Colombo, Sri Lanka – 5th September 2023: Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts proudly announces that Sangeetha Liyanapathirana, Manager of Health, Hygiene, and Sustainability, has been recognised as the 2023 PATA Face of the Future—an esteemed recognition for young tourism professionals in the Asia Pacific region.
Sangeetha Liyanapathirana manages Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo’s Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility activities, Health, Safety, Environmental Safety, Legal Affairs and Government Relations. In addition to her responsibilities, she leads Health and Safety based communications for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
Presented annually by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to highlight its commitment to human capital development, this is an accolade that recognises exceptional ‘rising stars’ in the industry who exhibit outstanding leadership and commitment to the responsible development of travel and tourism of the Asia Pacific travel industry in line with PATA’s mission.
Peter Semone, PATA Chair, commented, “This year we received a fantastic list of applicants who could all be worthy of this recognition, and it makes me extremely hopeful for the future of our industry. I would like to congratulate Ms. Liyanapathirana on winning the 2023 PATA Face of the Future award. It was inspiring to learn about her passion for sustainability and how she engages with the local youth community towards this goal. This award will provide her greater exposure in Sri Lanka and throughout the industry, and I look forward to seeing her career develop as she works in line with PATA for the responsible development of travel and tourism in the region.”
Commenting on the industry recognition, Liyanapathirana expressed her gratitude by saying, “I am incredibly honoured and grateful to have received the PATA Face of the Future Award. This recognition symbolises my dedication and passion for the tourism industry. The journey to this achievement was challenging and took much hard work, but it’s a testament to the power of perseverance. I am thankful to my team and mentors from Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, who believed in me, and to my family, who encouraged me.”
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts recognises the integral role Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles play in its operations. Sangeetha Liyanapathirana’s achievements align perfectly with the organisation’s commitment to responsible tourism and sustainability. She has played a vital role in curating awareness sessions for secondary and tertiary-level students, nurturing the next generation of sustainable hoteliers. Her current project with the John Keells Foundation on the ‘Pasal Diriya’ program aims to bridge gaps while building a sustainable model to reduce child
malnutrition, ensure higher school attendance and positively impact overall learning. Sangeetha’s recent recognition includes winning a Silver Award for her volunteer activities from John Keells Holdings.