Emerging small women entrepreneurs in east rewarded by FCCISL, EU and Oxfam

The Eastern Provincial Awards ceremony of the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 was held at the Miani Technical Institute in Batticaloa on 28 November.

At the award ceremony, K.D.N. Wijesiri, Chairman of Asiri Holdings Lanka Ltd. was honoured with the Silver award in the Large Category, while Abdul Gaffor Ajwath, proprietor of Imaza Hardware and Electricals won the Bronze award in the same.

A magnanimous effort was made by the FCCISL to give due recognition and rewards to Sri Lankan entrepreneurs. Sri Lanka is in need of entrepreneurial talent to secure economic growth in all parts of the country and encourage a more diverse, market oriented economy.

Over the past 16 years, the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, in adhering to its vision of supporting and promoting of business excellence in Sri Lanka has created the ideal platform to recognise and reward Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs nationwide.

The Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is unique since it recognises innovation and business acumen at the provincial level as well, thereby giving small and medium entrepreneurs an opportunity to shine.

At this year’s awards, the FCCISL introduced two new categories – the ‘Emerging Small Women Entrepreneur in the North and East’ and ‘Differently-Abled Entrepreneur of the Year’, both highly noteworthy categories that would motivate and inspire people to surpass physical and emotional barriers in order to succeed.

Dr. S. Amalanathan, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Eastern Province was the Chief Guest, while Roxanne Abdulali, Program Manager, EU-ACAP, Oxfam GB, Kumar Mallimaratchi, President, FCCISL, Nalin Attygalle, CEO/NPD, FCCISL, and V. Ranjithamoorthy, President, Batticaloa District Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture were among the other distinguished attendees.

Speaking at the ceremony, Roxanne Abdulali stated: “The Emerging Small Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognises women who have overcome challenges of trauma from decades of conflict, multiple-displacement, and cultural barriers, to successfully secure their own livelihoods.

“Oxfam is supporting FCCISL in introducing this award to identify role models for other women, and to build the confidence of conflict affected women so that they not only ‘participate’, but ‘lead’ in the social and economic reconstruction and development of their communities and districts.”

Oxfam GB is an organisation that promotes poverty alleviation. Whilst recognising women as amongst the most vulnerable and marginalised, the organisation also sees their potential. Women, particularly in the post-war areas of Sri Lanka, are a largely untapped resource for socio-economic development.

FCCISL and Oxfam, as partners in a project funded by the European Union through its ‘Assistance to Conflict Affected People’ program, have focused on supporting the empowerment of women as leaders and entrepreneurs.  With as many as 49,000 war widows in the north and east of sri lanka acting as heads of their households, the need for women to engage in income generating activities is all the more important. The organisation has built, and continues to build, women’s skills in business planning, financial management, negotiation, and as leaders, with a view of building a woman-friendly enterprise culture.