Inspiring female professionals in Sri Lanka and Maldives came under the spotlight this week at the ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards 2021 where they were honoured for contributing to their respective fields.

The event was hosted by Women in Management (WIM) in collaboration with Women in Work, a partnership between IFC and the government
of Australia. 

The 11th edition of the awards that was held on January 18 celebrated women representing a wide array of professions from industries including hospitality, banking and finance, logistics and supply chains, entrepreneurship, and media and law, among others, for excellence in either their chosen careers or for inspiring women in their community.

The event also lauded Sri Lankan corporates that have supported the growth and empowerment of women in the workplace.

“The 2021 awards are a celebration of resilience, optimism, hard work and growth. As we step into a third year of a pandemic, this year’s winners remind us of the possibilities and opportunities that can exist in adversity,” said Women in Management (WIM) Founder/Chairperson Dr. Sulochana Segera.

“They also remind us of the extraordinary potential women in Sri Lanka and the Maldives are capable of, especially in challenging the status-quo for greater good,” she added while addressing the
awards ceremony.

Top awards were conferred to Dr. Maheshi Ramasamy (Inspirational Professional Woman of the Year), Prof. Nadira Karunaweera (Inspirational Woman of the Year), Aruni Goonetilleke (Trail Blazer), Randhula De Silva (Game Changer of the Year) and Dr. Vajira Chithrasena
(Judges Award).

With over 470 past award winners, the ‘Top50’ Professional and Career Women Awards aim to showcase the significant role women play as leaders, employees, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders in contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in
the country.

The event was also addressed by IFC Sri Lanka and Maldives Acting Country Manager Victor Antonypillai,  Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Maldives David Holly, and John Keells Holding Head of Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Social Responsibility
Nadija Tambiah.

The ‘Top 50’ Professional and Career Women Awards 2021 were powered by Dialog, along with Gold Sponsors Salota International and Singer. Silver sponsors for the awards included Lanka IOC, Unilever, Vision Care and Aitken Spence. Maliban and Sampath Bank were also sponsors of the event, and the gifting Partner for the award ceremony was New Vivya.

This year’s Judging Panel—chaired by Nadija Tambiah—included Jayanthi Dharmasena, Managing Director of Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd; Kishu Gomes, Group MD/CEO of Dreamron Group of Companies; Nisthar Cassim, Founding Editor of Daily FT; Rohantha Athukorala, CEO of Clootrack Sri Lanka/Maldives & Pakistan; Sandra De Zoysa, Group Chief Customer Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC; Sandya Salgado, Strategic Marketing Professional; Santosh Menon, CEO of KL.LK; Amanda Jewell, Acting Australian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka; and Sarah Twigg, Programme Manager for Women in Work at IFC.