What is your long-term vision for empowering women to lead Sri Lanka towards a greener and more sustainable future?

As an organic coconut entrepreneur, my business harnesses nature’s gifts to create value, nourish communities and inspire innovation especially among women. Coconut Miracle has practised the ethos of being ethical, original and organic since 2010. Sharing and showcasing my personal journey, and demonstrating the positive impact of sustainable practices, has been our focus. This has helped us build trust and confidence with customers, partners and suppliers.

I believe that eco-friendly organic products can replace less sustainable alternatives, and offer better health and a lower carbon footprint – one that contributes to a greener and more sustainable Sri Lanka.

The Coconut Miracle Academy shares best practices and offers motivational skills to small businesses; and the Coconut Miracle Foundation supports local communities and underprivileged children. I’ve created a workplace culture that’s centred on green practices and demonstrates how small actions can lead to significant environmental benefits and sustainability.

Shanthini Ahangama
Founder/CEO
Coconut Miracle

My long-term vision for empowering women to lead Sri Lanka towards a greener and more sustainable future is rooted in creating tangible, lasting change through action and innovation. Sustainability isn’t simply an idea; it’s a responsibility. And women have the power to drive it forward. They play a crucial role from the grassroots level, whether as teachers, mothers or friends, due to a unique ability to influence and inspire. By empowering women across all sectors – i.e. business, policy and community leadership – we can equip them with the tools, mentorship and opportunities needed to shape a more sustainable future.

I see a future where women are leading sustainable businesses, advocating for climate conscious policies, and inspiring the next generation to think and act differently. It’s about fostering a mindset that integrates sustainability into everything we do  –from boardrooms to classrooms – and creating a ripple effect that transforms Sri Lanka into a greener and more resilient nation for everyone. This shift begins within our immediate circles – our friends, families and communities. As women, we have the power to influence those closest to us, and encourage them to rethink their daily choices and adopt practices such as circular economy principles where waste becomes a resource.

Rose Fernando
Commercial Controller
Group Commercial
IFS R&D International

Volunteer at The Pearl Protectors

A greener future means using our resources wisely while ensuring we don’t compromise their availability for future generations. It’s about living sustainably by making eco conscious choices, raising awareness and providing access to eco-friendly products that make sustainable living easy and rewarding. Small actions, big impact!

When it comes to empowering women, we’re dedicated to helping rural women unlock their potential. By guiding them to transform their skills into making eco-friendly products, we are creating opportunities for income, boosting their confidence and amplifying their voices in the sustainability movement. Together, we’re building a future community of women change makers to show that sustainability isn’t only about the planet – it’s about people too. So let’s build a more sustainable Sri Lanka with women leading the way!

Dinushika Gunaratne
Founder/Director
Sustainablee Yours

Women have the potential to lead Sri Lanka towards a greener future due to their natural empathy for the environment. Once educated and empowered, a woman can care for her family, community and the planet in her unique way. With the right knowledge and resources, she can become a powerful advocate for sustainability.

While achieving sustainability is challenging, an empowered woman can play a pivotal role in transforming the world by ensuring that it is a better place for future generations. By empowering women, we enable them to make significant contributions to a sustainable world, where sustainability is not simply a goal but a way of life as well.

Arulpriya Kirekaran
Founder/Managing Director
AgroFeed

All women have the opportunity to contribute towards a greener and more sustainable future for Sri Lanka. This process starts with small incremental changes from home, and then translates into changes in the workplace and the world around you. A greener and more sustainable Sri Lanka can only be achieved together – collectively.

Ronali Perera
Founder/Director – Refreshing Ayurvedic Wellness (RAW Sri Lanka)
Cofounder/Director – The Fun Island
Cofounder/Director – Michael Adventures (The Pickle Island)

Through REFIND.LK, we hope to connect more women with sustainability practices and a more sustainable lifestyle by a small practice – such as buying and selling items already in circulation. Vendors who sign up on REFIND.LK have their online shop and become sustainable entrepreneurs by selling from their homes, and creating a more sustainable impact through their thrifting practices.

Buying second hand has great benefits and we hope to make this experience as enjoyable as possible – for both our buyers and sellers – and lead Sri Lanka to a greener and sustainable future.

Deanna Jayasundera Rodrigo
Founder
REFIND.LK

Our vision is to empower women to lead Sri Lanka towards a greener and more sustainable future. Women have an incredible ability to drive change in their communities; their leadership is essential for building a sustainable tomorrow. Through the Good Market, we aim to create opportunities for women to innovate, lead and thrive in eco-friendly enterprises.

By supporting organic farming, circular economy initiatives and sustainable business models, we can amplify women’s contributions to environmental and social wellbeing. Empowered women inspire their families, communities and future generations to embrace sustainable living. Together, we can create resilient local economies, protect our natural ecosystems and champion equity. This journey isn’t only about sustainability; it’s also about unleashing the potential of women as the architects of a better and greener Sri Lanka.

Achala Samaradiwakara
Cofounder/Managing Director
Good Market

Empowering women to lead Sri Lanka toward a greener and sustainable future involves enhancing access to education, leadership roles and environmental initiatives. By promoting women’s involvement in decision making, particularly in environmental policy, we can harness their unique perspectives to drive change.

Providing platforms for women to innovate in sustainable technologies, advocating for gender inclusive environmental policies and ensuring equal opportunities in green entrepreneurship can foster long-term sustainability. Collaborative efforts between women led organisations, the government and the private sector will create a holistic approach to eco conscious development. Ultimately, women’s leadership can create a more resilient, equitable and environmentally responsible Sri Lanka.’

Tashini Vithanage
Founder
TESHVO

I envision a country that has transitioned from sustainable to regenerative practices. Our planet is facing a crisis and it can’t be sustained. By placing life and living ecosystems at the centre of our economies, we can begin to regenerate what we’re destroying. The various global crises that we grapple with can be understood through the science of living systems. Having evolved over millennia, it is complex, symbiotic and diverse; it embodies community, inter-being and a deep connection with our living ecology.

We should embed this science in our business strategies, and lead by prioritising connection and care for the common good. Women are intrinsically connected to ecology, and to natural cycles and collectivism. Once we understand that this is our super power, we can lead by nurturing symbiotic communities into a regenerative future.

Savera Weerasinghe
Consultant
Circular Economy and Regenerative Business

It’s more important now than ever before to empower women farmers, to ensure resilience to climate change and end world hunger. Gender equality must be at the core of any business to ensure that women’s unique knowledge and experiences can contribute to better restoration and conservation of ecosystems and species, which both women and men can equally benefit from. Encouraging a shift in societal norms and attitudes will challenge and eliminate gender bias and stereotypes that limit the aspirations of women farmers and their capacities in agriculture.

When gender considerations are involved in financial inclusion, digital literacy and technology, conservation and sustainability efforts, women’s challenges are better recognised and addressed. This leads to multiple benefits for people and nature – such as diverse crops and herbs, improved nutrition and contribution to sustainable landscape management.

Bhagya Wijayawardane
Cofounder
Eshkol Agro Solutions