National Chamber celebrates International Women’s Day 2026

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 recently under the theme ‘She Leads the Future: Sustainable Growth with Purpose.’

The program included an inspiring women leaders segment which focused on economic empowerment and sustainability, conducted by Roshani Dharmaratne, Director – Hayleys Fentons Limited and Hayleys Mobility Ltd. 

The second phase highlighted education as a leadership pathway for women and was conducted by Dr. Chethana Dabare, Vice President – BIMT Campus, emphasizing the critical role of education in nurturing future women leaders.

One of the highlights of the event was a session by Anoma’s Kitchen conducted by Anoma Wijetunga, which demonstrated smart and efficient cooking techniques while highlighting productivity and healthier lifestyle practices.

The discussion on Women and Financial Freedom conducted by Buddhika Perera, Assistant General Manager – Credit Mobility, and Christman Fernando, Senior Manager – Development Banking and Sustainability Management Unit of Pan Asia Banking Corporation, encouraged participants to strengthen financial literacy and build long-term economic security.

The program also included a valuable wellness session conducted by Dr. Azyan Shafeek, Wellness Coach and Certified Lifestyle Physician from Mega Life Sciences, focusing on the importance of sleep, stress management, and maintaining physical wellbeing in today’s demanding work environments.

A special session by UNFPA conducted by Bimali Amarasekara, National Programme Analyst - Gender/GBV, United Nations Population Fund, further highlighted the importance of promoting gender inclusivity and creating equitable opportunities for all. The discussion emphasized that achieving gender equality requires collective effort, awareness, and meaningful action.