Three women were elected to the Board of Directors of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) for the year 2008-09, for the first time in the history of the chamber.

The full board of the chamber is as follows -- President – K. Liyarachchi/Liyanarachchi Builders; Senior Vice President - I.K.Kumara Jayasinghe/Saranga Enterprises; T.K.J. Samsudeen/Multi Traders; Past President - J.K.A. Samson Abeykoon/Achira Buillders; Directors -- P.M. Wickramasekera/Priyankara Hotel; Suresh Fernando/The Oasis; Suresh De Mel/Lanka Fishing Flies (Pvt)Ltd; M.Shaheed Usuph/Al Najath Import and Export (Pvt)Ltd; K.A.H.Padmalal/Premadasa Industries; Sisira D Jayasinghe/Jayasinghe Stores; N.A.Somasiri/Gajith Traders; D.W.Anura Upul/D.W. Agency Post Office; Sunil Abeysooriya/Malsha Fashion Centre; H.A. Lalindra Tissera/Hatton National Bank; J.W.C. Mohotti/Sampath Bank; Ms. Vishaka Darshani Bandara/Darashane Beauty Centre and Body Fashion; Ms. W.H. Chandra/I.D.G. Tyre Traders; Ms. S.S.R. Musaffer/

S&S Tyre Works; Samapala Manamperri/Dilantha Super Service and Rice Mills; N.M. Samarawickrama/Samara Group of Companies; Nihal Asoka Egodage/Asoka Industries. At the same time the awards presentation ceremony for the Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of Hambantota was held.