HNB champions women entrepreneurs as Title Sponsor of CCWE Fashion Week

CCWE President Ayanthi Gurusinghe (centre), joined by HNB Managing Director/CEO Damith Pallewatte (fourth from left) and Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne (right), handing over the Title Sponsorship for CCWE Fashion Week

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) has been named Title Sponsor of the Ceylon Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CCWE) Fashion Week and International Summit 2026. 

Set to take place from 16 to 20 July at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, under the theme ‘Threads of Inclusion Woven from Every Walk of Life,’ it is the first fashion week in Sri Lanka and South Asia dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs. 

For the region’s women entrepreneurs, it represents a defining new platform, anchored by HNB’s commitment to financial inclusion.

HNB MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte, speaking to the significance of this partnership, said: “For over 135 years, HNB has stood as a partner in progress to all Sri Lankans, and supporting women entrepreneurs is central to how we continue that legacy. This initiative creates a platform where women can access markets, build sustainable businesses, and contribute meaningfully to national economic development. When women are empowered with the right access and support, the impact extends to families, communities, and the broader economy. Our decision to serve as Title Sponsor is driven by our commitment to enabling that access and supporting pathways for long-term growth through financial inclusion and enterprise development.”

The CCWE Fashion Week is designed as a purpose-driven national platform that positions Sri Lanka’s fashion industry as inclusive, ethical, and globally competitive. Through fashion showcases, an international summit, training programs, and trade exhibitions, it creates direct economic pathways for women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs), rural artisans, youth designers, content creators, and other communities that have historically faced limited access to mainstream commercial stages. For HNB, whose branch network and digital banking infrastructure reaches into Sri Lanka’s smallest towns, the alignment is natural and meaningful.

CCWE President and Fashion Week Chairman Dr. Ayanthi Gurusinghe welcoming the partnership said: “We are announcing a national movement that will transform the way we view women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. This platform is designed to open doors for women from every walk of life, enabling them to convert talent into enterprise, gain access to markets, and contribute meaningfully to the economy. Through this initiative, Sri Lanka has the opportunity to lead the region in building a future where inclusion meets opportunity and equality.”

Rooted in HNB’s strategic priorities of SME development, women’s entrepreneurship, microfinance outreach, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leadership, the sponsorship highlights the bank’s enduring commitment to opening doors for those who drive Sri Lanka’s economy forward. In backing this initiative, HNB reaffirms that empowering women entrepreneurs is a national investment with returns that extend well beyond business.

For HNB, Title Sponsorship of the CCWE Fashion Week is a natural extension of the bank’s 135-year legacy of backing Sri Lankan enterprise at its most formative moments. As women-led businesses gain a world-class platform to access markets, attract investment, and compete regionally, HNB’s presence ensures that financial inclusion remains the foundation beneath every opportunity the event creates. 

Sri Lanka has the talent. HNB is committed to making sure it has the runway.