The Best Entrepreneur Award Ceremony of the Southern Province was held recently
at Golden Pearl Hotel in Tangalle. The event was organized by the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) in collaboration with the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) and supported by the Chambers of Commerce in Galle and Matara, Consulate General of India Hambantota office and Southern Province Development Authority. This event was to be held in the year 2020 and due to the latest COVID 19 safety precautions, it was postponed to 2021.
This is the consecutive 5th time the award ceremony took place and feted the SMEs in the Southern Province. The awards were designed to encourage the business community in the province to improve their standards of business practices and achieve higher levels of entrepreneurship. NEDA has been selected by the HDCC to manage the evaluation process and organize the ceremony.
Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa was the Chief Guest and Parliament Member and
Hambantota District Coordinating Committee Chairman (Dr.) Upull Galappaththi, Consul General of India P R Dipin, NEDA Chairman Anushka Gunasinghe, District Secretaries of Hambantota, Matara and Galle, Southern Province Development Authority Chairman Charith Lasantha, National Enterprise Development Authority Officers, Presidents of the Galle, Matara and Hambantota District Chambers of Commerce. Representatives from the Government, NGOs and private companies also participated in the event.
NEDA provided partial funding for the event, which is also sponsored by the Consulate General of India Hambantota office, and the Southern Province Development Authority.
Significantly this year the event feted micro-scale entrepreneurs with the objective of encouraging and felicitating their commitment to the country’s economy and improving their capacity to the next level of entrepreneurship.
Winners were selected by a panel of judges who evaluated entrepreneurs’ submissions, conducted interviews and field visits. The competition presented awards for three sector categories under four size categories, as well as eight special awards.
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The following were presented at the ceremony:
Southern Province Enterprise Excellence Award - H.T. Aruna De Silva Chairman Evergreen Tea Factory Thalgaswala
SPECIAL AWARDS:
1. Best Youth Entrepreneur - Aruna Ranmuthu Jayawickrama Managing Director Randiya Engineering (Pvt) Ltd Kirama
2. Best Women Entrepreneur - Purnima Abhayakoon Proprietor Silk Republic Matara
3. Best Environmentally Friendly Enterprise - Amal Chathura Munasinghe Proprietor Singhe Auto Service Ambalantota
4. Best Innovative Enterprise - Manori Jayathilaka Chairperson Green Herbal Products (Pvt) Ltd Panagamuwa
5. Best Export Enterprise - H.T. Aruna De Silva Chairman Evergreen Tea Factory Thalgaswala
6. Best Energy Efficiency enterprise - Jayantha Jayasinghe Gunawardane Proprietor Gunawardana Tea Factory Makandura
7. Best Value-Added Enterprise - B.G. Lani Chairman Freelan Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd Matara
8. Best Productive Enterprise - K.W.K. Rajika Priyangani Managing Director Dickwella Hiru Fashion (Pvt) Ltd Dickwella
LARGE SCALE: 1. Industry/Manufacturing Sector: H.T. Aruna De Silva Chairman Evergreen Tea Factory Thalgaswala. 2. Services, Wholesale and Retail Sector: B.G. Anil Tushantha Peiris Director Arogya Health Care Services (Pvt) Ltd Tangalle. 3. Agriculture/Fisheries/Livestock Sector: M.G.K.P. Wijesinghe Director Suviska Tea Factory (Pvt) Ltd Neluwa
MEDIUM SCALE: 1. Industry/Manufacturing Sector: K.E. Amila Indunil De Silva Partner Amila Gold House Galle. 2. Services, Wholesale and Retail Sector: Chaminda Udagamage Proprietor Asiri Super Matara. 3. Agriculture/Fisheries/Livestock Sector: Jayantha Jayasinghe Gunawardane Proprietor Gunawardana Tea Factory Makandura.
SMALL SCALE: 1. Industry/Manufacturing Sector: E.M.E.G. Nuwan Kumara Ekanayake Proprietor N.A. Coir Products Walasmulla. 2. Services, Wholesale and Retail Sector: N.H.K. Upul Chinthaka Partner Chinthaka Motors Poddala. 3. Agriculture/Fisheries/Livestock Sector: I.W.G.A. Sanath Surendra Gunawardane Proprietor Polkoratuwa Farm Habaraduwa
MICRO SCALE: 1. Industry and Manufacturing Sector: A.G. Mahinda Malalgoda Proprietor Amila Foods Nakiyadeniya. 2. Services, Wholesale and Retail Sector: M.M. Maduka Deepali Ranasinghe Proprietor Araliya Saloon Matara. 3. Agriculture/Fisheries/Livestock Sector: Chamali Kumari Samarasinghe Proprietor Isuru Products Kirilipana
MICRO SCALE BUSINESSES: - DISTRICT WINNERS: 1. Micro Scale Busines Hambantota District Winner - H.G. Nileeka Prasanthi Proprietor Kavishka Products Hungama. 2. Micro Scale Busines Matara District Winner - W.W. Kanthi Priyadarshani Proprietor Maharga Beauty Center Matara. 3. Micro Scale Busines Galle District Winner - R.M. Mahesh Sandaruwan Bodhikotuwa Partner Samudralanka Food Products Gonapinuwala.
MERIT CERTIFICATES: 1. Industry /Manufacturing Sector - Prasad Narathota Hewage Proprietor Southern Ceramic Tissamaharamaya. 2. Best Innovative Enterprise - E.A. Roshan Maduwantha Proprietor Dilani Kaludodol Hambantota. 3. Best Environmentally Friendly Enterprise - R.K. Mahinda Pushpa] kumara Director Shashini Products (Pvt) Ltd Sooriyawewa
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