INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021

“For me courage is not allowing unconscious biases hold you back. You need to have the courage to look within, dig deep and turn on the switch that makes you feel alive, irrespective of any invisible barriers around you. Use it to bring out the best version of yourself, and remember to always be comfortable in your own skin,”

Kasturi Chellaraja,

Group CEO,

HEMAS PLC.

“We have lived through an unprecedented pandemic. When generations after us record the plague of 2020 they may observe that women leaders handled the paradigm shift best, and that fundamental human values mattered most. We have seen changes, many that will last beyond our time, lets hope they will make us stronger and more empathetic to our planet and its inhabitants,”

Angeline Ondaatje,
Managing Director,
Tangerine Beach Hotels PLC
and Mercantile Investments
and Finance PLC.

"Healthcare workers and other first responders, including women at different levels of leadership, have been at the forefront of COVID-19. However, there are several others who have gone beyond their duty to provide a safe space for women and girls. It is no secret that lockdown measures created difficult situations for women who experience violence in their homes. Responding to this, Women’s Organizations and other service providers have been working tirelessly. These undiscovered heroes go unnoticed. Their work, unrecognized. As the lead UN agency working on sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence, UNFPA has been supporting these shelters and counselors.  This Women's Day, while we acknowledge the contributions of great women leaders, let's also shed some light on the many hardworking and committed women behind the scenes, because leadership is not about job titles or power, but the positive difference you make in people’s lives,"

Ritsu Nacken,
Representative,
UNFPA Sri Lanka.

“Don’t sit and wait till you are called to leadership! Many women miss their opportunity because they focus on their gender and not on their skills and competencies. In the same way, many men miss their opportunity to work with women because they look at her gender and not what she brings to the leadership. On this International Women’s Day we should look at ‘Leadership’ as a skill not inserting an adjective before the word ‘Leadership’. Happy International Women’s Day,”

Dr. Sulochana Segera,
Chairperson,
Women in Management.

''Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength. Every woman's success should be an inspiration to another. We're strongest when we cheer each other on,”

Ramani Fernando,
Founder and Managing Director,
Ramani Fernando Salons.

“My mantra is - be comfortable with being uncomfortable. My competition is only with myself, to be better today than I was yesterday, so my journey towards excellence involves taking incremental steps daily to be the best version of myself. My advice to all women (and men) is to believe in yourself,  stay focused on perfecting your craft, be passionate, empathetic and helpful because what goes around comes around and you must want to multiply goodness and positivism!”

Sandra De Zoysa,
Group Chief Customer Officer,
Dialog Axiata PLC.

“My advice to women is whatever you do, throw yourself into it with passion and purpose. I believe that with power comes obligation and duty, and success will be measured by the positive impact you have on the lives of others . There will be several road blocks that you will face as a woman arising from biases and discrimination but never give up or feel intimidated. I strongly believe in supporting other women and living my values, and that strength does not come from physical strength but from mental strength, fairness and empathy. Achieving excellence is through continuous learning and never ever lose that childhood curiosity!”

Aruni Gunathilake,
Director,
Sunshine Holdings PLC
and Former Head of Corporate Banking,
People’s Bank PLC.

“Women as equal partners should be loved and protected. Sexual and gender-based violence in a culture cannot be eliminated without changing culture and social power structures in society. So, let's stand strongly together to face life and live it!” 

Savithri Wijesekera,
Executive Director,
Women In Need.

“Do not let others, or the negative thoughts from the surroundings, define who you are. Do not be discouraged by failures, but embrace them as a learning. Build your own identity. Always remember success comes with hard-work and not by way of a magical pill. It’s a journey taken a step at a time with many sacrifices made. Whilst celebrating victories along the road, we must encourage and create pathways for many others also to succeed. Happy International Women’s Day!”

Tania Polonnowita Wettimuny,
Group Director,
APS Logistics,
Kerry Logistics Sri Lanka,
IAS Logistics and Vinflair Logistics. 

"I firmly believe women are better in times of uncertainty and stress. In these challenging times, we women must rise to the fore and fix this. Let us rise. Nothing or no one, be it culture, patriarchy or any construct should hold us back. We are the change-makers. We must build bridges of hope and networks of empowerment for other women. If every powerful woman enables a cohort of strong women in her wake, we can have a tsunami of change. Let’s do it. Let’s build those lifelines and those springboards,”

Shehara Parakrama De Silva,
Non-Executive Director,
Sarvodaya Development Finance
and Non-Executive Director,
Keels Food Products PLC.