Rotarian Gowri awarded International Leadership Award 2017

Rotarian Gowri Rajan awarded the ‘International Leadership for Women’ by World Bank Country Director Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough while also present is Maldivian Ambassador Zaheera Zarik at Taj Samudra Hotel

One of the top Rotarians globally and outstanding business personality Gowri Rajan from Kandy was selected for the coveted ‘International Leadership’ award by the World Bank entity IFC partnered by Women In Management at the ‘Top 50 Professional and career women awards 2017’ at Taj Samudra Hotel by the Chief Guest Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, World Bank Country Director – Sri Lanka and Maldives in the presence of members of Parliament, opposition leader R. Sambanthan, Minister for State Resources and Petroleum Dr. Anoma Gamage, Minister Foreign Employment Bureau Thalatha Athukorala, State Minister for Water Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle and Ambassador Republic of Maldives Zaheera Zarik. 

The award comes at the backdrop of Gowri Rajan being selected as a Top 150 Rotarian globally of the 1.2 million membership and the first time a Sri Lankan woman has been awarded this recognition for the country. When Daily FT contacted Rajan she commented, “Serving people is not about the recognition that one gets. I was surprised but humbled when it was announced at the last Rotary annual conference; however I will not take it as a personal win as in Rotary all the projects we do are team driven and supported by many people. 

Hailing from a respected business family who owns the market leader Soorya brand in Sri Lanka and being an Executive Director at Sunmatch Company which is one of the most aggressive businesses to be in a country, asked how she balances being a business woman and Rotarian which is essentially humanitarian driven voiced, “They both complement each other. Our priorities must be clear. It’s family, business and then Rotary. Rotary life is about serving people in the life’s choice you make on the profession you select. There is no point just working and living for yourself but it is important to give back to the country where the community can benefit. The good you do always comes back to you. Rotary is a platform where you combine friendship with commerce and cause, network with leaders in their professions from diverse cultures.   

Commenting on gender equality Rajan accepted that Sri Lanka was trailing as at global level we have 21% gender diversity in the Rotary world whilst in Sri Lanka it stands at 12% - in the last few there is definitely an increase however by Rotary world standard we are still low. Every year we do find an increase in women joining Rotary but the increase is not enough to meet the goal of the organisation where Rotary likes to have equal representation of men and women. But a point to note is that Sri Lanka as a nation is a ‘giving nation’. We are I think ranked one of the top 10 nations in the giving index. The latest floods, we saw in practice how the community helped the families affected by the floods irrespective of their backgrounds. What we are advocating is that by joining Rotary you become part of the 1.2 million people globally trying to do good to make the world a better place.