Women-led enterprises, responsible workplaces and next-generation leadership will take centre stage on December 9, as Women in Management Global (WIM) brings together three of its flagship platforms for WIM – The Business & Leadership Night 2026.
The event will bring together the 2nd Women MSME Awards 2026, Respectful Workplace Audit & Certification and 2nd NextTier Mentorship & Awards 2026 to celebrate achievements, promote responsible workplace practices and recognise enterprises and emerging leaders contributing to Sri Lanka’s business landscape.
Commenting on the event, Women in Management Founder and Chairperson Sulochana Segera said Sri Lanka must strengthen its ability to compete in an increasingly value-driven global economy.
“The world is no longer competing on quantity alone; it is competing on value, innovation, quality, talent and the ability to think beyond borders. Sri Lanka must move with greater ambition and see itself not merely as a participant in the global economy, but as a nation capable of creating influence within it,” Segera said.
“We have the talent, resilience, creativity and resources to compete with the world. What we need is the courage to think bigger, invest in our people, embrace technology, strengthen our businesses and turn our national strengths into global opportunities. Sri Lanka must prepare to compete, lead and make its mark – we simply cannot afford to be left behind,” she added.
The Women MSME Awards 2026 will recognise women entrepreneurs who are creating employment, economic value, innovation and social impact across 10 categories. Nominations will be open from September 20 to October 20, 2026, through the WIM website.
The Respectful Workplace Audit & Certification will assess participating organisations against the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Respectful Workplace guidelines. Eligible organisations will receive WIM endorsement and certification in partnership with TLM UK, the awarding body. Applications will close on September 30, with certification limited to 15 organisations annually.
Meanwhile, the NextTier Mentorship & Awards will return for the second consecutive year, selecting 35 participants for direct access to the experience and perspectives of 12 local and international WIM Global mentors. The programme is designed to provide structured mentorship and help participants prepare for greater leadership responsibilities.
The WIM Leadership Awards Night will also recognise three outstanding business leaders whose influence extends beyond their respective organisations and contributes to meaningful impact across Sri Lanka’s economy, industries and society.
Adding an international dimension to the programme, Deena Tissera, Labour Councillor of Aberdeen City Council for Hilton, Woodside & Stockethill, will participate alongside Lushani Kodituwakku, a Commercial Due Diligence Expert based in the United Kingdom and a recipient of the WIM Top50 Global Award in 2025.
The three platforms will be guided by experienced professionals from the business and leadership sectors. Dr. Nirmal De Silva, Group Director of RNH Ventures, will chair the Respectful Workplace Audit & Certification, while Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, Vice Chairman – Asia Pacific of the World Rural Tourism Council, will chair the NextTier Mentorship & Awards. Prashantha Mahadevan, Director of Dazzle (Pvt) Ltd, will chair the Women MSME Awards 2026.
Fazeela Dharamaratne will serve as the WIM Leadership Night Event Chair. The respective Awards Chairs are Anjali Goonetilake for the Respectful Workplace Awards, Arunnia Vimalendren for the NextTier Leadership Awards and Dilsha Ruwanpathirana for the Women MSME Awards.
By bringing together recognition, workplace standards and mentorship within a single platform, WIM – The Business & Leadership Night 2026 will provide a forum to highlight women-led businesses, encourage more responsible organisational cultures and support the development of future business leaders.
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