WISTA concludes successful year despite challenging environment

The Sri Lankan arm of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) concluded yet another successful year despite an uneventful period flanked by many challenges with the COVID pandemic. 

WISTA held its seventh AGM on 29 October at Cinnamon Grand from 5 p.m. onwards with McLarens Group Chairman Rohan De Silva as the Chief Guest. WISTA was honoured to have his presence at this event as he celebrates 50 years in serving the shipping and logistics fraternity in Sri Lanka.

WISTA President Nilu Wickremasinghe led the team of WISTA Executive Committee members consisting of Debbie Jones, Felicita Alwis, Ishani Caldera, Sujani Kumarasinghe, Surangi Gunasekara, Shehara De Silva,  Swabha Wickramasinghe, Diruni Chanmugam,  Catriona Jayasundara, Anoma.V Ranasinghe, Chamila Bandara, Amali Mendis, Keshani Jayasekara, Shalinie de Silva, Kalani Dassanayake, Omalika Jayathilaka, Shiyamalee Karunanayake, Sharmala Rebecca, Randima Krishnaratne, Chandula Rambukwella and Bopitiya  amidst challenging times to manage a successful event calendar living by the objectives of empowering women in maritime, trading and logistics industries and enabling greater participation in sectors whilst strengthening the economy of Sri Lanka.

With the pandemic it was a challenge to interact with the members and WISTA held its first-ever virtual event by conducting a webinar on ‘Co-exist with COVID-19’ in December 2020. WISTA was able to discuss many relevant topics including how to maintain a healthy work life balance, managing oneself working from home which was the new normal and to remain agile in an environment gripped with fear, uncertainty and anxiety. 

To bring in the festive cheer to the members a virtual Christmas gathering was held with a gift to every member physically delivered at the same time which was memorable. As WISTA supports sustainable consumerism and a greener environment, a tree planting campaign was held with the theme ‘Each One, Plant One, Plant Trees, Breathe Fresh’ at Diyasuru Park in February with Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa  as Chief Guest. 

Women’s Day celebrations which is an important event in the WISTA Calendar was celebrated with the theme ‘Inclusivity – An Equal Future’ with the attendance of both male and female industry experts sharing their views which was held at Cinnamon Grand amidst a permissible gathering of members. 

WISTA believes in supporting their communities and held a project with the support of their members in donating e-learning equipment to students in a School in Kandy. This timely gesture helped many under privileged students who were faced with challenges with lack of resources to learn virtually. WISTA held a skills development campaign virtually in July where a veteran personality shared insight to members on bridging the gender gap and understanding millennials and Gen Zs in contrast to other categories. 

WISTA was able to collaborate with WISTA global on many occasions including the first-ever regional webinar with a timely topic on ‘Impact of Maritime Crisis Coping and Prevention,’ which discussed the importance on dissemination of accurate information in the backdrop of the X-Press Pearl incident. 

WISTA Sri Lanka also partnered with WISTA India in a series of virtual networking sessions with the theme ‘WISTA We Trade – Girl Boss Pitch Series,’ which aims to promote leadership and entrepreneurship amongst the members of both countries in a common virtual platform.

With the objective of promoting female inclusivity in Sri Lanka WISTA made a special award at the 27th Annual Award Ceremony of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK) – Sri Lanka and also offered a scholarship to the best female student in the foundation Diploma in Port Agency in the ICS Diploma Examinations.  

WISTA appreciated the continuous partnership with South Asia Gateway Terminals which has been powering WISTA for years and the numerous other sponsors who had been supporting all the initiatives during the past year despite the many challenges. The WISTA AGM was supported by Hayleys Advantis as the Exclusive Logistics Partner of the event.