Menaca to receive recognition at career women global awards

She has been slated for honours in the ‘Excellence in Strategic Leadership in Humanitarian Work’ category

Calyaneratne was selected to be among the award winners after the judging panel scrutinised nominations from 260 candidates from 29 countries

Humanitarian worker Menaca Calyaneratne has been listed for honours at the ‘Top 50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards’ for the year 2024. The event will be held in Malaysia on November 7.

Calyaneratne was selected to be among the award winners after the judging panel scrutinised nominations from 260 candidates from 29 countries. She is the only Sri Lankan to be honoured this year at the 14th edition of the ‘Top 50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards’. The event is organised by ‘Women in Management’ and will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in the city of Kuala Lumpur. 

All nominations were processed through 5 rounds of rigorous judging.

“Having served the humanitarian sector for 25 years, I am grateful for this recognition. It is an honour not just for me, but for Sri Lanka and Save the Children; both of which I represent with great pride,” an elated Calyaneratne told Daily Mirror. She has been slated for honours in the ‘Excellence in Strategic Leadership in Humanitarian Work’ category. 

In a communique issued to Calyaneratne, the organiser of the event has this to say, “This recognition highlights your outstanding contribution to the field, and we are thrilled to celebrate your achievements on a global platform”. 

What’s interesting about the trophy that she’ll receive at the awards ceremony is that it has been turned out from dolomite crushed stone and handcrafted in Polonnaruwa; the second-oldest kingdom of Sri Lanka. The communique issued by the organiser of the event further states that ‘The Top50 Trophy is a registered trademark of Women in Management, symbolising the legacy and excellence of our award winners’. 

As a recipient of the award, Calyaneratne gets the opportunity to attend the awards ceremony and also a 2-Day Global Leadership Conference, in Malaysia.

Cayaneratne holds a BA in English from the University of Colombo and an MA from the Madurai Kamraj University of India. 

She is also the author of a collection of poems titled ‘A fistful of stars’ which she published in 2019 at the ‘A Compass of Peace International Exhibition’ in Canada.