Vidyani Hettigoda conferred with French award of Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite, Knight in the Order

Vidyani Hettigoda recently was conferred with the French award of Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite, Knight in the Order of Merit by the President of the Republic of France Francois Hollande.

The presentation was made by Christine Rubichon, the Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka.

This French Order, which was created by General de Gaulle, seeks to reward services rendered to France, including services rendered by foreigners to French interests or French values.

“The reasons why you deserve this award have nothing to do with French interests. As the Director of the Hettigoda Group, you successfully introduced some products of your family company to some European markets but French people are yet to benefit from them and I encourage you to look for French partners to provide my fellow citizens with the opportunity to enjoy Ayurvedic spas,” Ambassador Rubichon said.

“The reasons why France honours you with the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite is your action to promote a cause which is dear to French people, to the government of France and to the President François Hollande, the cause of women. Last week, the French Government held a specific meeting to endorse and make public an action plan to reach equality between men and women. Despite the fact that we have, in France, as many men and women holding ministerial portfolios, despite our laws to favour an equal representation of men and women in Parliament, we still have a lot to do to reach this goal,” she added.

The Ambassador noted that Vidyani’s grandmother had the right to vote 15 years before Rubichon’s grandmother could cast her vote in a French election. She recalled that Sri Lanka was the first in the world to have a woman as Prime Minister and later it was again the first to elect a woman as President. “But despite these major landmarks, Sri Lanka has also a lot to do to reach the goal of equality between men and women and, to achieve it, your country needs women like you,” Ambassador Rubichon said.

Vidyani was commended for dedicating a lot of her time, energy and generosity to help women victims of domestic violence and to promote and empower women in businesses and industries, in Sri Lanka and in South Asia. She has been a very active Chairperson of the Women’s Chamber of Industries and Commerce, an organisation to which she continues to provide strong support. Vidyani also plays a regional role through her position of Vice Chairperson of the SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council.

The Sri Lankan Women’s Chamber of Industries and Commerce is an organisation of business and professional women, aiming at helping urban and rural women, belonging to the different communities of the country, to develop their entrepreneurial skills and thus their living standards.

During her tenure as the Chairperson of this organisation, Vidyani recognised the grit of the women of the war torn north and east and the immense challenges they have to face to rebuild their lives. She initiated several projects to provide opportunities for these women to start businesses.

They included the chick farming project for widows in the north and east, about the micro credit project to enable women in the Mannar District to upgrade their very small enterprises and training of the differently able students from Nuffield School in Jaffna.

“Listening to Vidyani when she describes the courage and the positive attitude of the women with whom you are working, creates a feeling of optimism regarding the future of Sri Lanka,” the French Ambassador said.

“This award, Vidyani, is a token of appreciation for what you have done and an encouragement to continue your endeavours to empower women in your country and to contribute to the world wide struggle for equality between men and women,” the Ambassador added.

In her acceptance speech, Vidyani said receiving the French award was one of the most exceptional moments of her life.

“As I accept this esteemed tribute, I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the President of France, Francois Hollande for bestowing me with this honour; the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius for endorsing the same; and to Christine Rubichon – the Ambassador for France in Sri Lanka, for proposing me to receive such an accolade,” she said.

“I am deeply touched and honoured to receive this distinction as a tribute to my efforts and contribution towards promoting and empowering women in business and industry in Sri Lanka over the years. I especially express my appreciation to the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce for allowing me the opportunities to pursue my passion for empowering women, both as a member of WCIC and as their former Chairperson. My achievements in that sphere were enabled by their unstinted support at all times throughout the past decade,” Vidyani added.

She also expressed gratitude to Hettigoda Industries and her family. “They instilled in me the drive to achieve goals, and a passion for excellence from the very outset.

The opportunities they provide, give wings for my ambitions to soar.  As I continue to balance many roles in life both professional and personal, my commitment towards empowering women, and championing the success of women in industry in Sri Lanka strengthens by the day. I firmly believe in leading by example and that hard work results in success. Indeed, receiving this distinguished honour for my efforts is therefore a true pleasure and unexpected reward,” Vidyani said.