The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka proudly celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 today with an inspiring and impactful gathering under the theme “She Leads the Future: Sustainable Growth with Purpose.”
Aligned with the United Nations global theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”, the program brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to reflect on the importance of empowering women and advancing gender equality across every sphere of society.
The program included an inspiring women leaders segment which focused on economic empowerment and sustainability, conducted by Ms. 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 Mrs. Anoma Wijetunga, popular chef and founder of Anoma’s Kitchen, which demonstrated smart and efficient cooking techniques while highlighting productivity and healthier lifestyle practices.
The discussion on Women and Financial Freedom conducted by Mr. Buddhika Perera, Assistant General Manager – Credit Mobility, and Mr. 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 Ms. 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.
The program was powered by Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC, along with the valued support of several partner organizations that contributed to the success of this endeavour, namely: Lady J, Sandbox Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, Sena Mills Refineries (Pvt) Ltd, Stenco International Trading, Bellose Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Country Style Foods (Pvt) Limited (Smak), Enchanteur, Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Edinborough Products (Pvt) Ltd, FADNA, Jupiter Trading Co (Pvt) Ltd, Kings Hospital Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, Marawa Ceylon Cinnamon, Mega Life Sciences, Nawaloka Hospitals PLC, Pee Bee Management Services (Pvt) Ltd, St. Anthony’s Biz (Pvt) Ltd, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Wijaya Products (Pvt) Ltd, Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd, Isabella (Private) Limited, Dreamron Lanka (Pvt) Limited, and Finagle.
The celebration served not only as a tribute to the achievements and resilience of women but also as a reminder of the continued commitment required to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.