Women’s Day is celebrated globally on 8th of March every year in honor of their remarkable contribution to our society. The day also commemorates the inspiring role of women around the world to secure women’s rights and build more equitable societies.

In line with that, Rotaract Club of SLIIT organised the project Powerhouse Women as the 3rd phase of the project Gear-Up🌸🦸🏻‍; a project initiated to appreciate the wonderful women we have in our lives.

The participants were asked to post a picture/video along with a caption, quote or anything that is significant in their life through which they appreciate the women who have stood by them through thick and thin and share on social media with the hashtags #PowerhouseWomen #GearUp #RACSLIIT.

Moreover, we opted to articulate a social media campaign which focused on Sri Lanka’s own ‘Powerhouse Women’; Sri Lankan women who have broken societal and cultural barriers to pursue their dreams while also helping society.

1) Powerhouse women in Sri Lanka- Dr. Asha de Vos

🌸Asha is the only Sri Lankan to have a PhD in marine mammal related research, and is also a guest blogger for Nat Geo.
🌸Her work in marine conservation focusing specifically on Sri Lankan Blue Whales have given her global recognition.
🌸She was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. In 2013, she received the President’s Award for Scientific Publications. In 2018, she received the WINGS WorldQuest Women of Discovery Sea Award.
🌸On 26 May 2018, she was awarded the Golden alumni award in the Professional Achievement category at the first edition of the British Council Golden Alumni awards.
🌸Later in the year she was recognized in the BBC 100 Women list.

2) Powerhouse women in Sri Lanka- Parami Wasanthi

🌸Steeple Chaser Parami Wasanthi Maristella won Sri Lanka’s maiden medal at the Youth Olympic games winning Bronze in the Women’s 2000m steeplechase at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games 2018.

🌸Parami was placed third in the first stage of the Women’s 2000m steeple chase competition clocking a new personal best time of 6:33.06mins and put herself in a position to become the first Sri Lankan Women to win a Youth Olympic medal.

3) Powerhouse women in Sri Lanka- Irangani Serasinghe

🌸Kala Keerthi Iranganie Roxanna Serasinghe is a Sri Lankan actress & environmental activist.

🌸Since her debut in Rekava, Serasinghe has become recognized for playing motherly figures in various films and television serials.

4) Powerhouse women in Sri Lanka- Shelinda Jansen

🌸Shelinda Jansen, a junior Sri Lankan athlete to compete at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games held in Buenos Aire, Argentina, delivered a thrilling run, clocking 24.07secs to take the win in the Heat 02 of the Women’s 200m Stage 02 competition.

🌸Running in lane 05 of the second heat, Shelinda bettered her previous personal best(PB) of 24.98secs by .91secs to win the heat with a new PB of 24.07secs. Shelinda was fast out of the blocks and ran a superb bend entering the home straight leading the race and managed to hold on to her lead in the final 100m racing to victory in the heat. She was thrilled by the result and was visibly shocked about the magnificent improvement on her personal best after the race.

5) Powerhouse women in Sri Lanka- Nushelle de Silva