WCIC felicitates Founder Members and Past Chairpersons in honour of 40th anniversary milestone

Friday, 9 May 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

WCIC Chairperson Gayani De Alwis

The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC), Sri Lanka’s pioneering chamber for women in business, launched its 40th anniversary celebrations on 28 February with a poignant and proud felicitation ceremony honouring the Founder Members and Past Chairpersons whose vision and leadership laid the foundation for the Chamber’s remarkable journey.

Established in 1985 by a dynamic group of women leaders, WCIC has grown over the past four decades to become a key force in empowering women entrepreneurs and advancing the role of women in Sri Lanka’s economy. The felicitation ceremony began a year-long celebration to honour the organisation’s impactful legacy and its continued mission of supporting women in business.

The event celebrated the foresight of the Founder Members, many of whom are no longer with us, and recognised the steadfast contributions of the Past Chairpersons, whose guidance has shaped WCIC’s evolution as the world’s first women-only trade chamber.

WCIC Chairperson Gayani De Alwis noted in her speech, “This occasion is a heartfelt tribute to the pioneering women who dared to dream and built the foundation on which WCIC stands today. Their courage, commitment, and foresight paved the way for generations of women entrepreneurs and business leaders.”

The Chamber acknowledged the leadership and dedication of the following Founder Members:

Late Chloe de Soysa

Late Beulah Moonasinghe

Late Karuna de Silva

Late Lakshmi de S Wijeyaratne

Late Carmel Goonathilleke

Late Maya Senanayake

Late Priyani Tennekoon

Late Nirmala de Mel

Ranjani Manuelpillai

Lakshmi Godamunne Perera

And honoured the Past Chairpersons, whose years of service steered the Chamber through critical periods of growth and development:

1985 - 1987 - Late Chloe De Soysa

1987 - 1989 - Late Beulah Moonasinghe

1989 – 1991 -Late Nirmala de Mel

1991 – 1992 - Late Maya Senanayake

1992 – 1993 - Ranee Ratnayake

1993 – 1994 - Manel Thirimavithane

1994 – 1995 - Suriyakanthi Mellawa

1995 – 1996 - Janaki Gunawardena

1996 – 1998 - Sita Yahampath

1998 – 2001 - Yvette De Silva

2001 – 2002 - Daya Jayaratne

2002 – 2005 - Indira Kulatilake

2005 – 2006 - Rezani Aziz

2006 – 2009 - Ramya Weerakoon

2009 – 2012 - Vidyani Hettigoda

2012 – 2014 - Saroshi Dubash

2014 – 2017 - Rifa Musthapha

2017 – 2020 - Chathuri Ranasinghe

2020 – 2021- Indrani Fernando

2021 – 2024 - Anoji de Silva

Over 40 years, WCIC has emerged as a national platform for women in business, providing critical support through capacity building, networking, policy advocacy, mentorship and recognition of entrepreneurial excellence — particularly through initiatives like the Women Entrepreneur Awards.

As WCIC enters its next chapter, it continues to be driven by the same founding spirit — to elevate women entrepreneurs into the mainstream of economic activity and national

development.

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