Otara gunewardene biography of george washington

Otara Gunewardene

Sri Lankan entrepreneur, animal welfare advocate, conservationist and philanthropist

Otara Gunewardene (Sinhala: ඔටාරා ගුණවර්ධන) is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur, animal welfare advocate, conservationist and philanthropist.[1] She is the founder of ODEL, Embark and Otara Foundation.[2][3]

Early life and education

Otara Del Gunawardene was born on 30 August in Colombo, Sri Lanka the third child to Norman and Delysia Gunewardene.[4] Her father was a former Chairman of Aitken Spence and her mother, Delysia, established the Chitra Lane School for differently-abled children.[5]

Gunawardene attended C. M. S. Ladies College in Colombo,[5] where she excelled in athletics and swimming, representing the country. Gunawardene graduated from Bowling Green State University, Ohio with a degree in biology.[4][6]

Whilst on holiday back home, she did some fashion modelling[4] – shooting for high-profile brands and international apparel catalogues right after graduating from University.[7]

Career

Main article: ODEL

In , Gunawardene began selling factory surplus garments and apparel from her car boot to family and friends.[8][5][9] In she opened her first store, ODEL, on Dickmans Road in Colombo[10] and by had eighteen stores throughout Colombo.[8][11]

In Gunewardene launched the Otara foundation, a non-profit organisation which focuses on environmental and wildlife conservation of Sri Lanka.[12] In she also launched the fashion brand, Embark, some of the income from which is donated to fund eradication of rabies, canine vaccinations, sterilisation surgeries, puppy adoptions, and caring for injured street dogs.[13][14][15]

In February she converted ODEL into a public limited liability company and it became the first fashion retail business to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.[8] On 11 September Gunewardene sold of all her shares in ODEL PLC to the Softlogic Group,[9] to concentrate on Embark.

In Embark opened its first standalone store in Galle, which was followed by an additional three stores in Kandy City Centre, Bandaranaike International Airport and at Dickmans Road in Colombo.[16] In September Embark opened its tenth store in K-Zone Ja-Ela.[17]

Advocacy

In , Gunewardene launched a campaign[18] asking the government to enact the proposed Animal Welfare Bill which gained over , signatures and led to the Cabinet Approval of the said bill at the time. This inspired a trend of creating petitions for social causes in the country.[19] She continues to advocate for the revival and expedient of the Animal Welfare Bill, passing of which is continues to be stagnant.[20]

In , she launched a campaign against the Dehiwala zoo which resulted in the zoo improving the conditions in which wild animals are kept.[21]

In , she launched an online platform, Who We Are,[22][23] to promote Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and small businesses who sell local, eco-friendly, ethically-sourced, cruelty-free and sustainable products.[24][25]

Awards and recognition

Gunewardene has achieved wide recognition in Sri Lanka and internationally.

  • - Jaycees’ Most Outstanding Young Person in Sri Lanka[26]
  • - Federation of Chambers and Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) Entrepreneur of the Year Award[7][27]
  • - Zonta Woman of Achievement Award[7][27]
  • - Alankara Jewelry, Face of Alankara Brand Ambassador
  • - Inducted into the Dallas-Hamilton Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame, class of as an outstanding innovator at the Bowling Green State University; South Asian Association for Regional Corporation’s (SAARC) Woman of Achievement;[27] Retail Leadership Award, Asia Retail Congress, India;[27] Woman of Saabstance, Saab Cars, Singapore; World Animal Day, Sri Lankan AmbassadorIn was bestowed the honour of World Animal Day Ambassador – Sri Lanka[28]
  • - Sri Lankan Goodwill Ambassador for Habitat for Humanity; Colombo Jewellery Stores, Dior Brand Ambassador
  • - Orchid (Dendrobrium Otara) named after her by the Horticultural and Flora Conservation Society of Sri Lanka;[29] Winner 'Best Female Entrepreneur' award at the seventh US Stevie Awards for Women in Business[30]
  • - named Echelon Magazine's 'Most Powerful Woman in Sri Lanka',[31] listed in 'The Sri Lanka Rich List '; her personal website, won the ‘Best Personal Website’ award for the first time in conducted by the Lanka Domain Registry Office[32][33]
  • - Selected and honoured as one of the ‘Prominent Women of the Country’ by the Women’s Parliamentarians’ Caucus, for her achievements in business and for her service to the country; Ambassador Earth Hour Sri Lanka.[34]
  • - 'Passionate ' by Business Today.[35]
  • - Woman of the Year Award, Women in Management (WIM) in partnership with IFC, member of the World Bank Group.[36] Featured in LMD’s A-List of Sri Lankan Top 50 Business People.[37]

Personal life

In , Gunewardene married Raju Chandiram,[7] with whom she had two sons, in and The couple separated in [38] Chandiram served as a senior executive at Odel and following their divorce subsequently served as a Director on the Sri Lankan Airlines board from May until March [39][40]

References

  1. ^"හිත ඇත්නම් පත කුඩාද? - ඔටාරා". BBC News සිංහල (in Sinhala). 7 December Retrieved 19 January
  2. ^"දිරිය ලක් දියණිය ඔටාරා ගුණවර්ධන". (in Sinhala). 24 November Archived from the original on 3 December Retrieved 19 January
  3. ^"Entrepreneurship lessons from Otara | Daily FT". . Retrieved 27 January
  4. ^ abcPilapitiya, Sureshni (1 December ). "Humans and animals can live in harmony says Otara". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 27 March
  5. ^ abcRanwella, Nayanaka (25 February ). "Epitomacy of Elegance". Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 27 March
  6. ^"Indices green after three days". Daily Mirror. 10 June Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 20 March
  7. ^ abcdKarunaratne, Ilika (26 October ). "Personality of the week - Otara Chandiram". Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 March Retrieved 28 March
  8. ^ abcSrinivasan, Meera (12 November ). "Odel: Behind Sri Lanka's best-known store". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 March
  9. ^ ab"Ajit Gunawardene bows out of Odel chair for one share split preceded Odel IPO". The Island. 10 July Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 27 March
  10. ^Hewavissenti, Panchamee (28 September ). "Challenges are blessings in disguise: Team work is hallmark". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 28 March Retrieved 27 March
  11. ^Abeyakoon, Ruwanthi. "Uniquely Smart!". Daily News. Retrieved 27 January
  12. ^"Otara launches Foundation for environmental sustainability and animal welfare". Lanka Business Online. 13 July Retrieved 5 April
  13. ^"Otara's support to community dogs". The Sunday Times. 4 March Archived from the original on 14 March Retrieved 28 March
  14. ^Reddy, Sujata (16 April ). "How Sri Lankan designer Otara Gunewardene extends her passion to upkeep of dogs". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 March
  15. ^Anver, Gazala (3 October ). "Embarking Mad!". The Sunday Leader. Archived from the original on 16 August Retrieved 28 March
  16. ^"Embark opens 4 new stores and transforms 14,+ doggy lives in ". Lanka Business Online. 23 June Archived from the original on 16 April Retrieved 16 April
  17. ^"Embark opens standalone store in K-Zone, Ja-Ela". The Daily Mirror. 2 October Archived from the original on 16 April Retrieved 16 April
  18. ^"Campaign for Passing of Animal Welfare Bill, Sri Lanka". World Animal Day. Archived from the original on 24 January Retrieved 18 January
  19. ^"Otara Foundation appeals to govt. to enact new Animal Welfare Bill". . Archived from the original on 24 January Retrieved 18 January
  20. ^"A case for Charlie". . 6 January Archived from the original on 21 January Retrieved 18 January
  21. ^"Otara Foundation joins concerned citizens' call for closure of Dehiwela Zoo | Daily FT". . Archived from the original on 22 January Retrieved 18 January
  22. ^"Otara launches 'Who we are'". Daily News. Archived from the original on 31 January Retrieved 25 January
  23. ^"She Can: Featuring Otara Del Gunewardene". . Archived from the original on 2 May Retrieved 3 March
  24. ^"VIDEO STORY: Otara launches 'Who We Are'". . 23 December Archived from the original on 29 January Retrieved 25 January
  25. ^Nadeera, Dilshan. "Otara Launches "Who We Are" promoting Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and small businesses". Archived from the original on 26 January Retrieved 25 January
  26. ^Karunaratne, Ilika (26 October ). "Personality of the week - Otara Chandiram". Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 March Retrieved 28 March
  27. ^ abcd"Otara Gunewardene recognised at the Asia Retail Congress". The Island. 30 January Archived from the original on 28 February Retrieved 27 March
  28. ^"Ambassador - Otara Gunewardene". World Animal Day. Archived from the original on 29 March Retrieved 29 March
  29. ^Hopman, Tahnee (8 February ). "A flower for Iranganie". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 23 September Retrieved 29 March
  30. ^"The Stevie Awards for Women in Business". Stevie Awards. 10 January Archived from the original on 14 April Retrieved 27 March
  31. ^"50 Most Powerful Woman – #4 Otara Gunewardene – Echelon". . Archived from the original on 17 November Retrieved 27 January
  32. ^"ODEL Recognised At 'Best Web' ". Business Today. January Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 27 March
  33. ^"ODEL and Otara take top awards at 'Best Web' ". Daily FT. 19 November Archived from the original on 27 March Retrieved 27 March
  34. ^"Otara named Earth Hour Sri Lanka Ambassador". Earth Hour. Archived from the original on 29 March Retrieved 29 March
  35. ^"BUSINESS TODAY -Business Today Passionate ". . Archived from the original on 22 January Retrieved 18 January
  36. ^" – Women in Management Awards". . Retrieved 18 January
  37. ^Silva, Sachira De (30 October ). "COVER STORY". LMD. Archived from the original on 24 January Retrieved 18 January
  38. ^"Feminism In Sri Lanka - Story of Otara". Lanka News Papers. 9 August Archived from the original on 27 December Retrieved 16 April
  39. ^"Decision on Sri Lankan shortly". The Sunday Times. 26 November Retrieved 28 March
  40. ^"Raju Arjan Chandiram". Archived from the original on 28 March Retrieved 28 March

External links