who are both entrepreneurs at heart.
With safety, hygiene, structured play, and parent comfort as key objectives, the couple began quietly validating their play space idea. They observed parents, spoke to friends, studied the limited options available, and realised that this gap was real.
Yet the hesitation remained — investment, risk, long-term sustainability, and the pressure of stepping away from financial safety. However, they decided to take the risk and began searching for a suitable building around Jaffna town, often while travelling back home, imagining what could be built inside empty spaces.
Capital was of course the main challenge. Loans from private contacts came with high interest or demands for equity, something they were not comfortable with. Kuddy Baba was not a tech startup promising exponential growth; it was a service built on trust, people, and community.
Equity partnerships would bring pressure, reporting burdens, and long-term complications. Banks were approached next. Without a registered business or prior portfolio, doors remained closed.
Eventually, the couple managed to secure nearly half of the required capital through bank loans, largely based on the wife’s government salary pay slips. A small portion came from relatives, interest-free, with trust instead of paperwork. Another part came from leasing their personal vehicle. Even then, the funding was incomplete.
Despite the lack of full funding, decisions were made. Floor plans were sketched. Quotation requests were sent to play equipment suppliers across the country. Some responded quickly, some slowly, and many never responded at all.
One solution provider stood out. They responded immediately, designed a play area based on the rough floor sketch, and engaged actively. Within days, they travelled to Jaffna. Discussions moved fast. Agreements were signed. An advance was paid.
At that point, the business was not registered, the loan was not fully secured, and the full capital was not yet available — but the decision had been made. Kuddy Baba would happen, no matter the obstacles.
Around this time, the couple named their dream venture ‘Kuddy Baba’, a Tamil term affectionately used to refer to newborns and tiny babies. The name reflected exactly what they wanted to build: warmth, care, and innocence.
While manufacturing, shipping, customs clearance, and installation of equipment took nearly 45–60 days, the founders worked on everything else — polishing the space, planning operations, and navigating the exhausting loan process. Banks continued to reject applications. Electricity approvals became a challenge. Even basic infrastructure demanded persistence.
During this preparation period, the founders also focused on building the right team. Today, Kuddy Baba operates with two full-time and three part-time employees, all working closely to ensure that families receive the best possible experience
From the second month, Kuddy Baba managed to cover its operational costs through revenue alone. Demand grew rapidly. As one of the few quality indoor play areas in Jaffna, the space attracted many first-time visitors.
To ensure safety and experience quality, the founders limited capacity to just ten families at a time. Initially, bookings were handled over the phone. Later, structured booking systems were introduced. Repeat customers followed. Parents appreciated the care. Children loved the space. Word spread.
One of the biggest challenges has beenelectricity supply. With only a 10A supply, which is insufficient to cool the entire space, the founders continue to operate under constraints while negotiating with authorities for solutions. Upgrading the supply would require heavy investments from the building owner, potentially increasing rent beyond sustainability. Yet the business continues, adapting and pushing forward.
Today, Kuddy Baba offers walk-in playtime for kids; comfortable waiting areas for parents; birthday and newborn photo shoot spaces; preschool visits; small, controlled birthday parties; learning and activity sessions based on parent demand.
In a short period of time, Kuddy Baba has become a community space where parents feel safe, children feel free, and families feel welcomed. The journey has taught the founders countless lessons. They started something that did not exist in Jaffna at this level of quality and care.
The Kuddy Baba creators are now quietly working on the next phase — validating ideas that aim to create something unique again, not just for Jaffna, but for Sri Lanka, and exploring opportunities to partner with investors who share the vision.
