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| Sunday, 5 September 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Women of achievement by Rosanne Anderson
The Zonta Club has been honouring women who have made significant contribution in their chosen spheres of activity over the past two decades and about three hundred women have received the prestigious 'Zonta Woman of Achievement' award. The eighth Zonta 'Woman of Achievement' awards ceremony was held last week at the Colombo Plaza amidst a distinguished gathering and much glamour. The recepients of the 18 trophies awarded at the 'Zonta Woman Of Achievement' awards 2004 by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse were: Prof. Yoga Rasanayagam (Education), Dr. Indranee Amarasinghe (Medicine), Therese R. Perera (Law), Dr. Ranee Jayamaha (Banking), Damayanthi Darsha (Sports), Prof. S. Chandrani Wijeratne (Science and Technology), Sandra B. Waduragala and Indrani Fernando (Industry and Enterpreneurship), Mignone Fernando (Creative and Performing Arts), Sharmini T. Ratwatte (Management), Savithri Rodrigo and Champika Liyanarachchi, (Media Print/Electronic), Neelanie Gonetilleke (Advertising), Prof. I. J. Dayawansa (Engineering), Pearl Stephen and Mallika Veeraiah (Community Service) and Dr. Ajantha Perera (Enviornment). Dr. Indranee Amerasinghe received the most outstanding recognition award of the 18 awards. The winners of the Young Women in Public Affairs were awrded to Dineshani Hettiarachchi (winner) of Asian International School, Aaysha Fatima Cader (first runner up) of St.Bridgets Convent, Colombo and Nihara Dinushi Guruge(second runner up) of Holy Family Convent, Colombo 4. Prominence Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse,the chief guest at the event in his speech delivered by his private secretary Sunimal Fernando (as the Prime Minister arrived late due to the weekly cabinet briefing)said "Sri Lanka is a country in which female education was supported from a very early period and where many women have achieved prominence in numerous spheres both professionally and in public life. "In this context it is most appropriate for the notable achievements of women in all parts of the country to be recognised in the form of awards". "Sri Lankan women have reached high levels of excellence both in business as well as professionally and in both shperes of activity women have problems and interests different to that of men." "There are very few maintstream organisations in Sri Lanka that are both active and dynamic through which women have organised themselves to lobby their problems and represent their interests in business and their professions", he added. Successful "The Zonta Club which functions as a service organisation has been successful in bringing together professional and business women at the highest levels with a view to improving the legal, political, economic and professional status of women", he said. "Some Zonta programs try to increase the access of women to education, training and employment, water, health and sanitation." "Zonta is one of the oldest clubs of professional and business women and we hope that it will serve as the role model for both rural and urban women in Sri Lanka for amny more years," he added. Outgoing President, Zonta Club 1 of Colombo, Dr. Marlene Abeywardene, President Elect of Zonta Club 1 of Colombo, Mana Ramanathan, and Chairman, Awards Committee, Ramola Sivasundaram and Co-Chairman, Joan Forbes also spoke. The principal sponsor of the event was The Finance Co.Ltd with MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd as Co-sponsor. |
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