CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 to debut in July

• Over 400 women entrepreneurs from all nine provinces expected to participate 
• Announce South Asian Women Leaders Awards 2026 and training and capacity-building sessions supported by United Nations regional agencies
• HNB to serve as ‘Title Sponsor’
• International models, designers and celebrity personalities expected to participate
• South Asian Trade Show focused on export link and regional market access
• Initiative expected to expand regional reach across South Asia in coming years 

By Safna Malik 

The Ceylon Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CCWE), in partnership with Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), will host South Asia’s first fashion week dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs alongside an international summit from 16 to 19 July 2026 at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams.

The CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 will be held under the theme “Threads of Inclusion Woven Every Walk of Life” and is expected to bring together over 400 women entrepreneurs from all nine provinces, alongside designers, SMEs, investors, development agencies, policymakers and regional stakeholders.

HNB will serve as ‘Title Sponsor’, while the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia (ESCAP-SSWA) will act as ‘Knowledge Partner’.

The program is positioned as a multi-sector platform focused on entrepreneurship, policy advocacy, training, trade facilitation and regional integration, aimed at strengthening market access, financial inclusion and export opportunities for women-led enterprises.

CCWE President and Fashion Week Chairperson Dr. Ayanthi Gurusinghe said the initiative reflects a broader national effort to transform the way women entrepreneurs are recognised and supported within Sri Lanka’s economic landscape.

She said CCWE currently functions as a consortium of chambers operating across all nine provinces with a membership base of nearly 10,000 entrepreneurs whilst maintaining regional affiliation with the South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF). The Chamber remains the only women-focused chamber in Sri Lanka with both national representation and formal South Asian regional engagement, with work focused on strengthening women’s economic participation, regional partnerships and policy advocacy.

Dr. Gurusinghe also highlighted the Chamber’s involvement in the French Government-supported FAME project, which currently supports 1000 of women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka whilst working towards identifying policy gaps and structural reforms required to strengthen women-led enterprise development in the country.

“We are now stepping into a new initiative, CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026. This is more than an event; it is a national movement that will transform the way we view women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka,” she said.

Many women entrepreneurs from rural, urban and emerging sectors continue to face limited visibility despite strong creative and commercial potential. The initiative is designed to convert talent into enterprise, expand access to markets, strengthen regional partnerships and improve contribution to national economic growth, she added. 

The four-day program will commence on 16 July with an inaugural session bringing together between 400 and 500 women entrepreneurs from all nine provinces alongside designers and private sector stakeholders.

The opening day will focus on networking and ecosystem engagement, along with showcasing women-led enterprises across multiple sectors. The second day will feature the International Summit and South Asian Women Leaders Awards 2026, focusing on entrepreneurship in the fashion sector, regional integration and policy-level engagement on challenges faced by women-led enterprises.

Discussions will include access to finance, trade barriers, digital transformation and regulatory frameworks shaping women entrepreneurs across South Asia. The third day will include training and capacity-building sessions supported by United Nations regional agencies. These will focus on export readiness, branding, digital skills and enterprise development for women-led businesses.

Dr. Gurusinghe noted that the runway segment will not be limited to professional models, with community participants also expected to be trained and featured as part of the showcase in line with the summit’s broader inclusion-focused approach.

She also noted that the CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 is expected to feature international participants, established industry figures, top models and celebrity personalities, contributing towards positioning the program as a stronger regional platform for women entrepreneurship and creative industries.

The final day will feature a Grand Finale fashion showcase with Sri Lankan and South Asian designers. South Asian Trade Show aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs in promoting products, strengthening regional business connections and exploring export opportunities across South Asian markets.

HNB Managing Director/CEO Damith Pallewatte described the initiative as part of a broader long-term journey rather than a standalone event. “This is not just a single event that HNB is joining; it is a continuation of a wonderful journey,” he said, noting that the program reflects a wider ecosystem connecting entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and community development.

Pallewatte stated that HNB currently serves nearly quarter million SME and microfinance enterprises across the country, with approximately 40% of those businesses led by women entrepreneurs.

He observed that the bank’s engagement with grassroots entrepreneurship extends beyond conventional financing and includes financial literacy, market access facilitation, digital connectivity and capability development initiatives. “When we reach out through our 257 branch offices across every district and province, our conversation never starts with a loan or an overdraft. It starts with finding out the dream the entrepreneur has,” he said.

He said financial support must be complemented by stronger policy frameworks and institutional support mechanisms for sustainable SME development.

SAWDF President Premila Acharya extended regional support via online by stating, “The CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026 is a landmark initiative that reflects the strength and potential of women entrepreneurs across our region. It is inspiring to see Sri Lanka take the lead in creating a platform where inclusion, opportunity, and equality come together. SAWDF is proud to stand in partnership with CCWE in empowering women through collaboration and shared progress.”

ESCAP-SSWA Head and Director Mikiko Tanaka, in a written statement, noted that the organisation was pleased to support the initiative as Knowledge Partner, highlighting the importance of improving women entrepreneurs’ access to markets, finance and digital networks whilst strengthening regional connectivity for women-led enterprises.

South Asian Women Leadership Awards 2026 Chairperson Asha Jayamana said the South Asian Women Leadership Summit and Business Excellence Awards platform, initiated in 2016, had not previously partnered with another organisation prior to joining hands with the CCWE initiative.

She noted that following discussions and a review of the proposal presented by Dr. Gurusinghe, the organisation decided to collaborate with CCWE, bringing with it nearly a decade of regional experience towards strengthening the international dimension of the summit.

Jayamana added that the South Asian Women Leadership Summit and Business Excellence Awards would function as the first international division under the CCWE platform, whilst expressing confidence that the initiative could eventually expand into other countries within the South Asian region in the coming years.

The launch was attended by SAWDF Sri Lanka Vice President Shirley Jayawardena, Fems General Manager Marketing (Feminine Hygiene and Oral Care) Sachini Gamage, Cinnamon Hotels Head of Commercial Victoria Fuh, choreographer Gihan Dassanayake, designers Charini Suriyage and Kamil Hewavitharana, and Naturals Salon Chairperson Hasini Gunesekara. 

Representatives from all nine provinces also participated during the launch event, describing the summit as an opportunity to strengthen exposure, recognition and regional connectivity for women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka.Tokens of appreciation were exchanged between CCWE and partners as a gesture recognising their collaboration in supporting the initiative. 

- Pic by Upul Abayasekara