Denemek ALTIN - Özgür
GLOBAL CEO AWARDEE RAMYA WEERAKOON REFLECTS ON HER PATH TO SUCCESS
Daily FT
|July 17, 2025
Ramya Weerakoon, Chairperson of Ramya Holdings Pvt. Ltd. and a woman entrepreneur, is certainly not an unfamiliar name in Sri Lanka. In recognition of her strides in the business landscape, she was among the ten who were awarded the Global CEO Top Businesswomen Awards this year. To gain insight into her thoughts on the award and her journey in business, this newspaper reached out to Mrs. Weerakoon. Following are excerpts of the interview:

WHAT DOES THIS AWARD MEAN TO THE YOUNGER VERSION OF YOURSELF, THE ONE WHO FIRST STEPPED INTO THE WORLD OF BUSINESS?
This award serves as both an encouragement and a source of strength, motivating me to strive for even greater heights in business. It offers valuable recognition and support, reinforcing our presence in the business world. With this honor, I am empowered to expand further and take the business to the next level.
YOU'VE OFTEN SPOKEN AT LENGTH ABOUT THE TRAGEDIES OF YOUR LIFE.CAN WE SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW IT LED TO YOUR ENTRY INTO BUSINESS?
My entrance into the business world was brought on by the tragic death of my husband, Major Noel Weerakoon, during the insurgence in 1971. I was with a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and was carrying my second child at the time. Naturally, I was shocked and helpless, and this was the beginning of my life as what I am today.
While living in Colombo, where my late husband was stationed, I began experimenting with batik purely out of pleasure. I had no formal knowledge of marketing or managing labour, but I learned everything hands-on. My requirements after my husband's death were very simple. I wanted to have a house of my own to live in and enough money to educate my children.
The decision I made was to turn my hobby of batik into a fully-fledged business. The pension I had from my husband was my capital.
Eventually, I set up a workshop in Kurunegala at my parental home property and supplied batik garments to the local market. In 1976, I took an even bolder step and participated in a trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, to create export opportunities. It was my first exposure to the international market. From that point on, I attended trade fairs across Europe and by 1978, I diversified into exporting wooden handicrafts. I had the vision that batiks wouldn't be in fashion anymore.
Bu hikaye Daily FT dergisinin July 17, 2025 baskısından alınmıştır.
Binlerce özenle seçilmiş premium hikayeye ve 9.000'den fazla dergi ve gazeteye erişmek için Magzter GOLD'a abone olun.
Zaten abone misiniz? Oturum aç
Daily FT'den DAHA FAZLA HİKAYE

Daily FT
LOLC Group drives Ceylon Motor Show 2025 as exclusive sponsor
THE LOLC Group, has announced its partnership as the exclusive Sponsor of the Ceylon Motor Show 2025, largest and only international-standard automotive exhibition in the country.
2 mins
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
South Africa hold nerve to beat Bangladesh in classic thriller
ICC WOMEN'S CRICKET WORLD CUP
2 mins
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
Coca-Cola appoints Mario Perera as Country Head for Sri Lanka and Maldives
THE Coca-Cola Company yesterday announced the appointment of Mario Perera as Country Head fo Sri Lanka and the Maldives With over 14 years of experience in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, Mario brings extensive regional and global leadership experience, having managed global brands across multiple countries.
1 min
October 14, 2025
Daily FT
World Elite acquires 50% Gestetner stake for Rs. 318.7 m
GESTETNER of Ceylon PLC yesterday said that Hong Kong-based World Elite Ltd. has acquired a controlling 50.01% stake in the company through trades executed in the market.
1 min
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
Court upholds fair access for tourism operators in Samanalawewa
ECO Team Group, the pioneer of canoeing and kayaking in Samanalawewa, has welcomed a recent Court of Appeal ruling reinforcing fair and transparent access to the lake for all tourism operators.
1 min
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
NDB Bank partners DIMO to expand customer-friendly leasing solutions
NDB Bank recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DIMO to extend affordable and accessible leasing facilites to.a wide spectrum of customers.
1 mins
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
Deutsche Bank says SL at turning point; will step up support
GERMANY'S multinational financial services giant Deutsche Bank last week said with macroeconomic indicators improving Sri Lanka is at a turning point and it will step up being a conduit for global capital, enabling trade and investment.
2 mins
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
Colombo Port posts Rs. 32 b profit YTD Aug. 2025
SLPA says will reinvest earnings to boost transshipment hub status
1 min
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
Abans Group Director Dr. Dubash honoured with Visionary Leadership Award
ABANS Group has announced that Group Director Dr. Saroshi Dubash has been recognised with the ‘Visionary Leadership in Organizational Excellence’ Award at the 15th Top 50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards 2025, held at Shangri-La Colombo on 9 October.
1 mins
October 14, 2025

Daily FT
Indian banks can lend in INR in SL, Bhutan, and Nepal
THE Reserve Bank of India has amended regulations allowing Indian banks to extend loans in Indian rupees (INR) to banks and individuals residing in Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal.
1 min
October 14, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size