Lankan woman inventor wins British Female Innovator and Inventor awards

Emila Smith (nee Ermila Jayasuriya) from Cardiff, whose beauty and bath products business Winter in Venice turned over 1m pounds in its first year, won the "Best Product Design and Packaging" award, the "Women in Product Development" award and "Special Achievement" award at the top innovators in the British Female inventor and innovator of the Year competition - 2009.

Economy and Transport Minister Leuan Wyn Jones congratulated Ermila on her success. He said, "These innovative and clever ideas have created new successful businesses and jobs and I am delighted that Wales has done so well in this competition".

Emila is the eldest child of Nalin Jayasuriya, Managing Director & CEO of McQuire Rens & Jones (Pvt) Ltd and the former Regional HR Consultant and Regional Head of HR Special Projects for a Fortune 500 company, Smithkline Beecham International, Southeast Asia & India and of Ranjani Jayasuriya, LLB, Attorney-at-Law and former Executive Director/General Manager. Housing Development Finance Corporation of Sri Lanka, currently engaged in strengthening the family business whilst continuing her legal practice.