Over 250 women riders grace inaugural Ride Colombo ‘25
Over 250 riders participated in the inaugural Ride Colombo ’25, the country’s first-ever charity cycling event that champions women’s empowerment, inclusivity, and active living, which was held yesterday. Covering a total distance of 10 kilometres, the female riders, mostly novices, flagged off their journey from Galle Face Green, passing through Slave Island, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya and back to Galle Face through Marine Drive.
The ride was organised by Feel Lanka in collaboration with Across Ceylon, coinciding the International Women’s Day, bringing together women from diverse backgrounds, united by their passion for cycling. Flagged off at 8:00a.m., the 10-kilometer journey concluded at 12:00 noon.
Participants before the start of the event w- Pix Priyanka Samaraweera
One of the event’s core missions was to empower women through the ‘Women in Tourism’ CSR initiative, which aims to train and equip local women as professional bike guides. This initiative seeks to create leadership opportunities in the tourism industry, enabling women to represent Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes on a global stage.
“The intention of Ride Colombo ‘25 is to bring together women’s empowerment associations, giving them a platform to showcase their impactful initiatives, share experiences, and foster meaningful collaborations,” noted Shayara Evanjalee, the CEO of Across Ceylon.
Riders representing countries such as the USA, France, Germany, India and the United Kingdom participated in the event. The women’s cycling team of Sri Lanka Air Force also participated in the event, giving the 10km ride a professional touch.
Ride Colombo ’25 was an initiative collaborated by the CEO of Across Ceylon Shayara Evanjalee, Founder of Feel Lanka Madhura Dharmarathne, WCIC Chairperson Gayani de Alwis, team lead of Pink Wheels Dharshi Ariyarathne, Senumee Herath and Bathishya Kavindu from the University of Colombo.
Flagging off Ride Colombo