Indeewari Chandrasekara Wins the Global Star of WiLAT Award 2026 in Hong Kong
Indeewari Chandrasekara receives the Global Star of WiLAT Award 2026 at the CILT International Convention in Hong Kong. Photograph: Daily Mirror.
Indeewari Chandrasekara MILT, Executive Committee Member of WiLAT Sri Lanka, has received the Global Star of WiLAT (SoW) Award 2026, marking an important international recognition of Sri Lankan women contributing to the logistics, transport and supply chain sectors.
The award was presented at the CILT International Convention 2026, held at the Hopewell Hotel in Hong Kong, where professionals and leaders from across the global logistics and transport community gathered to exchange knowledge, celebrate achievement and consider the future direction of the industry.
Reported by Daily Mirror on 7 October 2026, the recognition places Chandrasekara among emerging women professionals whose work demonstrates leadership, service and a sustained commitment to strengthening opportunities for others.
Recognising emerging women leaders
The Global Star of WiLAT Award is an international initiative of Women in Logistics and Transport, established to recognise and encourage young, progressive and talented women professionals who are making a meaningful contribution to logistics, transport and supply chain management.
The award is significant not only because it celebrates individual achievement, but also because it forms part of a wider leadership development and succession programme. Through this initiative, emerging female leaders are identified, encouraged and supported as they prepare to contribute to the continued aspirations and future growth of WiLAT.
In an industry shaped by complex international networks, technological change and increasingly sophisticated supply-chain requirements, the development of capable and inclusive leadership remains essential. Recognition programmes such as the SoW Award provide visibility to professionals who are helping to shape that future while creating a stronger pathway for younger women entering the sector.
AI-generated illustration of a Sri Lankan woman logistics professional at a modern distribution centre. Image: eLanka.
WiLAT’s global professional network
WiLAT operates as a global network within the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, commonly known as CILT. Its work is focused on advancing professional development, mentoring, networking, knowledge sharing and leadership opportunities for women working across logistics and transport-related fields.
WiLAT Sri Lanka forms an integral part of this international network, working to support the professional development of women in Sri Lanka while connecting local initiatives with a broader global community of practitioners and mentors.
The network’s role extends beyond formal recognition. It provides a platform through which professionals can share experience, develop confidence, establish industry relationships and support the next generation. In this respect, the Global Star of WiLAT Award reflects both the recipient’s own contribution and the value of the professional structures that have supported her journey.
From mentee to project leader
Chandrasekara’s achievement has been shaped by sustained involvement with WiLAT Sri Lanka since 2018. Her journey began as a mentee in the IGNITE Mentoring Programme, where she was introduced to a structured environment focused on professional guidance, confidence-building and career development.
She later returned to the programme as Project Chair of IGNITE 11 in 2025/26. In that role, she led the initiative and championed the development of future industry professionals, demonstrating the progression that mentoring programmes are intended to encourage: a participant receives guidance, develops experience and eventually returns to guide others.
Her experience illustrates the importance of succession planning within professional associations, particularly in sectors where women continue to benefit from stronger access to mentors, networks and practical leadership opportunities. It also demonstrates how structured programmes can become more effective when former participants are encouraged to assume responsibility for the next generation.
Reflecting on her experience, Chandrasekara said:
> ‘WiLAT has been much more than a professional network in my journey. It has given me the confidence to grow, courage to lead and opportunity to give back. From joining as an IGNITE mentee to serving as a mentor and project leader, WiLAT shaped both my career and my leadership philosophy. This recognition is not just a celebration of my journey but a reminder of the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of women to lead, innovate and thrive in our industry.’
Connecting education with industry
Under Chandrasekara’s leadership, WiLAT Sri Lanka strengthened strategic partnerships with industry, creating internship opportunities for IGNITE mentees. These partnerships helped bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by giving participants practical exposure, workplace understanding and opportunities for career development.
Such connections are particularly valuable in logistics and supply chain management, where theoretical knowledge must be applied across procurement, manufacturing, distribution, inventory management, technology, customer service and operational planning.
For students and young professionals, an internship can provide much more than an initial work experience. It can offer an understanding of workplace expectations, introduce new professional networks and help clarify the areas in which a developing practitioner wishes to build expertise.
The approach also benefits employers, who gain an opportunity to engage with emerging talent while contributing to the long-term strength of the sector. By bringing academia and industry into closer conversation, WiLAT’s initiatives help establish a more responsive and capable professional pipeline.
AI-generated illustration representing mentoring and leadership development among women in logistics. Image: eLanka.
Service extending beyond Sri Lanka
Chandrasekara’s contribution has not been confined to one organisation or one national setting. She has served as Editor of Wings of Change, the Global WiLAT newsletter, helping communicate the network’s activities, ideas and professional achievements to an international audience.
Within CILT Sri Lanka, she has also served as Editor of Link Magazine and as Project Chair of the Ideathon, an international virtual initiative conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These roles reflect a combination of editorial, organisational and leadership skills. Professional associations rely on such voluntary contributions to share knowledge, maintain engagement and create platforms through which members can participate, collaborate and learn.
The Ideathon, in particular, demonstrated the ability of professional networks to adapt during a period when conventional meetings and events were severely restricted. Its international virtual format enabled participation across geographical boundaries and highlighted the potential of digital platforms to sustain collaboration during difficult circumstances.
AI-generated illustration representing Sri Lankan leadership within the global logistics and supply chain sector. Image: eLanka.
Academic and professional foundations
Chandrasekara is a Gold Medallist and graduate of the University of Moratuwa, and a CIMA Passed Finalist. She currently serves as Unit Supply Chain Manager at Unilever Sri Lanka.
In that position, she contributes to supply chain transformation, operational excellence, digital innovation and capability development. These areas are central to the contemporary supply chain profession, where organisations are increasingly expected to improve efficiency, strengthen resilience, use data intelligently and develop people alongside processes.
Her combination of academic achievement, professional expertise, editorial service and mentoring involvement provides a broad foundation for the recognition received in Hong Kong. It also demonstrates that leadership in logistics is not limited to operational responsibility; it includes the ability to communicate, develop partnerships, encourage others and strengthen the institutions through which professional communities grow.
An example for young Sri Lankan women
Chandrasekara’s award offers an encouraging example to young Sri Lankan women considering careers in logistics, transport, manufacturing, technology, procurement and supply chain management, whether they are building their futures in Sri Lanka or in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
The sector presents opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, data analysis, finance, digital transformation, sustainability, operations and people development. Women entering these fields can benefit substantially from professional networks that provide mentoring, industry exposure and access to experienced role models.
Her progression from IGNITE mentee to mentor and project leader also reinforces a wider principle: professional success becomes more valuable when it is used to create opportunities for others. In this sense, the Global Star of WiLAT Award recognises not only what Chandrasekara has achieved, but also the pathways she has helped open for future professionals.
WiLAT Sri Lanka has congratulated Chandrasekara on this international recognition and celebrated her continued commitment to inspiring, mentoring and empowering the next generation of logistics, transport and supply chain professionals.
The achievement adds to a growing record of Sri Lankan women demonstrating expertise and leadership across international industries. As professional networks continue to invest in mentoring and succession, examples such as Chandrasekara’s show how local commitment, global connection and practical service can combine to produce lasting value.
eLanka has previously highlighted the contribution of Sri Lankan women who serve as role models in professional and community life. Chandrasekara’s recognition provides another timely example of the ambition, capability and generosity that Sri Lankan women continue to bring to the world stage.
Read more about Sri Lankan women role models on eLanka
Source: https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Indeewari-receives-Global-Star-of-WiLAT-Award/273-351925
This article was written based on the source https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Indeewari-receives-Global-Star-of-WiLAT-Award/273-351925, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
At eLanka, we respect the rights of creators. If we have used an image you own and you’d like it removed, please email us at info@elanka.com.au and we’ll handle it promptly.
Thanks.
eLanka team
eLanka Disclaimer
Content published on eLanka may be created by the eLanka team, submitted by contributors or third parties, reproduced or adapted from other sources with appropriate source acknowledgement, or provided as promotional/advertising material by our clients. While eLanka takes reasonable care in preparing and publishing content, we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Views expressed are those of the respective authors or contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of eLanka. Third-party contributors, content providers and advertisers are responsible for the accuracy of material they supply and for ensuring they hold the necessary rights and permissions for its publication. Advertising and promotional content should not be regarded as an endorsement by eLanka of any product, service or claim.
