Neela Marikkar honoured as a Sri Lanka Iconic Woman 2025

SLBC Chairman Professor Uditha Gayashan Gunasekara, Labour Minister Professor Anil Jayantha Fernando and Neela Marikkar  

Neela Marikkar, a trailblazing Sri Lankan business leader known known for her brilliant advertising prowess and peace activism, was honoured as a Sri Lanka Iconic Woman 2025, at a national awards ceremony held at the BMICH in celebration of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation’s (SLBC) 100-year legacy in broadcasting. 

The event was organised by TOP C Magazine of Action Media Solutions.

This landmark occasion honoured 100 outstanding Sri Lankan women who have made significant contributions to the growth and excellence of the country. 

Marikkar serves as Chairperson and Managing Director of Dentsu Grant Group, a leading advertising and communications company in Sri Lanka and part of the global network of Dentsu Interntional. Under her leadership, the company aggressively expanded its digital and technology capabilities, achieving strong business growth, earning recognition as one of the most awarded and integrated marketing communications companies in the country, servicing leading multi-national and local blue-chip companies. 

In addition, she has led several high-impact campaigns for social mobilisation, raising awareness against the abuse of women, HIV aids, children’s health and nutrition, support for war veterans and advocating for clean energy for a sustainable future. 

In her personal capacity, Marikkar has been a prominent social activist and led Sri Lanka First, a group of corporate leaders who came together for post-conflict reconstruction. 

She served as a UNDP consultant for its Invest-in-Peace initiative, collaborating across regions to promote economic reconstruction. She led a business delegation to South Africa to study post-conflict reconstruction efforts by the South African business community, engaging with leaders like President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rolf Meyer. 

As a member of Women Waging Peace, she has been a speaker at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on women’s role in peacebuilding.  She also participated in The Table of Free Voices in Berlin, a major global dialogue initiative involving 112 cultural thinkers and activists. She has spoken at numerous international platforms including the European Commission, Woodrow Wilson Centre, The Hague and others.

She was awarded the Outstanding Women Leadership Achievement Award by the World Women Leadership Congress for her contributions to business and social advocacy. She was honoured as one of the Top Fifty Women Leaders in her field in Asia and was recognised among the 50 Most Powerful Women in Sri Lanka. She has held leadership roles such as President of 4A’s Sri Lanka and Charter President of the International Advertising Association and currently serves on the board of the American Chamber of Commerce and Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka Japan Business Council.