IMRA Awards 2025 celebrating International Women’s Day

Wednesday, 5 March 2025 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

2024 gave birth to the IMRA Awards for Excellence where Muslim women were recognised for the first time in Sri Lanka for their phenomenal efforts in excelling in their professions.

A brainchild of Fathima Aziz who felt that there was a need to recognise these women and made known in the community was her vision. Partnering with renowned likeminded collaborators’ she was convinced also that despite it being a challenging task, she made sure that these women in the different fields of life received the recognition they well deserved. She also thought it fitting that this prestigious ceremony and celebration of these women coincided with Women’s International Day. However, this year, with the holy month of Ramadan beginning in March, the event was postponed to 7 April, 2025.

The IMRA Awards is the Foundation’s celebration of women. This year too notable achievements of Muslim women island wide will be given their due recognition. Last year, winners were selected from many categories and Awards went to: Law and Advocacy – Farzana Jameel PC; Healthcare – Dr. Shemoon Marleen; Banking and Finance – Feroza Ameen;

Education – not awarded; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; (STEM) – Dr. Rozana Himaz; Media, Communications – Rezani Aziz; Hospitality – Yasmin Cader; Social Impact – Juwairiya Mohideen; Arts and Culture – Haadia Galely.

The IMRA Business Entrepreneur Excellence Award 2024 –went to Shahnasz Hakeem; IMRA Young Business Entrepreneur Achievement Award 2024 –Nuha Ghouse and IMRA Young Business Entrepreneur Achievement Award 2024 – Saarah Deen Ismail

In addition, in keeping with ethnical harmony, they presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to: Deshabandu Jezima Ismail; Dhammachari Neetha Ariyaratne; Ferial Ismail Ashraff and Anushya Coomaraswamy.

This year, winners will be selected in the same categories as above with two additional categories, namely Sports and Architecture. At closing time of the entries a few weeks ago, there were 73 applications received by Idea and Business Solutions which were forwarded to KPMG, the Knowledge Partner of this event.

Yet to be interviewed, the short listed candidates will soon be advised of their meetings with an independent group of distinguished judges.

Winners from last year’s event will showcase their talent with Rezani Aziz formerly a television broadcaster taking the podium as Master of Ceremonies, Haadia Galely providing entertainment during the event with a performance by her Chorale Ensemble, and a fashion show by Saarah Deen Ismail of Fusion14, who was our young Business Entrepreneur 2024. Curator of the event will be Imran Saibo and FunTime Ltd.

Venue and Gala dinner buffet will be at the Kingsbury Hotel – IMRA’s hospitality partner. Tickets are priced at Rs. 8,500 per head and guests are requested to be in their seats by 6.30 p.m. IMRA Foundation Secretary Bushra on 0778539890 will be the contact person for further information.

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