23 short listed for APEA

Enterprise Asia's Judging Panel based in Malaysia, short listed 23 Sri Lankan entrepreneurs in seven different categories for the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards, (APEA) which would be held in Colombo Hilton which is celebrating 25 years of five star hospitality in Sri Lanka on February 12. APEA is a regional recognition program for outstanding entrepreneurs across Asia.

It is also a platform for Asian business leaders and entrepreneurs to network, share information and form lifetime acquaintances and alliances.

There are 14 ASEAN nations in this program. They are Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Macau, Cambodia and India. Sri Lanka was invited to join this elite group from 2012.

KPMG, the independent audit partner for Sri Lanka scrutinized the many entries received in keeping with the award rules. A four member technical team from Malaysia who was in Sri Lanka last week visited Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Mawanella, Kadawatha and Ratnapura areas and were very impressed with the diversity and commitment of the Sri Lankan nominees. All short listed Sri Lankans are true sons and daughters of the soil, with each having an inspiring life story of their road to entrepreneurship. These stories will be published in the Sri Lanka success stories book and distributed across Asia by Enterprise Asia.

Enterprise Asia a non-governmental organization for entrepreneurship based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia is the owner and organizer of this prestigious Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) since 1997. Enterprise Asia in Association with Sri Lanka Malaysia Business Council (SLMBC) is the local organizer of this event in Sri Lanka. NDB Bank is the Principal sponsor and Daily News, Sunday Observer, ITN, ART TV, SriLankan Airlines, KPMG, Hilton Colombo are the co-sponsors of the event. This award program is unique. As, Asia Pacific's most prestigious award for entrepreneurs, it is a regional bench-mark. It honours enterprising men and women from each country who have proven their enterprising spirit, whilst not neglecting the social responsibilities that comes with business leadership.

The awards on offer at the gala dinner on February 12, are; Entrepreneur of the Year award, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award, Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award and Most Promising Entrepreneurship Award, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award.

"These Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship awards (APEA) will take Sri Lankan corporate sector to a new level, to be noticed and recognized in the fast growing Asia Pacific Region," said Country Director for Enterprise Asia, Ananda Rajapakse, who introduced this event to Sri Lanka.