The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) has announced the launch of the fifth edition of WCIC PRATHIBHABHISHEKA – Women Entrepreneur Awards 2026, inviting women entrepreneurs from across Sri Lanka and the SAARC region to apply for one of the country’s leading business recognition programmes.
Building on the success of previous editions, the awards continue to recognise women entrepreneurs who demonstrate business excellence, resilience, innovation and leadership while making a meaningful contribution to Sri Lanka’s economic development.
Speaking at the launch, Gayani De Alwis, Chairperson of the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said WCIC PRATHIBHABHISHEKA has evolved into a leading platform for recognising women entrepreneurs who are transforming industries, creating employment and contributing to the national economy.
“As we launch the 2026 edition, we once again invite women entrepreneurs from every corner of Sri Lanka to showcase their journeys and inspire the next generation of business leaders. The success stories of our past winners demonstrate the impact this recognition creates for both entrepreneurs and their businesses,” she said.
The previous edition received more than 100 applications from businesses of various scales, representing all nine provinces. A total of 47 awards were presented across Overall, Category, Provincial and Special Recognition categories, further strengthening the programme’s position as a national platform for recognising women in business.
Co-Chairs of the Organising Committee, Nilani Seneviratne and Wathsala Wickramanayake, said participation from women entrepreneurs has continued to grow each year, reflecting increasing confidence and ambition among Sri Lankan women in business.
“Beyond recognising achievements, Prathibhabhisheka provides entrepreneurs with visibility, credibility, valuable networks and opportunities for future growth. We encourage women-led businesses, from promising start-ups to established enterprises, to be part of this year’s journey,” they said.
Applications are now open across the Start-up, Micro, Small, Medium and Large business categories. Outstanding applicants will also be considered for several special awards, culminating in the presentation of the prestigious Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 title.
The programme will continue to recognise entrepreneurial achievements across Sri Lanka through provincial awards, while also providing women entrepreneurs from the SAARC region with an opportunity to compete in the international category.
Interested applicants can download the application form from WCIC Sri Lanka in their preferred language or obtain an application directly from the WCIC office.
Completed applications, together with the required supporting documents, should be submitted before the closing date, which will be announced shortly.
People’s Insurance Strengthens Market Position with 39% GWP and 63% PBT Growth in H1 2026
People’s Insurance PLC has reported strong financial performance for the first half of 2026, with Gross Written Premium (GWP) increasing by nearly 39% year-on-year to Rs. 5.21 billion, significantly exceeding the 23% growth recorded by Sri Lanka’s general insurance industry.
For the six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company generated GWP of Rs. 5.21 billion, compared with Rs. 3.75 billion during the corresponding period of 2025.
Motor insurance remained the largest contributor to the Company’s portfolio, generating approximately Rs. 4.05 billion in GWP, up from Rs. 2.91 billion a year earlier. This represents growth of approximately 39.2%, compared with industry-wide Motor insurance growth of around 33.5%.
Meanwhile, the Company’s Non-Motor portfolio delivered particularly strong growth during the period. Non-Motor GWP increased by approximately 37.4% to Rs. 1.16 billion, significantly outperforming the industry’s overall Non-Motor growth of around 9.9%.
People’s Insurance Chairman Chandana Guniyangoda said the Company’s performance during the first half of 2026 reflected continued business progress and the strength of its strategic direction.
“The performance achieved during the first half of 2026 is a reflection of the continued progress of People’s Insurance and the confidence placed in the Company by our customers and stakeholders. The Company’s ability to achieve strong growth in a competitive market is encouraging and provides a solid foundation for its continued development. We remain focused on building on this momentum and creating sustainable value for all our stakeholders,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer Jeevani Kariyawasam said the broad-based growth across the Company’s portfolio was particularly encouraging.
“The first-half results demonstrate the momentum we are building across the business. While Motor continues to be a major contributor, the strong growth achieved in Non-Motor is particularly significant as we continue to build a more diversified and resilient portfolio. Our priorities remain strengthening customer relationships, expanding distribution, improving service delivery and pursuing sustainable, profitable growth,” she said.
The strong increase in premium volumes was accompanied by a substantial improvement in profitability, further strengthening People’s Insurance’s position in Sri Lanka’s general insurance market.
5th Edition of WCIC PRATHIBHABHISHEKA Women Entrepreneur Awards 2026 Opens Applications
