women Archives

December 19, 2022

14th December 2022: AIA Insurance is proud to have been recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work for Women’ for 5 years in a row by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka, underscoring its commitment to ensure more inclusion, development, and representation for women to thrive in their careers and life.

AIA was further recognised by another awarding body for its efforts in creating a safe working environment for women. The company was named as one of the ‘Most Outstanding Women Friendly Workplaces’ once again in 2022 by Satynmag.com and CIMA Sri Lanka. This unique award recognises companies that foster measures to encourage and empower women at the workplace.

Commenting on the awards, Chathuri Munaweera, CEO AIA Insurance said, “We are indeed honoured to receive constant recognitions for being a truly safe and rewarding workplace for all our employees. We have fostered equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace for decades by launching meaningful policies which support both women and men at AIA. In today’s society women play multiple roles, taking on many challenges to support their families and children. However, most women find it challenging to balance responsibilities of their respective profession with the traditional gender roles and responsibilities required by them at home. AIA has always ensured to break these barriers, step outside the box and create a work environment promoting equality, inclusion and diversity and this recognition is a testament to our commitment to build an equal and inclusive culture.”

AIA’s Director HR, Thushari Perera added, “While we are a company based on meritocracy, we do focus on developing women and enabling them to succeed in their careers, based on merit. The company’s women employees are groomed and encouraged to take up senior leadership roles through a carefully curated unbiased career development process. As a result, today, 21% of AIA’s senior management are women with the company’s women in insurance special roles including 70% in operations and 63% in actuarial.

Adding to her thoughts, “We’re determined to nurture a culture where all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, and where their uniqueness is celebrated. As such, we’ve set clear goals to accelerate diverse representation in our workforce and have even achieved some of them. Over the past year, we have increased the percentage of women in its workforce up to 41%. With 47% women representation in its sales force of Wealth Planners, notably 53% of women are among the Top 100 High Performing sales Wealth Planners, bringing in over half of new businesses. Thereby we will continuously strive to create an environment where we can truly collaborate beyond all differences.”

December 12, 2022

Celebrating efforts made to uplift and empower women in the workplace, Sri Lanka’s premier private sector bank HNB PLC was recognized as offering one of the nation’s best working cultures for women at the Second Edition of the Women Friendly Workplace Awards 2022 (WFWA).

A joint initiative pioneered by Satyn Magazine and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Sri Lanka. The WFWA showcases Sri Lankan corporates that take the lead in creating a fair and even playing field for women to achieve their highest potential in the workplace.

“Sri Lanka’s women have always played an iconic role in our society, contributing immense economic value, and providing leadership at every level. As a nation, it is more important than ever to ensure that women are given equal respect and opportunity in the workplace. We are honored to have received this important recognition, which is a validation of our efforts to create workplaces that empower women, and encourage them to achieve their fullest potential,” HNB Deputy General Manager, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, L. Chiranthi Cooray stated.

Diversity and inclusion are essential components of HNB’s HR strategy, as evidenced by the bank’s near even male-to-female ratio of 52:48, while internal research conducted by the bank across executives, managers and senior management roles has found that women and men working in the same pay-grades are evenly remunerated.

The bank also enforces a zero-tolerance policy on sexual discrimination and harassment, while women are well represented in all employment grades, including its Board of Directors. Over the recent past, the bank has also implemented several additional measures to encourage greater female participation in its workforce, including introduction of family-sensitive transfers, mobility and remote work policies.

Similarly, 380 leaders were provided with a unique ‘Women in Management’ development program run by HNB Talent Centre. The bank also offers extensive support in order to encourage work-life balance for all employees and especially among new mothers. As a result, almost 100% of all HNB employees have chosen to return to work after taking maternity leave.

Sharing some of her personal experiences working for the bank, Sri Lankan National Women’s Netball Team Captain Gayanjali Amarawansa said: “HNB has always been extremely supportive of my professional, athletic and personal ambitions. In addition to investing in my professional career, the bank also supported the sustainable development of my sports career. I’m sure that my personal experience with HNB is only one of thousands and I am proud to be a part of HNB’s journey in setting the standard for inclusive workplaces for women in Sri Lanka.”

Hailing from a similar background in sports, Sri Lanka Women’s Basketball Team Captain Anjalee Ekanayake shared her HNB experience: “My journey with HNB started as a student manager while schooling. I have been amazed by its work culture since then. It was my dream workplace when I was a child and today, I stand proud as an employee at HNB who not only excels at her professional career, but also in representing Sri Lanka on the court. HNB has been a source of strength and plays a pivotal part in me becoming a victorious national basketball captain in 2022. I am grateful for all the support given to me by HNB and I take pride in being part of such an amazing workplace culture”.

WFWA, jointly pioneered by Satyn Magazine and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Sri Lanka, held its inaugural award ceremony in 2021 and has garnered great interest among corporates ever since. With a mission to recognize corporate workplace cultures that uplift women and work towards their inclusive growth , WFWA continues to support organizations to inculcate diversity, inclusivity and women empowerment within its sustainable growth strategy in creating an equitable workplace culture.

Photo Caption: HNB DGM Legal / Company Secretary, Thushari Ranaweera accepting the award for Sri Lanka’s most Women – Friendly Workplaces from Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Global President and Head of Finance and Administration at the World Bank in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Melanie Kanaka in the presence of (from left) HNB Head of Legal Shiromi Halloluwa, HNB Senior Manager Talent Development Gayathri Ganeshan, HNB Head of Marketing Upul Adikari, HNB AGM Risk Dilunika Jasinghe, HNB Head of Club Michelle De SIlva, HNB Deputy General Manager -Treasury & Markets Arjuna Abeygunasekara and Nayomini Weerasooriya Managing Editor -Satyn Magazine

October 27, 2022

Introducing a collective work of passion, Hauteside is a reflection of a woman’s love for high-end fashion. Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the label, Mahdiya Farook’s dream was to portray the essence of a woman’s journey toward developing courage, creating her own identity and celebrating her individuality. Together with Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Saman Jamshid; Mahdiya launched the brand in Doha, Qatar to cater to fashionable women who want to celebrate themselves.

Think sophisticated styles and trendy designs; elegant classics; sustainable; high quality; competitive prices and you have Hauteside. Made in South Asia, Hauteside is now taking a leap and stepping out into the world, making its break and introduction in Qatar and Sri Lanka. “Each piece of clothing is made with love and purpose. The underlying intention is confidence, sense of style and also contributing towards women’s wellbeing around the world,” explains Mahdiya.

Mahdiya is a Programme and Project Manager by profession and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wolverhampton (UK), a Post Graduate in Strategic Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Education. She started her career as a Merchandiser for a fashion accessory firm in Hong Kong and has over 14 years of experience in the fashion industry working closely with many international brands such as Next, Banana Republic, Zara, Macy’s and LC Waikiki. Her work ethic, attention to detail and skill set eventually led to her promotion to Marketing Director for the firm.

She has extensive experience in textiles manufacturing, products sourcing and vendor management. When she relocated to Qatar from Sri Lanka, she continued her work with a private firm as a Programme Manager for another six years. She is also a social media influencer and has a lifestyle blog. For Hauteside, she manages the strategic business operations, finance, PR and Branding. Saman has a decade of experience in the fields of marketing and PR, she is also a Fashion Influencer and Stylist based in Doha.

Hateside’s unique disposition allows the label to employ and collaborate with powerhouse females from across the globe. “Fashion in Qatar is still evolving and there’s a gap and lack of choice regarding clothing for the modest, modern and trendy woman. Certain styles tend to be very repetitive, with a lack of uniqueness. There’s also the high cost for a consumer with a medium-high budget. That’s where our label comes in,” added Mahdiya.

The objective remains to source sustainable high-end fabric from around the world, with the addition of accessories and other add-ons sourced through a variety of supply chains. This allows the label to expand in design horizons while not having to compromise on quality. Each item of clothing is handmade and hand-dyed. They are also made into separates so that customers have the freedom to select separate pieces from the range, and mix and match them with other separates they have in their wardrobe. This allows room for clients to restyle and rewear complete looks in the future, prolonging the life and use of their clothing.

Subsequently, Hauteside aims to grow into a label that will be manufactured primarily by homegrown small businesses in different countries – each with a strong hook and quality that will continue to serve the brand’s purpose. The designers of the label will incorporate Asian and Qatari cultures with modern, contemporary designs.

“Qatar has limited resources in terms of where we want Hauteside. That is why our design solutions, including that of diversifying our manufacturing and designing, will expand across the globe. My husband Shafraz has been my biggest pillar of strength and has played a large role in bringing this brand to life,” Mahdiya stated. Hauteside is now available for purchase at WH, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. For more information visit their Instagram page Hauteside_official or WhatsApp at +97477660011.

October 25, 2022

October 25, 2022: Leading technology company 99x was recognized for its best workplace practices in diversity and equality and listed as a Best Workplace for Women in Sri Lanka for the fourth consecutive year. Compiled and published by the Great Place to Work Institute, this award reinforces 99x’s dedication to creating an empowered, inclusive workplace for all employees.

“Being recognized by the Great Place to Work® Institute once more is a credit to our efforts,” said 99x Chief Operating Officer Shehani Seneviratne. “However, it’s crucial that we all, not just as a company but as an industry and nation, work together consistently to bring about much-needed change across all sectors to create a truly inclusive workforce.”

As an organization, 99x actively promotes increasing the percentage of female employees, being aware of the benefits of having a good gender balance within the organization. Furthermore, since 2017, 99x has hosted the Xian Women’s Forum to create a space for all the women in the company to meet, share experiences and discuss any issues faced in the workplace as women. The company has continued this forum through the years.

99x also ensures that none of its female employees’ benefits is curtailed due to instances such as pregnancy. For example, they are added to the appraisal cycle even on maternity leave, with face-to-face discussions occurring once they return. The focus on work-life balance has ensured that no female has left the company due to personal commitments.

The women of 99x comprise around 26% of the total workforce, of which 43% are currently in Team Lead roles in the organization, strengthening the project teams with their skills. And the company has even more women leading other extracurricular teams within the company, such as CSR, University relationships, and Tech innovations.

By creating equal opportunities for all within an open organizational structure, 99x drives inclusivity at all levels and reaps benefits through an energized workforce and a positive effect on the triple bottom line.

99x has been at the forefront of creating the best workplaces for its people and has been recognized repeatedly. It has been ranked as a Best Workplace in Asia for five consecutive years and was recently awarded the Legend status by the Great Place to Work Institute, following its recognition for the 10th consecutive year.

Headquartered in Oslo, Norway with a local presence in Colombo, 99x is a product engineering company co-creating well-engineered, innovative digital products for the Scandinavian market. Its expertise has been proven through a portfolio of over 150 impactful global digital products developed since 2004, together with leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). 99x employs over 450 technology and product specialists, who are high achievers, creative thinkers, and team players.

September 12, 2022

Uniting women in e-commerce to connect, learn, and grow with leading industry experts

The Women in Ecommerce Conference, convened by Daraz, is a full-day learning experience for women business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders. The conference will be held on 22nd September 2022 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Women in Ecommerce will bring together women from diverse backgrounds and expertise to encourage disruption and innovation in e-commerce – to redefine the contours of commerce in the digital era. Through networking sessions, example-driven discussions, and problem-solving workshops, leaders and trendsetters from across the Asia-Pacific region will draw on their experiences to highlight valuable examples and lessons learned that will help their peers find their voice and success within the dynamic spheres of the digital economy.

Commenting on the initiative, Head of Public Policy, Corporate Affairs, and ESG at Daraz Sri Lanka and Chief Convener of the event Anishka De Zylva said: “E-commerce is a relatively new industry in Sri Lanka and South Asia, and it is proving to be a resilient industry that will be important to the country’s economic recovery. E-commerce could significantly help solve development challenges like low female labour force participation, and there is an opportunity for us to build a vibrant and inclusive e-commerce industry and ecosystem. In an attempt to raise awareness of these opportunities and learn from each other, we are inviting women entrepreneurs and other relevant stakeholders to join us at this conference and be part of something inspiring.”

The conference will be hybrid with a mix of in-person and virtual participants. Sharing his views on the conference, Daraz Sri Lanka Managing Director Rakhil Fernando opined: “The Daraz Women in Ecommerce Conference is another great example of not only Daraz’s commitment to collective action, but also the commitment of other businesses and organisations linked to the e-commerce industry. Collective action is key to realising the benefits of e-commerce and uplifting communities through the power of commerce, and it has been fantastic to work with others who are committed to supporting women and the growth of the industry in this way.”

The conference will be a full-day programme featuring keynotes, panel discussions, and customised workshops for the in-person participants. Each segment has been carefully curated to cover various perspectives and approaches to relevant topics related to shaping a fearless future for women in e-commerce. Women entrepreneurs can register their interest to attend at https://www.darazsummit.com/ and take advantage of this unique opportunity.

July 20, 2022

Michelle Gunesekera, creates platforms for many through her innovative ideas

Colombo, Tuesday 19^th July 2022: Stemming from her own love for writing and reading, Michelle Gunesekera wanted to create a platform for aspiring young writers to step in to the media industry. Seeing an opening in the publication spectrum for a youth magazine she created Chokolaate, Sri Lanka’s first youth-entered magazine back in (enter year here). Today, many years down the line Chokolaate has branched out to become a brand dedicated to paying tribute to women and supporting the youth through its many ventures.

“I started writing at a very young age. I wrote my first novel when I was just 9 years, and a second one at 12 years. What I realized though was that there were many young writers like myself who didn’t have a platform to showcase their work. This is why I decided to create a magazine for the youth, written by the youth as well. Chokolaate is my gift to the younger generation, so that their voices may be heard.”

Michelle is deeply passionate about life and family and has constantly strived to center her work on her family obligations. She is the only child of Shanti and Brian Outschoorn, and wife to Emile. She is a mum of two boys, Tristen and Treyden and one girl Tia and loves spending time with them. It was her relationship with her own mother and her daughter that prompted Michelle to create one of the most unique platforms for fashion design students in Sri Lanka in the year 2010. The Chokolaate Mother-Daughter Fashion Designer Contest has successfully showcased young designers who create looks for real mother-daughter models. The event has been successfully held 12 times and is currently gearing up for its 13^th season.

“Chokolaate, which started out as a magazine did provide a platform for young writers and creative minds. With MDFD however it was an avenue to focus on a whole new segment. What started there has now branched out to different aspects such as singing, debating, public speaking and other soft skills development. This was why we created events such as MDFD, Centerstage etc. and we are constantly thinking of mixing it up and creating new avenues where we can support youth and help them express themselves.”

Michelle believes that there is yet much to be done for the youth segment. The Youth are the future and the most influential segment in society. Today’s youth know exactly what they want and they know how to get it. To provide youth with more opportunities to showcase their talent and creativity is something that has been truly rewarding for Michelle and her team at Chokolaate.

“There have been many instances where the journey has been nothing short of turbulent, where some have tried to sabotage or create issues and even go to the extent to take credit for the brand. However I am thankful to God for being my strength throughout all these and to my parents and husband for being my pillars of strength to sustain and to keep going, no matter what was thrown my way.”

The next five years of Chokolaate will see the brand more prominent and with a wider outreach in empowering the youth, especially in the outskirts of Colombo. Plans are underway to create much needed opportunities especially in the education sector thereby providing greater opportunities for rural youth.

“As a woman, there are many hats we have to wear at different times and it is important that we give our 100% and be in the moment and enjoy it to its fullest. It is also important to take care of yourself so that you, in turn can give your best to your family and to your work. Maintaining the balance may not seem easy some days, but nothing like a slab of chocolate to get you through anything that life throws your way!”

June 7, 2022

In another major step towards safeguarding the wellbeing of women and children from Sri Lanka’s estate sector communities, The Centre for Child Rights and Business (The Centre) in partnership with Save the Children, and key stakeholders, the Planters Association of Ceylon, Plantation Human Development Trust, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs announced the launch of the island’s first “Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business” (Seal initiative).

In the backdrop of a looming economic crisis that threatens to erode Sri Lanka’s strong progress quality of life, key socio-economic and health indicators, the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business initiative is designed to guide businesses on a path that incorporates the wellbeing of women and children across their business.

“This initiative is a new concept that will improve the overall wellbeing of women and children in Sri Lanka’s plantation sector. The most valuable resource a plantation company has is its human capital. We believe in ensuring the wellbeing of women and children living among the plantation community as they are the key in influencing the sustainable development of the industry,” Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) Chairman, and Director/CEO of Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Bhathiya Bulumulla stated.

Business entities which enroll in the Seal initiative will initially take a pledge and develop an action plan to strengthen initiatives for women and children in the communities they are connected to. Based on the child-centric impact assessments carried out on the initiatives, they will be issued the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business.

The initiative also aims to provide encouragement to businesses in the tea supply chain – from brands, exporters, brokers, to plantation companies and estates – to make sustainable and meaningful investments in the wellbeing of women and children.

“For generations, women have been integral to the development of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry. However, especially in the context of a looming economic crisis, it is vital that all stakeholders band together in order to protect our most vulnerable communities. By bolstering standards through the implementation of initiatives like the the Mother & Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business, we are better able to protect the livelihoods and quality of living of all those connected to the plantation industry. Moving forward, we will also be engaging with all industry stakeholders in order to further expand these standards to the rest of the industry, in order to maximize the social utility of such programmes.” PA Media Spokesperson and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai explained.

Notably, the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business initiative builds on the prior work of Save the Children in Sri Lanka under its Mother and Child Friendly Tea Plantations programme, which was developed over time into the Seal Initiative.

“For over 8 years, we have continuously worked to improve the lives of children living in the tea estates. By investing $1.5 million, our programmes focused on introducing a child protection policy to tea planation companies, strengthening the community-based child protection mechanisms and empowering children for their child rights. This initiative has paved way to build strong alliances with the Planters Association, the Plantation Human Development Trust, and tea producers, exporters and brands to create sustainable standards for mother and child friendly tea estates.

“We also partnered with The Centre for Child Rights and Business in Sri Lanka with an aim to create a Seal process (the Seal initiative), used to differentiate Sri Lankan tea in the marketplace. Additionally, this initiative will create a governing body which will monitor commitments, results and issue the Seal. We are very proud of the way this work is being carried forward by The Centre, and we will continue to work with them,” Save the Children National Director, Julian Chellappah explained.

In 2019, a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding was signed with key plantation companies, Save the Children and The Government of Sri Lanka, a first for Sri Lanka at the time. The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs closely collaborated on this initiative, as a key member of the advisory committee that provides strategic guidance.

“The Ministry of Women and Child Development is responsible for empowering, ensuring, and promoting the rights of women and children. The Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business is an important initiative, which will immensely support the objectives of the ministry. We hope this initiative will significantly contribute to making sustainable standards for the wellbeing of the estate community,”, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Nilmini Herath said.

The Seal Initiative differs from other certification schemes, as it identifies entry points along the supply chain. It rewards businesses that demonstrate their commitments made to improve the wellbeing of children and mothers, beyond compliance-driven targets. Companies are not punished for violations like child labour; instead, The Centre will support these businesses to enhance their capacity to meaningfully understand and address risks faced by women and children within their business practices. Additionally, mechanisms to address key concerns will be established to improve child protection concerns as they arise.

“This Seal initiative will not just be another logo out there; instead it is a call to action for tea producers and buyers. We will relentlessly support and push all participating businesses to achieve the impacts that truly benefit the thousands of Sri Lankan tea workers, their children and communities,” said Ines Kaempfer, CEO at The Centre for Child Rights and Business.

Although the Seal Initiative is currently working within the tea industry, in the coming months, other leading industries are welcome to contact The Centre for further inquiries about the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business to help transform even more Sri Lankan businesses to ones that embed the wellbeing of mothers and their children across their supply chain operations.

June 23, 2020

First Sri Lankan Lady Elected as CIMA Global Vice President – 2020/21

Sri Lankan management accounting professional – Melanie Janine Kanaka, was elected as the first Sri Lankan woman Global Vice President of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) by over a resounding 88% of its global members voting at the 101^stAnnual General Meeting held on 3 June, acknowledging her 30 year service to the CIMA fraternity worldwide.

In CIMA’s 100 year history, Melanie is the first lady outside of the UK, elected to this global position, to be part of the leadership team in a fraternity of over 650,000 members and students, living in 179 countries and territories. Being the first resident Sri Lankan to hold this prestigious office, she brings to bear glory to this island nation.

With Sri Lanka and the world economy slowly reopening, relaxing lockdown measures, every profession is trying to adapt and integrate in to the new normal post-Covid – 19 realities. In such a condition management accounting professionals should spearhead the growth of businesses and organizations utilizing their talents and skills, opines Kanaka.

“Since challenges such as the COVID-19 global pandemic will come and go, as responsible professionals, Management Accountants unlike traditional finance professionals are the best equipped specialists to lead businesses and organizations navigate through the extraordinary challenges and ensure that our economic resurgence is on the right track,” added an optimistic Kanaka.

Melanie is the first Sri Lankan and non-UK assessor invited to the CIMA Global Membership Board in 2009, and has been a Membership Assessor since 2008. In 2013 she was elected to CIMA Council from South Asia for a three year term and was subsequently co-opted in 2017. She has served on many Policy Committees of CIMA, namely, Membership, Lifelong learning, Technical, and Member Services. In 2015, she was elected to CIMA’s Appointment’s Committee. She chaired the Membership Committee and under her leadership the committee introduced an appeals’ process for membership. Melanie chaired the Professional Standards and Conduct Committee of CIMA in 2019/2020, which made significant contributions to the revised CIMA Code of Ethics

She is a Director of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, which is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), to power opportunity, trust and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide.

Admitted to Fellowship in 2000, Melanie has 30-year extensive experience in Corporate Finance, SAP and Development Banking, across USA, Germany and South Asia, working for Bellsouth (USA), DFCC Bank and Sri Lankan Conglomerates Hayleys Group and MAS Holdings. She also served on the Audit Committee of the International Planned Parenthood Federation headquartered in London.

At present, Melanie is the Head of Finance and Administration at the World Bank in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

She is a Fulbright Scholar, with an MBA specializing in International Finance and Corporate Strategy from the Goizuetta Business School of Emory University USA. She has a B.Com (Hons) degree with a first class from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and is a distinguished alumna of Bishop’s College, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is a former national swimmer for Sri Lanka, with the rare distinction of officiating at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.

May 4, 2020

Tourism is one of the largest socioeconomic sectors and income generators in Sri Lanka with a 12.5% contribution towards the country’s GDP in 2018. The industry provides a comparative advantage for women with more benefits than other sectors of the economy, with greater emphasis on flexible work options, increased entrepreneurship that does not require heavy start-up financing and opportunities through the sharing economy through online platforms such as Airbnb, Yoho Bed and Booking.com etc.

Despite these opportunities, there are fewer women within the industry, especially in areas such as Polonnaruwa and the East. In the rare occasion women are involved they are mostly found in the low skilled, low pay and precarious quartile. Mobility, cultural and security concerns, have created a gender gap in the region and this prevents women from being employed the tourism businesses.

In addressing this gap, the Skills for Inclusive Growth (S4IG) program funded by the Australian Government’s Aid program in partnership with the Ministry of Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations adopts innovative approaches and models for the inclusion and empowerment of women in tourism recovery. Existing challenges at regional, contextual and at individual levels are identified and addressed through targeted interventions to ensure opportunities for women and persons with disabilities across all skill development projects under S4IG’s flagship initiative Gateway to the East.

These interventions are implemented through the Twin-Track Approach, S4IG’s key strategy to ensure full gender inclusion. This two-dimensional strategy involves a mainstream approach to ensure active female participation through modifications and adjustments such as flexible training hours, transportation facilities, and child-care support during training. This has been achieved through piloting flexible training modalities to build capacity and address skill gaps while also consulting with agencies to support women in skills and employment planning. The targeted approach of this strategy ensures empowerment and reduces inequalities between men and women. It also redresses historical imbalances through counselling for increased self-confidence, securing family support, provisioning of soft skills, initiating projects to challenge stereotypes and networking for women-led organisations. S4IG’s creation and promotion of role models within the tourism industry has been key to inspiring women to challenge their traditional career pathways.

S4IG’s training models ensure that trained and mentored women are employed in the sector to safeguard and implement policies and regulations that are gender-sensitive. Within these models, S4IG also champions the inclusion for persons with disabilities. All activities promote female labour force participation in the tourism sector, alongside opportunities for advancement within the working districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee.

A distinctive feature of S4IG’s strategies lies in its efforts to encourage and facilitate women in non-traditional roles, that enable change. Supreme Chef, Women Surf Instructors, Female Tour Guides, Travel Photographers and Videographers are challenging stereotypes of work in the tourism sector that S4IG continues to promote and build.

The potential for a gender-equal tourism industry is promising, but to scale these efforts recognition within the higher levels such as the National Tourism Strategy is required. To communicate the importance of gender inclusion and women empowerment in 2020, S4IG will continue to showcase and celebrate men and women who have worked to achieve inclusion.

The sustainability of the interventions by S4IG remains in its holistic view. The program-wide gender tag process indicates to project teams when and how gender considerations need to be incorporated into the project design. These guidelines will be of use to those involved in the projects as well as those designing other kinds of tourism projects with a gender component.

February 19, 2020

WERK, Sri Lanka’s first online woman-centric professional network, was launched amidst much anticipation on Saturday, 15 February at Hatch in Colombo. The well-attended event brought together invitees from various stages in their respective professional lives, paving the way for a promising line-up of projects from the new online platform.

Empirical -and considerable microeconomic- evidence from across the world has confirmed that an unlevel playing field between women and men in the workplace has substantial economic costs; highlighting the importance and value of gender diversity in improving not just a firm’s overall performance, but also the economic health of nations.

Closer to home, in its 2018 Country Report on Sri Lanka, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Sri Lanka could raise its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by as much as 20% in the long run, just by closing the gender gap in its workforce.

Additionally, gender diversity among business leaders has proven to lead to better decision-making processes, monitoring, and strategy involvement.

Committed to tackling this disparity by accelerating the career ambitions of women in Sri Lanka, Yusra Aziz-Eliyas and Amrit Rupasinghe set up WERK (Women Entrepreneurs Resource Kit), Sri Lanka’s first woman-focused online professional network. In embodying its mission of unlocking the combined power of female entrepreneurs and corporate women in Sri Lanka to create massive economic and social progress- the platform will provide networking, advice, resources and opportunities for women to take their careers forward.

The platform currently offers a smart directory for members to locate professionals by skills, title or company. Resources in the form of a host of online tools to automate and/or simplify everyday business tasks will be made available, as well as a constantly updated knowledge base of helpful information through inspiring interviews, non-fiction book summaries, and useful articles and tips.

Testament to the underlying need for such a service, at the end of the official launch event membership stood at over 400 members representing over 380 small and large businesses, all looking to connect, learn, and rise professionally.

“The case for greater gender equity has never been more compelling,” says Yusra Aziz-Eliyas. “Through WERK we aim to facilitate for women to take their respective ‘hustle’ forward and eventually cement the app’s position as the largest knowledge base for women entrepreneurs and corporate women in Sri Lanka.”

Launch of WERK – Sri Lanka’s first online woman-centric professional network

While WERK already stands out from other community networks in the wealth of corporate partnerships it has acquired so far -all having realised the immense potential of this unique and diverse talent pool-, the platform is seeking to further enhance its offering through collaborating with more companies that align with its values. For the launch event alone, the principal sponsors included amanté and Hatch as well as launch partners Selyn, Crimson, Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC), SOZO Beverages, Clear, Rhoda Gifts, Shifani Reffai Photography and Limelight PR.

Furthermore, in keeping with the ethos of WERK, 10% from all corporate membership subscriptions will be donated towards upskilling women from underprivileged backgrounds and charities that provide support services to victims of violence against women.

In addition to varying discounts and offers these alliances provide for the WERK community -from bookkeeping to office attire, website building tools to software- WERK currently partners with a range of professional associations and organizations which also provide great resources for its members looking to advance their careers through educational workshops, networking events, mentoring programs, volunteer and employment opportunities, career services and support, and much more.

An online marketplace is also in the pipeline, where corporates can post collaboration opportunities with start-ups and freelancers. And although WERK is currently a mobile app, the team has plans of taking the experience beyond the confines of the online sphere. Upskilling workshops, mentoring sessions, talk shows and even a #WERKOUT conference are also being scheduled for the year’s agenda. All-in-all a holistic online-offline experience conducive to helping women do better in the workplace.

Interested professionals looking to further their careers can sign up at www.werk.community. For sponsorships and corporate collaborations, click on the ‘Partnerships’ tab on the website, and for more information or ways to get involved, just drop an email at hello@werk.community.

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HNB hailed as one of Sri Lanka’s most Women Friendly Workplaces

Haute Work of Passion For Women, By Women

99x hailed as a Best Workplace for Women for the fourth consecutive year

Women in Ecommerce Conference to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Paying Tribute to Women and Supporting the Youth

The wellbeing of women and children prioritised in businesses: Launching the “Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business”, a first for Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Woman Creates History in Global Management Accounting Profession

Gender Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment at the Centre of S4IG’s Tourism Recovery Initiative

Woman-centric professional platform WERK launches as corporate partners get on board