TiE Colombo Partners with TiE Women Global Initiative to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

TiE Colombo Partners with TiE Women Global Initiative to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka

On March 19, 2025, TiE Colombo officially launched its TiE Women Initiative at the highly anticipated TiE Colombo Women’s Day Celebration event held at the Granbell Hotel, Colombo. The event brought together accomplished entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and aspiring female entrepreneurs to discuss the challenges and opportunities women face in business. It was a milestone in TiE Colombo’s commitment to empowering and supporting women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

The TiE Women Initiative, a global program under the TiE Global umbrella, aims to provide women entrepreneurs with mentorship, networking opportunities, education, and funding to enable them to scale their businesses and achieve success in their entrepreneurial endeavours. As part of TiE’s global network, TiE Colombo seeks to create a vibrant and supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs to thrive and grow.

The centrepiece of the event was the panel discussion on the topic “Women Who Lead: Overcoming Barriers, Building Networks, and Managing Multiple Roles in Work and Life.” The session provided valuable insights into the unique challenges women face while balancing their professional and personal lives, as well as how they overcome obstacles and leverage networks to succeed in the competitive business world.

Esteemed panelists for the discussion were, Dilmini Weragama, Group CEO of Rockland Distilleries, Linda Speldewinde, Founder of Academy of Design (AoD) and Jayomi Lokuliyana, Co-Founder of zMessenger. The panel was moderated by Anishka De Zylva, Head of Government Affairs at Daraz Sri Lanka, who guided the discussion with great skill, ensuring that the conversation was both engaging and informative.

During the discussion, the panellists shared their personal experiences of overcoming barriers such as limited access to funding, gender biases, and balancing family responsibilities with running businesses. They also provided advice on building strong support networks, empowering women to take leadership roles, and utilizing mentorship opportunities for business growth.

The session was well-received by the audience, with numerous positive feedback highlighting the practical advice shared by the panellists.

It was a valuable learning experience for the attendees, many of whom were female entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and young professionals looking to make their mark in the business world.

Madu Ratnayake, President of TiE Colombo, emphasized the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs. “At TiE Colombo, goal is to build a stronger and more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. The TiE Women Initiative is our way of ensuring that women entrepreneurs have the resources, networks, and mentorship they need to succeed in building global business.” he said.

TiE Colombo’s International Women’s Day Celebration event marked the beginning of a long-term effort to continue supporting women in business. The TiE Women Initiative plans to host additional events, workshops, and mentorship programs aimed at helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses and connect with global networks.

Hariharan Padmanaban, Co-Founder and chapter secretary mentioned that TiE Colombo is making significant strides in fostering entrepreneurship across different demographics in Sri Lanka. The launch of “TiE Women” provides a valuable platform for women entrepreneurs to access global networks, whilst the launch of TiE Colombo – Next Gen demonstrates a commitment to nurturing young talent and future business leaders.

These initiatives could have a lasting impact on the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to international markets.

“I’m excited to lead the TiE Women Sri Lanka Chapter and help nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in young women across our country. With the right support, connections, and platform, I believe we can bring out the best in them and help their ideas thrive — not just locally, but globally,” said Dilmini Weragama, TiE Colombo Charter member and Chapter Lead of TiE Women Sri Lanka.

The event also saw the TiE Women Global Team joining online, including Sushma Rajagopalan, Global Lead for TiE Women, and Ritika Singh, Executive Committee Member of TiE Women, who both added valuable insights to the session. Their participation highlighted the global support and reach of the TiE network.

The event was proudly sponsored by John Keells Stock Brokers (Pvt) Ltd. through their “SHE-invests” campaign, reinforcing their commitment to supporting women in finance and business. In addition, Kelly Felder contributed as the event’s gift partner, adding a special touch to the celebration by providing thoughtful gifts to the panellists and attendees.

TiE Colombo, a part of the global TiE network, is committed to fostering entrepreneurship through mentorship, education, networking, funding, and incubation. With over 15,000 members in more than 60 chapters across 14 countries, TiE is the world’s largest community of entrepreneurs, working to create wealth and opportunities through entrepreneurship.