In honor of International Women's Day observed globally on the 8th of March each year, The All Ceylon Muslim Women's Association (ACMWA) has unveiled plans for a Biennial Awards  Ceremony scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at the Lotus Ballroom, Shangri La, Colombo.

This strategic timing aligns with the celebration of the All Ceylon Muslim Women's Association's 71st Anniversary. The Association has dedicated this event to spotlight the remarkable                      accomplishments of Muslim women, encompassing the Malay, Borah, and Memon communities in Sri Lanka. The prestigious IMRA Awards for Excellence has been instituted to acknowledge and honor these high-achieving individuals, and organizers are diligently working to ensure the success of this initiative within the given timeframe.

The term ‘IMRA’ in Arabic encapsulates qualities such as power, growth orientation, strength, vision, adventure, love for freedom, spirituality, energy, curiosity, and magnetism. This comprehensive representation makes the name apt for these distinguished awards.

The primary objective of this event is to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Muslim women who have served as inspirations and contributors to the community at large. By introducing a   Biennial Awards Ceremony, the ACMWA aims to raise awareness by showcasing the exceptional achievements of women who have demonstrated a remarkable drive to enhance their communities. The proposed categories for recognition include:

Professional Excellence Awards:

1. Law & Advocacy

2. Healthcare

3. Banking & Finance

4. Education

5. Media, including Print & Digital

6. Hospitality & Tourism

7. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) – designed to attract the younger generation.

• Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards
• Environment & Social Impact Excellence Award
• Art & Culture Excellence Award
• Two Lifetime Achievement Awards for Women of Other Communities

This event also serves as a platform to raise funds for the Denara Vocational Training Institute, a subsidiary of ACMWA. These funds will be directed towards providing scholarships for                    underprivileged young Muslim women attending classes at the center. A portion of the proceeds will be allocated to a Trust Fund for the continued celebration of the Biennial Awards night honoring Women of Achievement.

The organizers are privileged to have Dr. Deshamanya Radhika Coomaraswamy, the former Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Special Representative for Children in armed conflict, as the Keynote Speaker at the event. The adjudication process for the awards will be overseen by the Knowledge Partner, KPMG Sri Lanka.

Nominations are currently open, and interested individuals can submit their applications through the provided link: https://forms.gle/smMk5dwZNW78CAsm6 and https://forms.gle/smMk5dwZNW78CAsm6

Supporting documents should include a brief bio of the nominee, a synopsis (within 500 words) explaining why the nominee deserves the award, and details of accolades and awards received throughout their career.

The closing date for submissions is January 15, 2024. Applications can be sent to the Denara Training Institute, C/O The All Ceylon Muslim Women’s Association, 191/50, Mangala Gardens, Colombo 5.

For inquiries, please contact Bushra at +011 250 5646 or 077 853 9890, or via email at:                        [email protected]. Additional information can be found on the website: www.denaratraininginstitute.com and www.denaratraininginstitute.com