Judging for the ‘Woman Entrepreneur of the Year’ awards ceremony, to determine the best performing women owned businesses, has drawn to a close. An impressive line- up of carefully selected judges spent 3 days pouring over many applications and has arrived at the finalists and category winners. The exceptional performance of women in the business of exports has also been identified, with the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) Sri Lanka getting ready to hosting the Country’s premier national woman entrepreneur awards on August 5th.
This year’s judging panel comprised corporate bigwigs such as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Commercial Bank, Sivakrishnarajah Renganathan, Co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Triad Group of Companies, Varuni Amunugama Fernando, Past Chairman of National Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka (NCCSL) and Managing Director of Hettigoda Group of Companies, Asoka Hettigoda, former Director of Industrial Development Board (IDB) Geoffrey Tillekaratne who has served the Export Development Board (EDB) in export promotion and development for over 3 decades and Group Managing Director of Ceylon Biscuits, Sheamalee Wickramasingha.
His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena will grace the occasion as Chief Guest at WCIC’s bi-ennial gala Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, on 5th August. Sri Lanka’s prestigious national awards that celebrates the achievements of outstanding businesswomen, has on board Dialog Axiata as its principle sponsor among a host of other corporate sponsors. Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) has come forward as the principal sponsor for ‘Woman Exporter of the Year’ award, the category of which was introduced just this year.
“WCIC, through these awards have been recognizing the contribution of women entrepreneurs and their contribution to the economy of our Country. We look forwards to celebrating the stellar performances and achievements of exceptional women entrepreneurs on 5th August” stated Chairperson of WCIC, Rifa Musthapha.
“It will be a celebratory evening of recognizing success by building and leading entrepreneurial ventures that have made a significant impact on the economy and the community. Now it’s time we salute and support such women entrepreneurs from our midst” She concluded.
Panel of Judges: (From top left, clockwise) S. Renganathan, Varuni Fernando, Asoka Hettigoda, Geoffrey Tillekeratne, Sheamalee Wickramasinghe
About the Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WCIC), Sri Lanka: The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) was started in 1985, essentially to bring women entrepreneurs into the mainstream of business activity in the Country. Since then, WCIC has been the platform and catalyst for women in business, facilitating participation at international trade events, developing policies that are favourable and playing an active role in raising the profile of its membership for exposure and recognition.