Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the year 2010 gathers momentum

Several industry giants pledge support for the event

By Melinda David

The Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year Awards recognised as Sri Lanka’s highest national honour to the business community, a grandeur and prestigious award unparalleled to any other national awards scheme is been held for the 15th consecutive year, organized by the Federation of chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL).

“Entrepreneurs are the cornerstones of a vibrant and booming economy. Their unique blend of skills needs to be recognised, rewarded and nurtured for socio economic advancement and contribution towards the national economy,” FCCISL President Kosala Wickramanayake said.

He said FCCISL in association with its 56 member chambers and associations is staging the event as a tribute to the country’s outstanding entrepreneurs both at provincial and national level.

“The event was launched on 20 September and FCCISL has been successful in attracting all business sectors - agriculture, services, industry and trading encompassing all 25 Districts in the nine provinces, complimented through an extensive island wide publicity campaign,” Wickramanayake added.

The programme received a tremendous “boost” when MTV/MBC, the country’s most popular radio and TV station, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd currently enjoying the widest circulation in the country’ HNB Assurance the fastest growing insurance company in the island and Bates Strategic Alliance the advertising agency with innovative ideas and themes extending their support and expertise towards the program by becoming its exclusive “Electronic Media partner” “Print Media Partner” “Partner of Young Entrepreneur” category and “Creative Partner” respectively. These “partners” will be involved in aspects related to the event, both provincially and at the grand finale’ the national show.

FCCISL said it has been successful in attracting these well-known corporates owing to the credibility the event has earned over the years, especially for its independent processes of judging by professionals and experts, representing diverse disciplines nominated from state and private sector institutions of the country, covering different aspects of the program.

Negotiations are underway with several more corporates who have shown a keen interest in contributing towards the event, especially the Women Entrepreneur category.

FCCISL has been successful in attracting all business sectors - agriculture, services, industry and trading encompassing all 25 Districts in the nine provinces, complimented through an extensive island wide publicity campaign.

Regional awards will be kicked off with Northern and Eastern Province on December 3rd in Vavuniya followed by North Central and North Western Province on December 4 in Polonnaruwa, Central Province on 8 December in Nuwara Eliya, Uva and Sabaragamuwa province on 9 December at Ratnapura, Southern Province on 10 December in Hambantota. Western Province and national awards ceremony will be held on 22 December in Colombo.

Application Forms for the event are available until 30 October at the FCCISL Secretariat located at Vauxhall Lane Colombo 2, Chamber Secretariats of regional/district chambers or could be downloaded from www.fccisl.lk / www.entrepreneur.fccisl.lk.