Singer Sri Lanka PLC, a subsidiary of business magnate Dhammika Perera-controlled Hayleys PLC, has appointed fashion icon and Sri Lanka’s ‘Retail Queen’ entrepreneur and retail fashion store chain Odel founder Otara Gunewardene to the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Reports also outlined that Otara is the first female Director on the Board in Singer Sri Lanka PLC’s entire history. Meanwhile in April 2018 Hayleys created history by appointing the first ever female director Jayanthi Dharmasena to the Board for the first time in its 140 years.

Otara’s lifestyle store ODEL became renowned throughout Asia as a top retailer, and she was the first female entrepreneur to take her company public in 2010. During her tenure at ODEL, she initiated Embark, a brand that would become synonymous with street dog welfare in Sri Lanka. She revolutionized the idea of street dog welfare by using all profits from Embark’s brand and merchandise towards rescue and treatment operations.

With Otara’s appointment, the Singer Sri Lanka PLC Board of Directors include Mohan Pandithage (Chairman), Dhammika Perera (Co-Chairman), Asoka Peiris (Managing Director), Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, Sarath Ganegoda, Hardy Jamaldeen, Dumith H. Fernando, G.J. Walker, S. Goodman, D.K.D.S. Wijeyeratne, Otara Gunewardene, Kumar Samarasinghe (alternate to Asoka Peiris), Mahesh Wijewardene (alternate to G.J. Walker), and K.K.L.P.L. Yatiwella (alternate to Sarath Ganegoda).

- Reporting By Devendra Francis