Otara Gunewardene

Otara Del Gunewardene
Born	Otara Del Gunewardene (1964-08-03) August 3, 1964 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Occupation	Chairman of ODEL
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Children	Kiran (born 1994) Rakhil (born 2000)
Parent(s)	Norman Gunewardene Delysia Gunewardene
Website	Official website

Otara Del Gunewardene is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of the brand ODEL. Otara ventured into selling garments from the boot of her car. In 1989, having rented a small place on Lester James Peries Mawatha (Formally ‘Dickman’s Road) in Colombo 4, she opened ODEL - the first of a chain of retail outlets. ODEL.

Otara is involved in many environmental and animal welfare activities. Some of these include work for Habitat for Humanity International and World Animal Day. In 2001, she initiated the Odel Foundation, a charitable organization that works in the areas of housing development, forest conservation, animal welfare and children in need.

Early Life

Born in Colombo, Gunewardena is the daughter of Norman and Delysia Gunewardena. Her father is a well-known corporate leader in Sri Lanka, and her mother has carried out considerable work for the Chitra Lane School for children with special needs. Her two brothers, Ajit and Ruchi are renowned professionals in the country’s corporate sector.

She studied at one of the country’s premier schools - CMS Ladies’ College, Colombo 7. An enthusiastic sportswoman, Gunewardena represented her school in athletics and swimming, and high jump and hurdles on an international scale. She continued her higher studies by reading for a Biology Degree at the State University of Bowlin Green, Ohio – USA. It was during one summer vacation that she took up modelling in a professional way. Once completing her higher studies, Gunewardena went on to model for high profile brands and became a familiar face on the catwalk.

In 1990, she married Raju Chandiram and the couple divorced 14 years later. They have two sons, Kiran (born in 1994) and Rakhil(the brain) (born in 2000).

Odel

From being the sole proprietor of one store in 1989, Gunewardena fostered Odel into a growing chain of iconic lifestyle stores. In 1995, the first branching out of the Odel department stores begins, and it has been expanding rapidly ever since. Odel opened its flagship store at Alexandra Place, Colombo in 1999 which boasts of 33, 000 square feet of style. This outlet has often been compared to the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols. In 2004, Odel was re-launched with a new brand identity – Mind, Body & Soul, which played an important part in making it the international superstore that it is today. Despite the internal conflict in Sri Lanka and the more recent global recession, Gunewardena ensured that Odel continued to grow

Humanitarian Work

Otara set up the Odel Foundation with the aim of giving back to the local community. The Foundation has carried out many successful projects in the areas of;

Housing Development - Habitat for Humanity

Celebrating two decades since the birth of Odel, the company is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build 20 houses to mark the occasion. The Tsunami in 2004, triggered the Odel Foundation’s collaboration with this international organization. The company funded the building of a number of houses to help resettle families in the Balapitiya area, 80km from Colombo. In 2009, Gunewardena was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for Habitat for Humanity in Sri Lanka.

The Odel Foundation also provided sponsorship to Leo Hope, for the Kosgoda Trust to construct houses for residents affected by the Tsunami in the Kosgoda area.

Animal Welfare – Embark

Launched in March 2007, Embark is Otara’s personal CSR initiative. It is the project’s mission to have the streets of Colombo free of stray dogs and give all dogs a home, the love and respect they deserve. Embark also carries out Sterilization Campaigns, Saving the Injured Initiatives, Puppy Re-Homing and Awareness Raising and Educational projects around Sri Lanka. In order to raise funds for this and future initiatives, trendy Embark branded merchandise including clothes, accessories, mugs and more are on sale at Odel outlets.

Children in Need

The Odel Foundation extends support towards the Chitra Lane School in Colombo. It is one of the few educational institutions in Sri Lanka which has expertise in Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, and even employs speech therapists.

Forest Conservation

Organized by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) in collaboration with MAS Linea Aqua (Pvt.) Ltd., the project rid a 60 hectare area of two invasive plants. The Odel Foundation contributed by providing funds to clear 6 hectares of Cactus and Proposis Juliflora which were alien to the Bundala National Park and endangering natural vegetation.

Honors and Awards

• 2000 - Jaycees’ Most Outstanding Young Person in Sri Lanka
• 2001 - Federation of Chambers and Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) Entrepreneur of the Year 2001 Award
• 2002 - Zonta Woman of Achievement Award
• 2007 - Alankara Jewelry, Face of Alankara Brand Ambassador
• 2008 - Inducted into Bowling Green State University’s Dallas-Hamilton Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame
• 2008 - South Asian Association for Regional Corporation’s (SAARC) Woman of Achievement
• 2008 - Retail Leadership Award, Asia Retail Congress, India
• 2008 - Woman of Saabstance, Saab Cars, Singapore
• 2008 - World Animal Day, Sri Lankan Ambassador
• 2009 - Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Ambassador
• 2009 - Colombo Jewelry Stores, Dior Brand Ambassador
• 2010 – Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Best Entrepreneur of the Year in the Non-Services Businesses – up to 2, 500 Employees
• 2010 – The SIAS Partnership Summit’s Achievers and Leaders Award for Excellence in Brand Building.

External links

• Otara’s support to community dogs (The Sunday Times Online)
• Major women’s ware dealer on animal loving campaign (Asian Tribune)
• Otara Lanka’s Ambassador for World Animal Day (Daily News)
• ODEL founder and CEO Otara Gunewardene said they continue to witness significant same store growth and the addition of new stores has also contributed to this increased revenue. (Lanka Newspapers)