HDCC fetes H'tota entrepreneurs

W.H.G. Group of Companies wins Platinum award:

Jayasri Jayakody in Hambantota

W.H.G. Group of Companies Pvt Ltd, Tissamaharama Managing Director, W. H. Gamini, was crowned as the Hambantota District Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 (Platinum award) at the Singapore Conference Hall Hambantota last week.

Best Women Entrepreneur and the Best Youth Entrepreneur of the year awards were won by Kirama, Asoka Industries, Managing Director, Nihal Asoka Egodage, Hambantota, Dilani Beauty Saloon proprietor Dilani Sandamini, and Warapitiya, Srimali Marketing Products, proprietor Dinesh Suranga respectively. Under the open competition category, Middeniya, Dhammika Trade Centre proprietor Dhammika Liyanapathirana, Angunukolapelessa, Malindu Dairies Pvt Ltd, Managing Director N.G.Manjula Nishantha, Tangalle, Business Creations Garment Ltd Managing Director D.M.K.Kamalsiri and Hambantota Melani Arts proprietor N.G.Gamage were awarded as the best entrepreneurs (Gold winners), representing the Extra Large, Large, Medium and Small scale businesses respectively.

The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) in collaboration with the Hambantota District Secretariat and the Ruhuna University with the support of southern regional access to finance and advisory programme, implemented by the International Finance Cooperation with financial assistance from Royal Norwegian Embassy organized the Hambantota District Best Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Ceremony for the 10th year.

The representatives from the government, NGO's and private institutes participated in the event. Thirty seven winners were selected by a panel of judges led by the Ruhuna University Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Gamini Senanayake. The competition was held under the categories of Best Entrepreneur (open), Best Youth Entrepreneur, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Entrepreneur and Best Woman Entrepreneur.

Dialog Telecom was the Gold sponsor, David Pereis Motor Company was the Bronze sponsor and the Matara DFCC Bank was a sponsor for the event and many other private companies also cooperated with HDCC to make this competition a success.

The competition has now become a benchmark and a driving factor for the local business community to look for more ethical approaches towards their businesses.

There were seven Gold award winners, six Silver award winners, 12 bronze award winners, five Copper winners and four Merit winners. Parallel to the award ceremony, HDCC organized a Business Night.Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijelal De Silva participated in this awards ceremony as the chief guest while Ruhuna University Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Gamini Senanayake and Chief de Party of USAID ARD SuRG Project, Susan Ward, attended as special guests.

HDCC was founded in 1993, and was the first Sri Lankan district chamber to be established outside Colombo. HDCC's vision is to act as the 'gateway' for development, and to ensure social cohesion and the economic success of the Hambantota District. The event is designed to encourage the local business community to improve their standards of business practices and to achieve a high level of entrepreneurship.