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| Sunday, 26 October 2003 |
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WCIC Awards : recognising entrepreneurial spirit of women G.A. Nandani Ajantha, Sole Proprietor of Susinidu Dress Point was selected as the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2002 at the third 'Woman Entrepreneur of the Year' and 'Professional Woman of the Year' awards ceremony, organised by the Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) last week. The Professional Woman of the Year gold award was secured by Consultant Pathologist and Senior Lecturer Dr Dilani Lokuhetti while the silver and bronze were awarded to Dr Hiranthi Wijemanne and journalist Nishani Lasitha Herath Bannahake. The ceremony is held biennially to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs and professional women and give them the impetus to spur them to greater heights of success. Ajantha also won the Gold award in the micro enterprise category. She is engaged in the garments business and has a shop in Kegalle. Sixteen women were honoured with awards in the micro, small, medium and large categories. Three professional women and five WCIC members, who have won international awards, were also honoured. Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Professor G.L. Peiris, the chief guest on the occasion, said self-employment has to be encouraged as it will help women earn some extra cash and improve their standards of living and most importantly, improve the value system of the country by teaching good values to children. "Women have the talent, the entrepreneur skills and knowledge in finance management; the only thing they lack is access to marketing. If they get a proper training in marketing, they are sure to go places as they are innovative and courageous. "We should encourage women to engage in self-employment as this will discourage them from going to the Middle East in search of greener pastures. As a result, children will have a mother when they come back from school," said Prof Peiris. This will contribute in a large way to stop social ills, he added. Chairman of the Panel of Judges, Nalin Atygalle requested the WCIC to market the Chamber more vibrantly, as its services are needed very much by the rural women. He advised all women entrepreneurs to continuously improve their products and services and to "dream it today to achieve it tomorrow". The WCIC was established in March 1985. Members are engaged in small and medium scale enterprises such as textiles, leather products, handicrafts, soft toys, manufacturing, travel trade, food items, cosmetics, garments, flora and horticulture. |
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