WIM urges for more board-chair positions for women in Sri Lanka corporate sector

Says that no industry should be labeled on gender bias

by Sanath Nanayakkare

Having more women leaders in corporate management correlates with increased financial and non-financial performance, therefore, the current numbers of women leaders across the country’s corporate landscape should be increased by allowing more of their kind to hold board-chair positions, Women in Management (WIM) Founder & Chairperson Dr. Sulochana Segera told the Island Financial Review.

“It has been proved that when there are women involved in decision-making on corporate boards, those companies reflect favourable outcomes in their performance. Women leaders are able to make this difference because they are very accountable and ethical,” WIM chairperson said.

“Women account for 52.3% of Sri Lanka’s population. They have shown their ability to handle crisis situations with great resilience. So, their influence can have a positive impact at all levels of business, not just in decision-making and leadership roles. If the country doesn’t attract and utilize their talent, it would be wasting a human resource that makes up more than half of its population,” she said.

When asked if the Sri Lankan corporate sector has not yet made an environment conducive to tapping the fullest potential of women leadership and the contribution from women workers at all levels, she replied,” I think that a supporting environment is already in place. You can’t expect to create a perfect environment for absolute gender diversity and parity. It is just that the number of women employed in decision-making roles has to go up. Improving the work environment for women to thrive and deliver their best would be an ongoing process. It is also up to women to step forward and take up these opportunities.”She noted that just by adding a family member to a board may not help ensure the formation of a well-performing board.

Asked whether Sri Lankan women prefer to enter only women-friendly businesses such as apparel, FMCG, she said,” In fact, those sectors used to be our cottage industries and businesses. Now they are operating at a large scale, and we tend to call them ‘women-friendly’. No industry should be labeled on gender bias. It is the passion and the commitment that women bring to any industry that matters. Today there are women in the construction sector, road development sector which are thought to be male-dominant. Their numbers may not still be significant, but the numbers are growing and these women will be role-models for other women who share similar passion. It is not about intruding male-dominated sectors, but entering those sectors with passion and working with male counterparts in collaboration so that these women can advance their career prospects in high-growth sectors while playing a vital role in boosting the national economy.”

She also said that Sri Lanka needs mentors who can provide help in guiding women through the new and unprecedented challenges they confront.WIM Sri Lanka launched the Second Edition of the Women Top50 Calendar for the year 2023 featuring 12 women Icons on 4th January at the Galadari Hotel. Sara Twigg Programme Manager – Women in Work Sri Lanka International Finance Corporation- was the guest of honour at the event.

This year, WIM has featured women from diverse backgrounds like business, entrepreneurship, corporate boards, state sector, banking, Insurance, corporate careers, legal and etc.

January – Gillian Edwards, Independent Non-Executive Director, Commercial Credit and Finance PLC, February – DevikaEllepola, Head of Passenger Sales, Emirates Airline in Sri Lanka, March – Prof. Dr. Thushari Koralage, Principal/Managing Director, Asian Grammar School (Colombo/Matara), April – Julian Devika Anthony (LLB.), Barrister & Solicitor, President, WIM Canada Chapter, May – NilushiKumaradas, Head of Procurement, Coca Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd, June – Nirosha Jagodaarachchi, Chief Executive Officer, British Cosmetics (Pvt) Ltd, July – Dawn Austin, Managing Director, NIDRO Supply (Pvt) Ltd, August – Shehara de Silva, Non Exec Director, Keells Food Plc, September – Shashi Kandambi Jassim, Professional Banker, October– Keasila Jayawardana, Chairperson, National Savings Bank Plc, November -WIM Sri Lanka Team, Waruni Algama, Vijitha Samarakkodige, Summaiya Macan Markar, Dr. Himalee De Silva, Niroshini Rathnasinghe, Fazeela Dharmarathne & Dr. Nadini Wickarmasinghe, December- Manindri Dias Bandaranayake, Group Chief Brand Marketing Officer, Janashakthi Group.

WIM chairperson said that younger women will have the chance to be inspired by those featured in the calendar and find new ways to make history of their own.