It was a glittering evening as Zonta Club One of Colombo held its Woman of Achievement Awards ceremony on International Women's Day, March 8.
This year saw the 10th ceremony, organized by Zonta Club One of Colombo which has been in existence for the past 40 years.
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Standing (L) to (R)- Ms. Amal Goonetilleke (Tourism), Ms. Chandini Rajaratnam (Advertising), Ms. Marina Tharmaratnam (Management), Ms. Kimarli Fernando (Banking), Ms. Shyamalee Tudawe (Media), Prof. Ira Thabrew (Education), Dr. Nilmini Silva Gunawardene (Science and Technology), Deshabandu Dr. Soma Edirisinghe (Industry and Entrepreneurship), Ms. Kishani Jayasinghe Wijayasekera and Ms. Soundarie David (Performing Arts), Ms. Miniruwani Samarakoon (Sports), Ms. W. A. Nalani (Banking), Dr. Deepika Udagama (Law), Mrs Badra Jayaweera (Engineering).
Seated (L) to (R)- Ms. Shakuntala Perera (Media), Ms. Joan Forbes, Prof. Gnanaa Kulendran (Education), Ms. Kamini Vitarana (Environment), Ms. Suzette de Alwis, Prof. Nadira Karunaweera (Outstanding Recognition) , Ms. Ramola Sivasundaram, Dr. Pramilla Senanayake (Medicine), Ms. Kumarini Wickramasuriya (Community Service) |
The selection of winners from several deserving candidates is a rigorous process, explained Chairperson of the Awards Committee, Mrs. Ramola Sivasundaram. "There were lots of women who were eligible which is why this time we had four ties.
This year the judges found it very difficult to select a single winner for these categories. It is tough because, for instance, if you take the media category the winners are doing completely different things but both have achieved a lot. It is the same with banking - one is in private banking while the other is in central banking. You cannot choose one over the other, and that is why we had both presented with the title and award."
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Shakuntala Perera |
Kishani Jayasinghe |
Ira Thabrew |
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Shyamalee Tudawe |
Kamini Vitarana |
Nadira Karunaweera |
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Deepika Udagama |
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Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara |
Besides media and banking other categories that saw two winners included creative and performing arts, and education. Award-winning choir Soul Sounds also entertained the audience with their spectacular performances.
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