Stepping out with confidence

This year’s Miss Working Girl pageant unearthed a Sri Lankan beauty with a strong personality and definite goals in life- Lanka Adikari. Born in Kelaniya, she attended Royal Institute where she explored her passion for the arts through drama and painting. She is definitely no stranger to competition, having taken part in the Speech and Drama Competition and Free Style Dancing Competition organized by the British School of Music, Speech and Drama in Sri Lanka when she was much younger. She is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration and wants to do her Masters degree in Business Administration next year. Lanka is truly dedicated to her work at DHL, where she is a Sales Coordinator.

However, for Miss Working Girl 2007, life does not revolve around her ambitions for success in the corporate sector. “I’m a vegetarian with a purpose,” she said with determination, “and I condemn cruelty against animals.” She worked for this cause as a member of the Young Zoologists’ Association during her schooldays.

Now she is also an artist in the making. Studying under Albert Dharmasiri at Platé, she aspires to be a renowned Sri Lankan artist. “I do not wish to leave my mark as a strong business woman, I also wish to be known as a conservationist and for my talents in art,” she said.

“My father from whom I inherited my talents urged me to take part in the Miss Working Girl pageant,” she said, mischievously adding, “of course, it’s from my mother that I have my good looks, tolerance and strength of character.”

Speaking of a vital concern faced by many career women in Sri Lanka, Lanka says that harassment in the workplace is a common problem, which she herself was once subjected to.
“I simply did not give room to be pushed around. As long as you project a certain image and put people in their place, such harassment can be dealt with,” she said.

She says she advised fellow female workers and discussed the importance of projecting a strong professional image from the first day that they arrive at the workplace until the day they leave.“”Most of the time, women tend to keep quiet when they are subjected to harassment. But, I think the trend is changing now, which I am happy about because I firmly believe that women should speak up for their rights.”