‘Top 50’ Professional and Career Women Awards Sri Lanka 2019 launched

• Themed ‘Empowered Women for Sustainable Growth’
• Organisers aim to celebrate trailblazing and inspiring women 
  
   

By Divya Thotawatte

Focusing on recognising women who excel in their careers, businesses and everyday life, the ninth edition of the ‘Top 50’ Professional and Career Women Awards Sri Lanka 2019 was launched on Tuesday under the theme ‘Empowered Women for Sustainable Growth’.  

The Professional and Career Women Awards will be hosted by Women in Management (WIM) in partnership with International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the fifth consecutive year. 

Women in Management Founder and Chairperson Dr. Sulochana Segera said: “Today Sri Lanka has more empowered women than empowered men. Men in leadership have failed Sri Lanka and it is time that women take over. Through the WIM Awards, right through the last nine years we have brought up personalities who can really make a change in Sri Lanka – not only in the private sector, but also the Government sector, social workers and entrepreneurs as well. Sri Lanka has to change the economy and that can only be done by empowered women.” 

Dr. Segera noted WIM focused on bringing forward strong, inspiring personalities through the event, in an effort to promote economic sustainability. She said it was necessary to find more empowered women to be in leading roles, not just by holding a title but through competency, great leadership, and empowering other women.

Nominations for the awards will be open till 15 July and the awards ceremony will be held on 6 September at the Shangri-La Colombo. A breakfast networking event for women professionals to facilitate networking between female professionals and entrepreneurs will be held on the day of the awards. 

Speaking at the launch ceremony, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Country Manager Amena Arif said: “What started as a promising year for Sri Lanka has turned out to be amongst its most challenging. Now, more than ever before, it is vital to tap into the unrealised economic potential of our women to help drive the growth that Sri Lanka needs to rebuild. Participation of women in the economic recovery will make it both sustainable as well as inclusive.”

Hemas Pharmaceuticals Managing Director and Panel Chairperson Kasturi Chelleraja, explaining the judging process of the competition, said that the quality of the winner should reflect the standards of the event. 

“It means that person has to have impacted that particular industry/sector and there will also be categories which are not in the corporate sector but they should have impacted the community. There is also a category where the judges vote and suggest names of persons who have really brought Sri Lanka forward.” 

The judging panel of the ‘Top 50’ Professional and Career Women Awards Sri Lanka 2019 includes Hemas Pharmaceuticals Managing Director and Panel Chairperson Kasturi Chelleraja, IFC Country Manager Amena Arif, Clootrack Sri Lanka CEO Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, Singer Marketing Director Kumar Samarasinghe, Daily FT Editor Nisthar Cassim, HNB Director Rose Cooray and Hayleys Agriculture Managing Director Jayanthi Dharmasena.