Vanithabhimana 2020 : Pushpa Ramyani Most Popular Sri Lankan Woman

Colombo (News 1st); Pushpa Ramyani De Soysa adjudged as Sri Lanka's Most Popular Woman at the 2020 Vanithabhimana Awards organized by News 1st & NDB on Monday (08) at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre. The awards were organized to coincide with International Women's Day to recognize and honor women who performed in exceptional ways in their respective fields. The Vanithabhimana program which took place for almost a year as a series of events, recognized women entrepreneurs from across the country, especially from rural communities. Pushpa Ramyani De Soysa, Umaria Sinhawansa, Otara Gunawardena, Chamari Atapattu, Pooja Umashankar, Shalani Thakara, Shashika Nisansala, and Susanthika Jayasinghe made the Top 08 for Most Popular Sri Lankan Woman, following which Pushpa Ramyani De Soysa was crowned the winner. At the Final Award ceremony on Monday (08) awards were presented under 08 separate categories. The recipients were selected from amongst thousands who applied for Vanithabhimana by a committee of experts chaired by the Director-General of the Department of Manpower and Employment, Anusha Gokula Fernando. 01. Entrepreneur (Micro) - Damayanthi Ratnayake 02. Entrepreneur (Small) - Shiromi Pathirana 03. Entrepreneur (Upcoming) - Chamari Lakmali Kumari 04. Young Leader - Bhagya Sanjeewani 05. Environment Manager - V. J. Nilupuli 06. Social Services - G. M. S. Damayanthi Pushpakumari 07. Sports - Damayanthi Darsha 08. Education - R. A. D. Priyanka Weerasekera Further, 10 Sri Lankan women were given a Lifetime Achievement Award for their extraordinary services to the nation. 01. Veteran Actress Iranganie Serasinghe 02. Veteran Film Director Kalakeerthi Sumitra Peries 03. Veteran Choreographer Padma Shri (Dr) Vajira Chitrasena 04. Veteran Artiste Kalashuri Latha Walpola 05. Veteran Artiste Visharada (Dr) Nanda Malini 06. Acclaimed Writer Sumithra Rahubadda 07. WHO Epidemiologist Dr. Paba Palihawadana 08. Marine Biologist Dr. Asha de Vos 09. Olympic Athlete Susanthika Jayasinghe 10. First Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala   [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZniQaeGYlJo[/embed]