Gayani de Alwis at helm of WCIC for 2nd year

New Board of Management for 2025/26 of WCIC

Standing from left: Daily Mirror Business Editor Shabiya Ali Ahlam, Founder, Cyber Concepts (Pvt.) Ltd, Director and Software Architect Krishnajina Rajapathirane, Cambridge University Press and Assessment Country Head Sri Lanka and Maldives Zahara Ansary, WCIC CEO Chitranjali Dissanayake, Deloitte Sri Lanka and Maldives Partner/Director Leading Government and ESG Zahra Cader, Consultant to ILO, ITC   Eranthi Premaratne, WikiFrank Chartered Valuers Managing Directress Wathsala Wickramanayake

Seated from left: Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt.) Ltd Head of Product Development and Branding Oshadhi Somasinghe, Packwell Lanka Director Tehani Mathew, Z Consultancy Founder/Chief Consultant Tusitha Kumarakulasingam, Management Consultant and Lecturer, Singer Sri Lanka Independent Non-Executive Director/Logicare (Pvt.) Ltd Director Gayani de Alwis (Chairperson), Macbertan (Pvt.) Ltd [McLarens Group] Managing Director Ramani Ponnambalam, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Head of Operations Nilani Seneviratne, Tudor V Perera & Company Partner/Chartered Accountant Renuka Senanayake

Absent: Attorney-at-Law WHO National Consultant - Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct and Gender, Rights and Equity Naushalya Rajapaksha, Founder CEO Magellan Champlain, Director Sapphire Cutters (Pvt.) Ltd Sarrah Sammoon 

• Board of Management for 2025/2026 announced at 40th AGM

The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) conducted its 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently, with Gayani De Alwis commencing her second term as Chairperson for the period 2025/2026, as per the constitution of the WCIC.

Addressing the AGM, de Alwis pledged her commitment to driving the WCIC vision to be the ‘think tank’ voice and ‘platform’ empowering women to be powerful nation builders by participating in transforming economic growth of the country.  

“Over the past four decades of our trailblazing journey, the WCIC has evolved into a think tank, voice and a platform for women in business, fostering an inclusive environment where women entrepreneurs can thrive. 

We have witnessed a remarkable growth and transformation in our journey through encouraging participation, creating opportunities, removing barriers to build sustainable businesses along the way,” she said speaking on the WCIC’s 40-year journey at the AGM held at Jetwing Colombo Seven. 

She shared that the WCIC as the national chamber for women in business, collaborates with all chambers and has partnerships with likeminded organisations with similar objectives. These initiatives allow the chamber members to benefit from efforts across all such organisations.

The WCIC during the year championed its three flagship properties, which have clearly defined objectives and deliverables: WCIC Prathibhabisheka – Women Entrepreneur Awards 2024, which recognises and rewards outstanding women entrepreneurs across the country and SAARC region, WCIC Women Leadership Forum, which deliberates on pertinent topics relevant to women in business and shares unique knowledge and learning opportunity, WCIC RampUp, the fashion show providing opportunity for entrepreneurs in the fashion business to showcase their products on the ramp and to become export ready.  

De Alwis concluded her speech by thanking the past chairpersons and members for their presence and the Pillar leads for their dedicated voluntary service and appreciating the outgoing board members’ contribution to the WCIC.

Gracing the post event as the chief guest was 99x Technology founder and Chairman Mano Sekaram, who shared insights on the importance of entrepreneurships and particularly start-ups. 

“In comparison to large-scale businesses, the SMEs are the ones that really create job opportunities.”

“While the SMEs are good for the economy, the start-ups are the disruptors of the market,” he said. 

As an investor, he encouraged the setting up of more start-ups to grow the country’s economy even further.

The post AGM sessions was attended by invitees from the national chambers, banks and business community.

The WCIC is the premier organisation supporting entrepreneurs and professional businesswomen. With a well-structured board of management and Pillar teams and leaders with dedicated responsibility the organisation focuses on achieving its detailed objectives with a clearly defined strategic plan as well as a plan in to action. The membership is open to women who believe they can contribute to society as well as benefit from the many facilities the organisation creates.