Gala Dinner in Sydney Gathers ‘Gold Dust’ for Children in Sri Lanka-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Kumudini Hettiarachchi in Sunday Times, 28 August 2022, where the title is “Together they made it happen in Australia for the love of Sri Lanka” Under the gavel went exotic and unique items such as works of art, a piece from Limited Edition cricket memorabilia, a Best of Sri Lanka holiday package and a bat signed by a cricket great……..and in the audience were celebrities, all linked by their love for Sri Lanka’s children. Legendary Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, auctioning the bat Four hundred Australians gathered on Tuesday night (August 23) at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth for the ‘Love for Sri Lanka’ gala fundraising dinner to show they care. The funds poured in – AUD 300,000 (amounting to over Rs. 75 million). ...

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Australia’s $315k-a-week woman: How the daughter of migrants who arrived Down Under with $200 in their pockets became the nation’s highest-paid CEO-By CHARLIE COË Source:dailymail.co.uk Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake earned $16.39million in 2021 Guided Macquarie to profits of $1.3billion in the last three months of the year  Moved to Australia at age 14 with her family when they had $200 to their names She comes from a long line of highly-educated barristers and powerful figures A daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants who arrived in Australia with just $200 in their pockets now makes $315,000 a week as the nation’s highest-paid CEO. Macquarie Group chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake earned $16.39million in 2021, the bank announced in its latest report. Ms Wikramanayake guided Macquarie – dubbed the country’s ‘millionaire factory’ – to profits of $1.3billion in the last three months of the year.  In 2019, the 60-year-old was the first woman to become ...

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Shemara Wikramanayake tops Australia’s highest-paid CEO list Source:adaderana.lk The boss of an Australian investment bank has topped the ranking of this year’s highest-paid chief executives, while Ruslan Kogan’s pay soared 1413%, after he took home $8.99 million. Shemara Wikramanayake, chief executive of Macquarie Group, received a reported pay of $15.97 million in the 12 months to June, according to The Australian Financial Review’s annual list. Compiled by OpenDirector, the pay survey revealed the country’s 50 highest-paid chief executives earned an average of $6.18 million last financial year. Chief executives of large ASX-listed e-commerce, supermarket, mining and metal recycling companies pocketed some of the biggest increases in reported pay. On average, the top 50 bosses received a pay rise of more than 20% compared to the previous year, which was underpinned by rising share prices. The S&P/ASX 200, an index comprised of the 200 largest ASX-listed stocks, increased 24% last financial ...

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    “ADVERSITY-PROSPERITY” – By Des Kelly   Very often, miles apart, to reach even a semblance of prosperity from dire adversity, is something very few of us can accomplish, but, here we have a shining example of this Sri Lankan lass, through sheer determination, making it, from the very nadir, to the pinnacle of success, to finally become the highest paid “Woman-Company Executive Officer”(C.E.O.)in Australia. Just think about it. From one of the tiniest Islands in the sun, to one of the largest Island Continents in the World. A Sri Lankan C.E.O. who is not just a Woman, but also the highest paid one, for the very first time. I’ll say no more, except to congratulate the lady, on behalf of the thousands of Sri Lankan Patriots around the World. You may have heard about it already, but eLanka now gives you the full story of this truly amazing feat. ...

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    First-time female highest-paid CEO in Australia is with Lankan roots Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake is the highest paid CEO in Australia, the first woman ever to top the AFR’s CEO pay survey. According to a report in the Business Insider (www.businessinsider.com.au), Wikramanayake earns more than $ 18 million, followed by Goodman CEO Gregory Goodman – $ 12.8 million, and CSL CEO Paul Perreault – $ 11.7 million. Wikramanayake was also named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. As per Wikipedia, she was born in England, where her Sri Lankan father was a doctor. She attended a State school in London before the family moved to Australia. Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake Business Insider said it’s no surprise Macquarie’s CEO is making bank, but this time it’s different. Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake is the highest-paid chief executive in Australia – becoming the first woman to take the ...

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Lal Wickrematunge bids Adieu – By Dilip Kumar Australia is an important ally of Sri Lanka and diplomatic relations between the two countries date back to 1947. Sri Lanka by such consideration picked their diplomats to Australia and more so to the business capital of Sydney, after much consideration. When Lal Wickrematunge was posted to Sydney, late 2015 there was but curiosity among the vast group of Sri Lankan origin people who had heard of him as a student of St Thomas’ Prep School and St Benedicts College, Newspaper Publisher and former Cricketer, administrator and not as a Diplomat. Sri Lankan Australians watched him carefully. Lal hit the deck running. Within months many asked if our new Consul General slept at all.He was present at the Buddhist Temple, Catholic Church, Hindu Kovil and the Mosque. He was on the Cricket pitch and Golf Course. No musical entertainment show, drama or a ...

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A Farewell sit-down dinner was held at the prestigious Australian Golf Club in Sydney on 26.08.2019 – to bid farewell to Mr. Lal Wickrematunge  High Commissioner designate of Sri Lanka to Australia H.E. Mr. J.C. Weliamuna,PC, Hon. Scott Farlow, representing Hon. John Sidoti – Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans, Ms Shemara Wikramanayake, Mr. Arun Abey, Mr. Ryan Neelam – Deputy Director/Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Harry Solomons and Mr. Dilip Kumar spoke in appreciation of the excellent work done by the departing Consul General, to strengthen people to people ties, education, tourism and trade between Sri Lanka and Australia.  They highlighted the Consul General’s successful efforts in bringing all ethnic communities of Sri Lankan origin under one common Sri Lankan identity.  Many other high-profile dignitaries graced this elegant event. Consul General of Pakistan in Sydney Mr. Abdul Majid YOUSFANI, Hon. Consul for Sri Lanka in Queensland ...

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eLanka Newsletter: May 2019 2nd edition: Sri Lankans in Australia Please click here or on the image below to read this week’s eLanka Newsletter for the Sri Lankan Down – Under! eLanka Newsletter: May 2019 2nd edition eLanka, Lankan-Australian “News-King”: Always read eLanka! (Circulation 20,000 plus members! – The Largest Sri Lankan News Circulation in Australia!) Welcome to eLanka News – for the Sri Lankan Down Under! We will be sending a mid week eLanka EVENTS newsletter from this week Keep an eye out! Shemara Wikramanayake: Australia’s $17mln female executive tops pay list – By Angela Priestley Macquarie’s Shemara Wikramanayake gives all women something to celebrate as she tops the list for executive pay. Women’s Agenda’s Angela Priestley tells us more.By Angela Priestley (financy – women’s money matters) There’s nothing like playing ‘spot the women’ when it comes to lists ranking the salaries of those in the mega-rich stratosphere. “NATIONAL ...

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  Shemara Wikramanayake: Australia’s $17mln female executive tops pay list – By Angela Priestley Macquarie’s Shemara Wikramanayake gives all women something to celebrate as she tops the list for executive pay. Women’s Agenda’s Angela Priestley tells us more. By Angela Priestley (Financy – Women’s money matters) There’s nothing like playing ‘spot the women’ when it comes to lists ranking the salaries of those in the mega-rich stratosphere. One of the most interesting of such lists is also one of the most difficult for women to crack: a detailed look at what Australia’s top chief executives get paid. It’s difficult to crack given the tiny proportion of women to ever reach such positions in the first place. But this year one woman leads the pack of highest paid executives according to the Australian Financial Review (AFR) and that’s Shemara Wikramanayake with more than $17 million in total pay as global head of asset management ...

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Macquarie Group Appoints First Female CEO –  By Emily Cadman   Source: Bloomberg Shemara Wikramanayake will succeed Nicholas Moore as chief executive officer of Macquarie Group Ltd., catapulting the low-profile company veteran into the ranks of Australia’s most powerful businesswomen. Moore, who has led Macquarie for a decade, will retire Nov. 30, the Sydney-based company said in a statement Thursday. The 56-year-old Wikramanayake, who joined Macquarie in 1987 and currently heads its asset management arm, becomes the group’s first female CEO. Shemara Wikramanayake, left, and Nicholas Moore – Source: Macquarie Group Ltd.   Wikramanayake will inherit a company that’s transformed itself under Moore’s stewardship from an Australian investment bank into the world’s largest infrastructure asset manager, which now earns more than two-thirds of its income overseas. Its asset management, financial services and corporate finance businesses now account for 70 percent of earnings. Macquarie’s share price has more than doubled under Moore’s tenure. In ...

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