Zonta’s night for women achievers
Marking 50 years of service and fellowship among women towards the empowerment of women this year, the Zonta Club 1 of Colombo held its annual Women of Achievement Awards on Sunday, September 17 at the Oak Room of the Cinnamon Grand.
Established in 1985, the awards ceremony recognizes and celebrates women who have accomplished, excelled and made a significant contribution towards development in their fields of expertise.
The night’s outstanding achievement award went to the first Sri Lankan to conquer Mount Everest, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, who was also the recipient of the award in the field of sports.
The winners in the other
categories were:
Banking and Finance:
Rose Cooray,
Creative and Performing Arts: Ruvini Hapugalle Gunasekera,
Education: Prof. Marie Perera,
Environment: Chamila Weerathunghe and Anoka Abeyrathne,
Industry and Entrepreneurship: Lakmini Wijesundera,
Law: Rajitha Jayasuriya,
Management: Indira Malwatte,
Medicine: Dr. P.M.G. Punchihewa,
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic (STEM):
Prof. Chitra Weddikkara,
Social Impact:
Rosanna Flamer-Caldera,
Social Entrepreneurship:
Achala Samaradiwakara,
Media: Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Tourism & Hospitality: Charitha Abeyratne Hettiarachchi.
Award winners from top: Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, Kamanthi Wickramasinghe, Anoka Abeyrathne and Dr. P.M.G. Punchihewa.
The Chief Guest for the event was State Minister EranWickremaratne and Guest of Honour Dhara Wijayathilake. Mr. Wickremaratne emphasised the need for representation for women, who he admits are surpassing their male counterparts in the fields of education and employment. Mrs. Wijayathilake, a previous winner and judge admitted that the biggest challenge she faced as a high achieving woman in Sri Lanka is the multi-faceted role of the working mother. “If I had to be celebrated, it should be for multitasking,” she added, the biggest challenge, she said for women- both working and stay at home mothers being the lifelong commitment toward raising children and parenting.
This year’s panel of judges consisted of Dinesha de Silva, Marina Tharmaratnam and Chandana de Silva.
Zontians and guests at the awards ceremony (above and right). Pix by Indika Handuwala