‘More women should be in leisure industry’

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

PARTICIPATION: Only a handful of women are involved in management positions in the leisure industry and more women should get into higher positions in the industry, said the Director General Manager of Bay Beach Hotel Weligama, Hashani Pathirana.

Being one of the first women from the Southern Province to be in a position of this nature in the travel

 industry she said that it was pleasing to note that more women are getting involved in management positions in the industry that is mostly male dominated.

“This is encouraging as I believe that women would be the best hospitality administrators as they can do a better job in this field,” she said. They can do more than just being receptionists and guest relations officers.

She said that in most instances cultural barriers keep women from getting involved into top management positions in the industry. “Though this is not evident in Colombo, in the outstations it is still there,” she said.

She said that she had been involved with the star class Bay Beach Hotel Weligama. She said that her father, who was the key person behind building the hotel, gave her several management tips that were not included in her education.

“I must also thank Chairman, Ceylon Shipping Lines, Capt. Lester Weiman, Chairman Ceylon Ocean Lines (COL,) Upatissa Jayasinghe and General Manager, COL, Lakshman Udukumburage for their support, guidance and most importantly financial assistance,” she said.