Eng. (Prof.) Niranjani Ratnayake Wins Trailblazer Women Award at Sri Lanka Construction Awards 2025

By PUBLICITY DIVISION (IESL)

Eng. (Prof.) Niranjani Ratnayake, Past President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), was honoured with the Trailblazer Women Award at the Sri Lanka Construction Awards 2025, organised by the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA). The prestigious awards ceremony was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, in the presence of senior government officials, industry leaders, and professionals from across the construction sector.

The Trailblazer Women Award recognises exceptional women who have demonstrated leadership, resilience, and a lasting impact within Sri Lanka’s construction and engineering industries. Prof. Ratnayake’s recognition is a testament to her outstanding professional achievements and her pioneering role in advancing engineering practice and institutional leadership in the country.

Engineering and construction remain traditionally male-dominated professions, where women continue to face numerous challenges, including limited representation, workplace biases, and barriers to career progression. Against this backdrop, Prof. Ratnayake’s journey stands out as one of perseverance, excellence, and unwavering commitment to professional standards. Her ascent to the highest leadership position within the IESL marked a significant milestone, inspiring greater inclusion and confidence among women engineers nationwide.

Throughout her career, Prof. Ratnayake has been a strong advocate for professionalism, ethical practice, and capacity building within the engineering fraternity. As Past President of the IESL, she played a pivotal role in strengthening institutional governance, promoting continuing professional development, and encouraging greater participation of women and young engineers in leadership roles.

Her achievement at the Sri Lanka Construction Awards 2025 is widely seen as more than a personal honour—it represents a broader recognition of the growing contribution of women to the nation’s infrastructure and development sectors. Industry observers note that such recognition sends a powerful message to aspiring engineers, particularly young women, that excellence and leadership in engineering are achievable despite systemic challenges.

Eng. (Prof.) Niranjani Ratnayake is widely regarded as a role model for the next generation of engineers, exemplifying how determination, competence, and integrity can break barriers and redefine norms in the profession. Her recognition as a Trailblazer not only celebrates her individual success but also highlights the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion within Sri Lanka’s construction and engineering industries.