Grand Finale of IET Young Woman Engineer of the year 2023 (IET YWE'23)

IET Young Woman Engineer of the year award ceremony is conducted by Institution of Engineering Technology Young Professionals Sri Lanka Network (IET YP SLN). Being a woman engineer is not an easy task. A woman engineer has to play different roles in their lives. So, this biannual award competition is conducting to empower women in engineering, appreciate their contribution and efforts and motivate them to dream high.

The Grand Finale of IET Young Women Engineer’23 was held on 15th September 2023 for the 4th consecutive time at Galadari Hotel, Colombo from 6.00 pm onwards. The opening ceremony of the IET Young Woman Engineer of the year was graced by the honorable guests together with contestants, and their families and IET members.Eng. (Ms.) Sanjeewika Rathnayake, Vise Chairperson of IET YP Sri Lanka Network and the Event Chair of IET YWE’23 delivered the welcome speech. After the welcome speech, the chief guest Ms. Chiyo Kanda the Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka at the World Bank delivered the keynote speech. The Honorable Panel of Judges for the Grand Finale were Eng. (Mrs.) Kumuduni Herath, Eng. (Mrs.) Devika Abeysuriya, Mrs. Sandra De Zoysa, Eng. Lalith Kahatapitiya and Mr. Prasanna Pathmanathan.Five finalists were selected, out of 11 contestants who participated in the first round. The five finalists of the YWE 2023 were Eng. Priyalukshmy Jeyakumar, Eng. Sithumini Sankalpana, Eng. Danusi Saumyadi, Eng. Hansika Sandeepanie and Eng. Kasunthika Kanakaratne. They performed their presentations which showed very inspiring journeys for young girls to chase their dreams in engineering COVER STORY Grand Finale of IET Young Woman Engineer ofthe year 2023 (IET YWE'23) Pg. 03 Young Professionals Sri Lanka Network Their commitments being young women engineers were appreciated by Eng. (Ms.) Badra Kamaladasa who was the Guest of Honour tonight in her speech. Prof. Niranjanie Rathnayake was happy about the talents of the future generation as well. The small video on the journey of YWE in Sri Lanka was casted and it was a memorable moment for all the past and current members of IET and was a proud journey of youngsters in the IET YP Sri Lanka Network.

Eng Pramodya Senanayake who was the winner of YWE’21 inspired everyone in the event by a story of the importance of having appropriate guidance through effective mentoring to achieve success in life. One of the key moments of the IET YWE’23 Grand Finale was the speech given by Mrs. Sandra De Zoysa Pg. 04 Young Professionals Sri Lanka Network Tokens of appreciation for both first-round and grand finale judges were awarded followed up by the first-round participants and the finalists receiving their participating certificates. Then it was time to announce the winners. The 2nd Runner up was Eng. Danusi Saumyadi and Eng. Sithumini Sankalpana was the 1st Runner up. Eng. Priyalukshmy Jeyakumar was awarded as the winner of YWE 2023. They all received their certificates, trophies, and cash prizes.Finally, the vote of thanks was delivered by Eng. Lasanga Gunarathna, the honorable secretary of IET YP Sri Lanka Network 2023 and the co-chair of the IET YWE'23 competition. IET Young Woman Engineer of the year 2023 came to an end, with the plan of crowning another young woman engineer as IET Young Woman Engineer of the year 2025.