Business
MAS pays tribute to the courage and excellence of its female changemakers
Recognises 77 female associates at 14th MAS ‘Abhimani – Empowered Woman of the Year Awards’
MAS Holdings paid tribute to the exceptional contributions of its female employees across multiple countries, recognising their inspirational performances in achieving excellence within the organization and in their communities, at the company’s 14th edition of the MAS ‘Abhimani – Empowered Woman of the Year Awards.’
The awards, held under the theme ‘pride of our nation’ at the BMICH on 21st February, 2022, honoured 77 female associates from all work levels of the company, selected from among more than 500 applicants, across 40 locations and 5 countries. The awards recognised and celebrated strength in diverse aspects among these female changemakers, including contributions relating to entrepreneurship, innovation, community service and sustainability, professional competencies and leadership.
Under ‘Empowered Woman of the year’ 44 awards were presented at the event while 6 special awards were also given, relating to exemplary performance in entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability. 13 award winners were recognised under the ‘Frontier Challenge’ while 14 recipients were honoured with ‘Leadership Awards’. Chamari Athapaththu, the Captain of the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team, was the Chief Guest at the ceremony held this year, which recognised winners for 2020 and 2021.
The ‘MAS Abhimani Awards’ presented since 2004, is part of the company’s concerted initiatives to achieve and promote gender equality and empower all women and girls, within and outside the organisation. The awards recognise the importance of celebrating, profiling and sharing the success stories of female changemakers who serve as inspirational role models for all women and men, by breaking stereotypes and achieving the supposedly impossible. The awards are part of MAS’ ‘Women Go Beyond’ programme launched in 2003, which aligns with the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
More than 70% of MAS’ 115,000 associates at present across 15 countries are female.
“We take pride in the remarkable achievements of these women who drive forward the apparel industry and in turn our economies; women who are contributing towards positive change for all women in their communities by challenging outdated ideas and norms,” said Thanuja Jayawardene, Head of Women Go Beyond and General Manager of Women’s Empowerment and Advocacy at MAS. “MAS remains fully committed to the long journey towards achieving gender equality.”
The Women Go Beyond programme of MAS seeks to make a difference in the lives of their female associates, while also impacting their families and communities, by empowering women in their workplace and at home. Through the programme, MAS challenged the accepted norm for employment, generating a paradigm shift in a profession that was previously looked down upon. The initiative looks to counter stereotypical attitudes by celebrating the work of the thousands of skilled, intelligent and passionate women who contribute to the nation’s economy, while celebrating their successes in life.
Through the programme, in 2020, MAS created nearly 220,000 ‘opportunities’ that positively impacted the lives of their female associates, through more than 730 programmes, across all geographies that the company operates in. This included more than 45,000 opportunities in career advancement, more than 13,500 in skill development including entrepreneurship development, more than 93,000 in women’s health, more than 11,500 in creating role models and more than 55,000 opportunities in preventing gender-based violence.
Sri Lanka’s decision to invest Rs. 2.5 billion in restoring the heavily polluted Beira Lake marks one of the most significant urban environmental interventions in recent years, underscoring a growing recognition that ecological rehabilitation is also an economic imperative.
The multi-pronged project—covering the closure of illegal sewage discharge points, large-scale dredging, and the installation of aeration systems—is expected to not only revive aquatic life but also unlock commercial, tourism and real estate value in the heart of Colombo.
Officials say the initiative is designed to transform Beira Lake from a long-neglected liability into a productive urban asset.
A senior official from the Ministry of Environment told The Island Financial Review that untreated wastewater and illegal sewer connections had been the primary contributors to the lake’s degradation for decades. “Closing these illegal sewage points is the most critical intervention. Without that, any dredging or aeration would only offer temporary relief, the official said, adding that enforcement will be carried out in coordination with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and other regulatory agencies.
From a business perspective, the clean-up is being viewed as a catalyst for urban regeneration. Urban Development Authority (UDA) sources noted that a healthier Beira Lake would significantly enhance the attractiveness of surrounding commercial developments, hospitality projects and public spaces. “Environmental remediation directly impacts land values and investor confidence. A clean, living lake changes the entire economic profile of the area, an UDA official said.
The dredging component of the project is aimed at removing decades of accumulated sludge, which has reduced water depth and contributed to foul odours and fish die-offs. According to officials involved in project planning, the dredged material will be disposed of following environmental guidelines to avoid secondary pollution risks—an issue that has undermined similar efforts in the past.
Meanwhile, the installation of modern aerators is expected to improve dissolved oxygen levels, a key requirement for sustaining fish and other aquatic organisms. “Restoring aquatic life is not just about biodiversity; it is about creating a water body that can safely support recreational activities and public engagement, a senior CMC engineer explained.
Economists point out that the Rs. 2.5 billion allocation, while substantial, should be seen against the long-term cost savings and revenue potential. Reduced public health risks, lower water treatment costs downstream, increased tourism activity and higher commercial footfall could deliver returns that far exceed the initial outlay.
By Ifham Nizam
CSE activities kicked off on a negative note initially but later experienced some recovery yesterday because most investors were anticipating positive third quarter result shortly, market analysts said.
Amid those developments, the market indicated mixed reactions. The All Share Price Index went down by 4.13 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 14.02 points. Turnover stood at Rs 5.17 billion with 11 crossings.
Top seven crossings were reported in Renuka Holdings where eight million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 324 million; its shares traded at Rs 40.50, Tokyo Cement one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 113 million; its shares traded at Rs 113, Distilleries 1.85 million shares crossed for Rs 111 million; its shares traded at Rs 60, ACL Cables 500,000 shares crossed for Rs 51.5 million, its shares sold at Rs 103 Chevron Lubricants 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 47.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 190, Ambeon Capital 738600 shares crossed at Rs 40.50 each and Melstacope 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 27 million; its shares traded at Rs 180.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Colombo Dockyard Rs 1.26 billion (12 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 348 million (3.3 million shares traded), HNB (Non-Voting) Rs 152 million (425,000 shares traded), Hayleys Rs 109 million (507,000 shares traded), Tokyo Cement (Non-Voting) Rs 94 million (989,000 shares traded) Lanka Realty Investments Rs 80 million (1.6 million shares traded) and Sampath Bank Rs 77 million (498,000 shares traded). During the day 135 million share volumes changed hands in 38398 transactions.
It is said that manufacturing sector counters, especially Tokyo Cement and ACL Cables, performed well. Further, Colombo Dockyard became the most preferred share for investors. The Banking sector also performed well.
Browns Beach Hotels said that the company will delist from the CSE, having made arrangements with majority shareholders Melstacope and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings to buy back shares from minority shareholders at an exit offer price of Rs 30.
Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 309.75/85 to the US dollar in the spot market, from Rs 309.72/77 the previous day, having depreciated in recent weeks, dealers said, while bond yields were down.
A bond maturing on 15.05.2026 was quoted at 8.25/35 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 9.00/10 percent, down from 9.05/10 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.65/70 percent, up from 9.65/69 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.03.2030 was quoted at 9.72/75 percent, from 9.70/76 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.95/10.00 percent, down from 10.00/10 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted at 10.30/50 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 10.72/75 percent, down from 10.70/80 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 closed at 11.05/10 percent, down from 11.07/11 percent.
The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar were 306.2500 buying, 313.2500 selling; the British pound was 409.9898 buying, and 421.3080 selling, and the euro was 354.1773 buying, 365.5655 selling.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
Ceylon Theatres Limited, in partnership with British Council, is proud to present the first ever screening of National Theatre (NT) Live’s Hamlet starring Hiran Abeysekara in Asia. The first screening will happen at Regal Cinema in Dematagoda (Colombo 9) at 5:30 pm on Sunday, 25 January. Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera stars in the title role—the first Asian actor to play Hamlet in a National Theatre production.
For Sri Lankan audiences, this screening is both a celebration and a homecoming. It reflects the British Council’s long-standing commitment to nurturing creative talent, widening access to world-class culture, and building deep, people-to-people connections between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom through theatre and the creative arts. To celebrate the inaugural screening, the British Council is inviting winners and runners-up of the All-Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition, alongside drama teachers and university actors, to attend the premiere.
Further details on screening dates, venues, and ticketing can be found at: https://ceylontheatres.com/ and on the British Council Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/britishcouncilsrilanka/ or call: 0766192370
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