Business

WIM urges for more board-chair positions for women in Sri Lanka corporate sector

Published

3 years ago

2023/01/9

Thilina Walpola

Says that no industry should be labeled on gender bias

by Sanath Nanayakkare

Having more women leaders in corporate management correlates with increased financial and non-financial performance, therefore, the current numbers of women leaders across the country’s corporate landscape should be increased by allowing more of their kind to hold board-chair positions, Women in Management (WIM) Founder & Chairperson Dr. Sulochana Segera told the Island Financial Review.

“It has been proved that when there are women involved in decision-making on corporate boards, those companies reflect favourable outcomes in their performance. Women leaders are able to make this difference because they are very accountable and ethical,” WIM chairperson said.

“Women account for 52.3% of Sri Lanka’s population. They have shown their ability to handle crisis situations with great resilience. So, their influence can have a positive impact at all levels of business, not just in decision-making and leadership roles. If the country doesn’t attract and utilize their talent, it would be wasting a human resource that makes up more than half of its population,” she said.

When asked if the Sri Lankan corporate sector has not yet made an environment conducive to tapping the fullest potential of women leadership and the contribution from women workers at all levels, she replied,” I think that a supporting environment is already in place. You can’t expect to create a perfect environment for absolute gender diversity and parity. It is just that the number of women employed in decision-making roles has to go up. Improving the work environment for women to thrive and deliver their best would be an ongoing process. It is also up to women to step forward and take up these opportunities.”She noted that just by adding a family member to a board may not help ensure the formation of a well-performing board.

Asked whether Sri Lankan women prefer to enter only women-friendly businesses such as apparel, FMCG, she said,” In fact, those sectors used to be our cottage industries and businesses. Now they are operating at a large scale, and we tend to call them ‘women-friendly’. No industry should be labeled on gender bias. It is the passion and the commitment that women bring to any industry that matters. Today there are women in the construction sector, road development sector which are thought to be male-dominant. Their numbers may not still be significant, but the numbers are growing and these women will be role-models for other women who share similar passion. It is not about intruding male-dominated sectors, but entering those sectors with passion and working with male counterparts in collaboration so that these women can advance their career prospects in high-growth sectors while playing a vital role in boosting the national economy.”

She also said that Sri Lanka needs mentors who can provide help in guiding women through the new and unprecedented challenges they confront.WIM Sri Lanka launched the Second Edition of the Women Top50 Calendar for the year 2023 featuring 12 women Icons on 4th January at the Galadari Hotel. Sara Twigg Programme Manager – Women in Work Sri Lanka International Finance Corporation- was the guest of honour at the event.

This year, WIM has featured women from diverse backgrounds like business, entrepreneurship, corporate boards, state sector, banking, Insurance, corporate careers, legal and etc.

January – Gillian Edwards, Independent Non-Executive Director, Commercial Credit and Finance PLC, February – DevikaEllepola, Head of Passenger Sales, Emirates Airline in Sri Lanka, March – Prof. Dr. Thushari Koralage, Principal/Managing Director, Asian Grammar School (Colombo/Matara), April – Julian Devika Anthony (LLB.), Barrister & Solicitor, President, WIM Canada Chapter, May – NilushiKumaradas, Head of Procurement, Coca Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd, June – Nirosha Jagodaarachchi, Chief Executive Officer, British Cosmetics (Pvt) Ltd, July – Dawn Austin, Managing Director, NIDRO Supply (Pvt) Ltd, August – Shehara de Silva, Non Exec Director, Keells Food Plc, September – Shashi Kandambi Jassim, Professional Banker, October– Keasila Jayawardana, Chairperson, National Savings Bank Plc, November -WIM Sri Lanka Team, Waruni Algama, Vijitha Samarakkodige, Summaiya Macan Markar, Dr. Himalee De Silva, Niroshini Rathnasinghe, Fazeela Dharmarathne & Dr. Nadini Wickarmasinghe, December- Manindri Dias Bandaranayake, Group Chief Brand Marketing Officer, Janashakthi Group.

WIM chairperson said that younger women will have the chance to be inspired by those featured in the calendar and find new ways to make history of their own.

All News Advertisement

Business

Ceylinco Life celebrates its ‘Unstoppable Champions’ at Annual Awards 2026

Published

19 hours ago

2026/04/19

Thilina Walpola

Ceylinco Life’s top award winners with Directors and senior management at the Company’s Annual Awards

The power of momentum was the focus when Ceylinco Life, Sri Lanka’s life insurance market leader for an unbroken 22 years, celebrated the exceptional achievements of its top-performing sales force at its Annual Awards Ceremony 2026, held at Cinnamon Life Colombo.

Bringing together more than 300 of the company’s highest achievers, the event recognised Sales Officers who attained High Flyers status, qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), or earned ‘Sales Superstar’ status in 2025, each having met rigorous performance benchmarks. In total, close to 370 awards were presented at the ceremony, which was attended by over 450 participants including the company’s Board of Directors and senior management.

Themed ‘Unstoppable Champions,’ the awards ceremony underscored the spirit of resilience, ambition and consistent excellence that defines Ceylinco Life’s sales force, positioning the awardees as drivers of the company’s sustained market leadership.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Srinivasa Rao, Managing Director – Life and Health (South Asia and South East Asia) at Munich Re, and featured an evening of scintillating entertainment with performances by Sanka Dineth, Shashika Nisansala, the Naadro Band and Prashanthini, complemented by dance acts from Muddrika Dance Studio.

Among the highlights of the evening was the presentation of two Toyota Axio motor cars to R. P. Edirisinghe and S. S. H. M. T. Laksiri in recognition of their consistent excellence in qualifying as High Flyers and MDRT members. The top honours at the awards ceremony were presented to Mr A. S. L. Fernando as Best Agency Head, H. D. Pathirana as Best Agency Supervisor, A. I. P. Manjula as Best Life Insurance Advisor, and J. Meera as Best Regional Sales Manager.

Business

Kia drives into Colombo’s skyline with landmark showroom at Altair

Published

19 hours ago

2026/04/19

Thilina Walpola

Kia Motors (Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Mahen Thambiah and Managing Director Andrew Perera at the opening of the new showroom.

Top Korean nameplate Kia has reinforced its presence in Sri Lanka with the opening of a striking new showroom at the iconic Altair high-rise in Colombo, marking a significant step in the brand’s continued expansion and customer engagement in the country.

The new facility, unveiled exclusively to media on 7th April 2026, occupies approximately 2,700 square feet of prime space at Retail 3 of the Altair development.

Strategically positioned at the entrance to the complex for maximum visibility and accessibility, the showroom places Kia at the heart of one of Colombo’s most prominent luxury residential and lifestyle destinations.

Designed in line with Kia’s global brand guidelines, the showroom presents a modern, customer-centric environment that reflects the company’s focus on innovation, quality and service excellence. The space is intended to offer an immersive retail experience, enabling customers to explore the brand’s evolving portfolio in a setting that mirrors international standards.

“The opening of this new showroom signals Kia’s renewed commitment to Colombo, strengthening its proximity to customers while enhancing convenience and accessibility for those seeking to engage with the brand,” Kia Motors Lanka Chairman Mahen Thambiah said. “It represents a key milestone in our strategy to deepen customer relationships and expand the Kia footprint across key urban locations.”

Taking centre stage at the new showroom is the all-new Kia Tasman, the brand’s first-ever double cab pickup, which makes its debut in Sri Lanka in tandem with the opening. The introduction of the Tasman underscores Kia’s drive to diversify its offering and respond to the evolving demands of customers across multiple segments.

In addition to the Tasman, visitors to the Altair showroom can experience Kia’s full range of vehicles, further enhancing the brand’s appeal to a broad spectrum of automotive enthusiasts.

Business

Nalin Sri Tikiri Bandara: forging discipline and character through martial arts

Published

19 hours ago

2026/04/19

Thilina Walpola

After nearly three decades on the mat, Sri Lankan martial arts instructor H. M. Nalin Sri Tikiri Bandara has built a career that stretches from local dojos in Kandy to international training arenas in the United Arab Emirates, shaping a growing generation of students through what he describes as “a lifelong journey of discipline and self-development.”

With more than 28 years of experience, Bandara has emerged as a prominent figure in martial arts education for children, youth and adults, particularly across Sri Lanka and the UAE, where he is currently based in Abu Dhabi.

Bandara’s martial arts journey began at a young age and has since spanned multiple disciplines, including Kyokushin Karate, Ashihara Karate, Mumonkai Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and yoga.

He holds several international dan rankings, including 3rd Dan in Kyokushin Karate (Japan), 4th Dan in Ashihara Karate (Australia), 2nd Dan in Mumonkai Karate (Japan), and 1st Dan under Josui Kai Kan Karate (Japan). Years of training camps, seminars and competitions abroad, he says, have helped refine both technical skill and teaching philosophy.

Bandara is the founder and chief instructor of Nalin Dojo, which operates across multiple locations, including a main branch in Abu Dhabi and an established centre in Kandy. He also runs expansion programmes in schools and fitness centres in the UAE.

Collectively, his programmes have trained more than 2,000 students, ranging from children as young as four to adults.

He also serves as branch chief and representative of the World Karate Alliance Kyokushin Bugakukai, and contributes to the development of full-contact karate at national level in Sri Lanka.

At the core of his teaching is a hybrid approach he calls “Yoga Martial Arts”, blending karate discipline, yoga-based mental conditioning, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu principles and sports science.

The focus, he says, extends beyond physical combat to character formation, emphasising discipline, respect, confidence-building and mental resilience.

“Martial arts is not just about fighting, it is about building better human beings,” Bandara said.

Much of his work is directed at children and adolescents, particularly in an era he describes as increasingly dominated by digital distractions.

He argues that structured martial arts training can reduce screen dependency, improve concentration, and strengthen emotional stability, while promoting healthier lifestyles.

“Children’s future is the future of the community,” he said, underscoring his belief that early discipline shapes long-term social outcomes.

Beyond regular training, Bandara organises grading examinations, workshops, school programmes and community fitness initiatives in both Sri Lanka and the UAE.

He has continued such activities even during periods of global disruption, maintaining regular engagement with students and instructors.

Looking ahead, Bandara plans to expand his dojo network across the UAE and internationally, while developing structured youth development programmes and training future instructors.

His long-term ambition is to build a sustainable martial arts ecosystem that integrates physical excellence with character education.

In a career defined by discipline and continuity, Bandara represents a generation of martial arts instructors blending traditional combat systems with modern wellness principles — and, in the process, attempting to shape not just fighters, but future citizens.

by SK Samaranayake