Business

Leading professionals to judge ‘Top50 Professional and Career Women Awards 2021’

Published

4 years ago

2021/11/3

Nadija Tambiah, Chair of Judges Panel

The highly anticipated annual ‘Top50 Professional and Career Women Awards 2021’, has received an outpouring of applications since it opened for entries in September. The 11th edition of the Awards that champions gender equality and recognizes leading women professionals, has assigned to its judging panel a line-up of formidable forces in the workplace.

Initiated in 2010 by Women in Management (WIM), the ‘Top50 Professional and Career Women Awards’ is now supported by Women in Work –a partnership between the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the government of Australia. The Awards aim to identify and honor the trailblazing achievements of women and women-led organizations in Sri Lanka. With a new bar being set every year, the task of evaluating the strong line up of applicants becomes an increasingly difficult feat.

The event will serve as a forum to recognize women who have distinguished themselves by providing leadership and inspiration for women of diverse backgrounds hoping to make their own impact in their respective fields. Reflective of the caliber of the awards and the challenging responsibility ahead, the judges for this year’s competition make-up an illustrious panel of industry titans and experts – all committed to the role of ensuring that the judging process is free, fair, and truly represents each recipient’s achievements.

The 2021 judging panel will be chaired by Nadija Tambiah, Head of Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Social Responsibility at John Keells Holdings, and includes Jayanthi Dharmasena, Managing Director of Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd; Dr. Kishu Gomes, Group MD/CEO of Dreamron Group of Companies; Nisthar Cassim, Founding Editor and CEO of Daily FT; Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, Country Head of Clootrack Labs – 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, Program Manager for Women in Work at IFC.

“The WIM Top50 Awards programme has been a unique and critical catalyst for the recognition and motivation of female talent in Sri Lanka, and I am honored to be chairing the distinguished judging panel this year,” commented Nadija Tambiah, Head of Legal, Secretarial and CSR at John Keells Holdings PLC and Chair of the 2021 judging panel.

“With every year, the selection process becomes increasingly challenging,” admitted Dr. Rohantha Athukorala Country Head of Clootrack Labs – Sri Lanka, Maldives & Pakistan. “We are aware that professional astuteness and leadership can be found in the unlikeliest of places, and so, we encourage applicants from all over the country and from every social sphere to nominate candidates they feel fit the bill.”

Research has proven that the pandemic has had a disproportionate negative effect on women in the workplace as compared with their male counterparts. This year’s ceremony –aptly themed ‘Empowered Women for a Resilient Future’- will be a measure of candidates’ endurance in leadership over career success and trajectory.

“This year we will be looking out for a new benchmark in female leadership and business performance,” said Dr. Kishu Gomes, Group CEO Dreamron Group of Companies on the new standards of the Awards. “The Top50 winners of 2021 will be those who have been able to successfully weather the turbulence of the new normal and truly take the country forward.”

“As the Top50 Awards Chair for 2021 and as a past awardee myself, I am honored to have been selected to lead the WIM Top50 Awards Committee,” added Amali Mudunkotuwa Mendis, Top50 Awards Committee Chair. “I am certain that this year will be unique, as it won’t be just leaders we are selecting, but resilient leaders.”

While the Awards will shine the limelight on high-achieving Sri Lankan women, its long-term goal has always been to encourage greater efforts by companies and businesses to promote practices, programs and actions to create more gender-inclusive business cultures that embrace gender equality and women’s empowerment.

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Business

Sri Lanka secures IMF staff-level deal for USD 700 million tranche

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund to secure the next tranche of funding under its ongoing bailout programme, marking a key step in the country’s fragile economic recovery.

The agreement, announced this week, will enable Sri Lanka to access approximately USD 700 million, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board. The funds form part of the USD 2.9 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme agreed following the 2022 economic crisis.

The latest development covers the combined fifth and sixth reviews of Sri Lanka’s reform programme, indicating that the country has made sufficient progress to move forward, while highlighting the need to sustain reform efforts.

Sri Lanka’s economy has shown signs of stabilisation in recent months, supported by improved revenue collection, easing inflation, and a gradual buildup of foreign reserves. However, the recovery remains vulnerable to both domestic and external pressures.

By Ifham Nizam

Business

Israeli attack on Lebanon triggers local stock market volatility

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Initially CSE trading was somewhat volatile despite the ceasefire in West Asia but it experienced further volatility after Israel attacked Lebanon yesterday.

However, the IMF delegation which is now in Sri Lanka to release two tranches of its relief package created some positive sentiments for the market, analysts said.

The All Share Price Index went down by 73.06 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 10.57 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 2.96 billion with six crossings. Those crossings were: JKH 5.5 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 807.6 million and its shares traded at Rs 19.70, CIC Holdings two million shares crossed for Rs 54 million; its shares traded at Rs 32, Access Engineering 600,000 shares crossed for Rs 44.4 million; its shares traded at Rs 74, Central Finance 116,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 27.5 million ; its shares sold at Rs 237, LMF 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 22.8 million; its shares fetched Rs 91.10 and Kelani Cables 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 21 million and its shares traded at Rs 105.

In the retail market seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Dialog Rs237 million (7.5 million shares traded), LMF Rs 203 million (22 million shares traded), Colombo Dockyard Rs 199.7 million (1.1 million shares traded), HBA Foods Rs 163 million (18.5 million shares traded), JKH Rs 156 million (7.8 million shares traded), JKH Rs 156 million (7.8 million shares traded), Softlogic Holdings Rs 117 million (9.6 million shares traded) and Acme Printers Rs 107 million (15.6 million shares traded). During the day 133.3 million share volumes changed hands in 23666 transactions.

It is said that manufacturing sector counters, like JKH, performed well, while food sector counters, especially LMF and HBA Foods, performed well. Other sectors too performed somewhat well during the day.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted a Rs 315.42/48 to the US dollar in the spot market from 315.30/40 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were quoted higher.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

Business

HNB Assurance marks 25 years with strategic transformation to ‘HNB Life’

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Highlights from the new brand reveal as HNB Assurance transforms into HNB Life

Marking 25 years of trust, growth, and service excellence, HNB Assurance PLC has unveiled its new corporate identity, transitioning to HNB Life PLC a strategic evolution that reflects the company’s forward-looking vision and commitment to empowering lives with protection and the freedom to thrive, no matter where life takes them.

This milestone signifies more than a change in name or visual identity. It represents a deliberate transformation shaped by strong performance over the past few years, during which the company has achieved remarkable growth, strengthened its market position and enhanced its customer-centric capabilities.

The newly introduced logo, inspired by the form of a wing, symbolises HNB Life’s role as a proactive enabler. It reflects the organisation’s commitment to supporting individuals in navigating life’s journey with confidence, empowering them to pursue their aspirations and live life on their own terms.

The official unveiling took place at a launch event attended by key stakeholders, strategic business partners, well-wishers and employees.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman, Stuart Chapman highlighted the significance of this transformation, stating, “As we mark 25 years of progress, the transition to HNB Life reflects our strategic intent to evolve with the changing needs of our customers and the broader market. This new identity embodies our purpose, to enable and empower individuals to achieve what they truly aspire to in life, with confidence and security. As a company we are extremely excited on what the future holds for as, as we build on an incredible foundation laid over the past two and a half decades.”

The new Vision of the Company is “To be the leader in empowering lives with protection and freedom to thrive, no matter where life takes them”.