FCCISL to host ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ for 17th consecutive year

 By Cheranka Mendis

The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) will host the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the 17th consecutive time later this year to recognise, reward and motivate Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurs. This is the highest national honour for local entrepreneurs.

From left: Bank of Ceylon Deputy GM Dayani Fernando, Project Manager Person Come Noi David Cario Lamberti, Founder of the Program and past President FCCISL Patrick Amarasingha, Lucky Lanka Dairies Chairman and MD Lal Keerthi Gnawardena, FCCISL President Kumar Mallimaratchi, Ministry of Industry and Commerce Secretary Anura Siriwardena, Dialog Axiata Chief Corporate Officer Kaven Ratnayake, Janashakthi Insurance GM Sales and Marketing Shehara De Sliva, EU-ACAP CHEER Project Oxfam GB Program Manager Roxanne Abdualia and FCCISL Organising Committee Chairman Nalin Attygalla – Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera

Themed ‘It’s time to walk among the stars,’ two new categories of awards have been introduced this year – Emerging Small Women Entrepreneur in the North and East and Differently-Abled Entrepreneur, in addition to the usual Entrepreneur of the Year, Women Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur and Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Awards.

The two new awards have individual themes of ‘Encouraging Small Women Entrepreneurs in North and East to Realise their Entrepreneurial Potential’ and ‘Beyond Barriers to achieve Entrepreneurship.’

The Emerging Women Entrepreneur in the North and East Award has been introduced to recognise and encourage entrepreneurial skills of women in the said area who have achieved excellence through all challenges and is sponsored by Socio-Economic Development for the Conflict Affected Communities of North and East Sri Lanka, a project funded by EU under EU – ACAP 2009/2013 Project, where FCCISL-CHEER is one of the implementing partners.

The Differently-Abled Entrepreneur Award is sponsored by the NGO, People Like Us (Persone Come Noi) with a view to recognise highly motivated entrepreneurs who have achieved their goals by working beyond physical barriers.

Entrepreneurs will be recognised in two levels- provincial level and national level. Categorised as small, medium, large and extra large, entrepreneurs with a total investment of less than Rs. 2 million is under the small stage, those with an investment between Rs. 2 million and Rs. 20 million goes under medium, between Rs. 20 million and Rs. 50 million goes under large and Rs. 50 million or more identified as extra large.

Immediate past winner of the Award, Lucky Lanka Dairies Chairman Lal Keerthi Gunawardena stated that after the award, he received better recognition from banks and that the publicity generated worked well for his company. Gunawardena stated that leadership and team building are aspects that should be recognised by society as they would support the developing economy.

Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardena assured the Ministry to support to the event, commending the work of FCCISL in encouraging young entrepreneurs over the years. He stated that in working towards becoming a commercial hub in the future as targeted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ‘Mahinda Chinthana,’ more entrepreneurs should come forward and support the country. In this respect, the award presentation has a high importance, he said.