The ‘Diriya Kanthawa’ award, which celebrates the contribution of female workers across various industries, has become a pinnacle recognition, because it is a decisive endorsement of the invaluable contribution made by female workers towards the nation’s economy.
The Diriya Kanthawa winner brings fame not only to the company she works for, but also brings repute to the industry she belongs to. For the first time since the award’s inception, this year’s Diriya Kanthawa winner is from the apparel sector - Shanthi Dissanayake - Senior Supervisor, Hirdaramani Knit factory based in Wathurugama.
As a contributor to the apparel industry, her triumph is seen as a celebration of the majority of the female workforce that has brought the apparel sector to earn the status of being the number one foreign exchange earner for the country. Utilizing the largest female workforce, providing direct employment opportunities to approximately 300,000 women and resulting in an inflow of over US$5.2 billion in export revenue in 2018, the apparel industry is the first industry in the island to cross the US$5 billion mark.
This award reflects the value Shanthi and the thousands like her bring not only to the workplace but also in their personal lives. By doing this not only they improve the quality of life for their families, but also prove to be a source of inspiration for her community and peers.
The Diriya Kanthawa award was presented to Shanthi on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2019 by Independent Television Network (ITN) Limited. The judging process for the Diriya Kanthawa award is an arduous one, as the winner is selected by an independent panel which evaluated over 100+ applications sent in from across all industries in the country. To stand-out from so many applicants requires an outstanding achievement. The Diriya Kanthawa winner Shanthi Dissanayake has demonstrated exceptional commitment and determination to excel in the workplace while simultaneously providing a better future for her family through her hard work, self-belief and resilience. She joined Hirdaramani as a Helper in the year 2000 and has not looked back since, rising swiftly to become Senior Supervisor – Production by 2013.
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