WISTA celebrates 1st year anniversary

State Minister Rosy Senanayake with Wista Exco members

WISTA Sri Lanka President Shehara Jayawardana 

WISTA Sri Lanka President Shehara Jayawardana with Wista India President Sanjam Gupta

After a highly successful year, the Sri Lankan branch of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 22 July followed by cocktails and fellowship at The Victorian in Kingsbury Hotel.

It celebrated a year during which its members worked together, canvassed other women to consider careers in shipping, helped each other network, took part in community service and supported each other in an industry that’s still very male-dominated.

At the WISTA AGM members unanimously re elected Founding President Shehara Jayawardena as the President for the second term. Members then appointed office bearers Diruni Chanmugam as Secretary, Hannalore Baldsing as Treasurer, Dharshanie Illukpitiya as Assistant Secretary and Dharshi Gnasekara as Assistant Treasurer with 15 executive committee members for the new year.

This occasion was graced by Government heads such as Minister of Shipping and Aviation Arujuna Ranatunga, State Minister Rosy Senanayake together with other industry heads in the maritime sector and WISTA members. 

The keynote speaker of this event was Rosy Senanayake who delivered a powerful and impactful speech on working women in Sri Lanka.

WISTA Sri Lanka President Shehera Jayawardena together with her sub-committee heads enlightened guests of WISTA’s journey throughout the past year. The organisation has been able to achieve and contribute to the industry as well as to the community through events organised such as the Colombo Port visit, shipping careers drive for schools island-wide, seminars related to the maritime industry and CSR projects such as one held at the Balika home for children.

Female achievers in the maritime industry were also felicitated at this occasion under the following categories: Service in the International Arena – Dr. Ruanthi de Silva, Entrepreneurship – Vera Wickramasinghe and Operational Excellence – Dilkushi Rajapakse.

The event was a great success with invitees been entertained by dance acts and a ship evacuation drill performed by CINEC.