Editing Otara Gunewardene (section)

==Awards and recognition==
Gunewardene has achieved wide recognition in Sri Lanka and internationally.

*2000 - Jaycees’ Most Outstanding Young Person in Sri Lanka[26]
*2001 - Federation of Chambers and Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) Entrepreneur of the Year 2001 Award[7][27]
*2002 - Zonta Woman of Achievement Award[7][27]
*2007 - Alankara Jewelry, Face of Alankara Brand Ambassador
*2008 - Inducted into the Dallas-Hamilton Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame, class of 2009 as an outstanding innovator at the Bowling Green State University; South Asian Association for Regional Corporation’s (SAARC) Woman of Achievement;[27] Retail Leadership Award, Asia Retail Congress, India;[27] Woman of Saabstance, Saab Cars, Singapore; World Animal Day, Sri Lankan AmbassadorIn 2008 was bestowed the honour of World Animal Day Ambassador – Sri Lanka[28]
*2009 - Sri Lankan Goodwill Ambassador for Habitat for Humanity; Colombo Jewellery Stores, Dior Brand Ambassador
*2010 - Orchid (Dendrobrium Otara) named after her by the Horticultural and Flora Conservation Society of Sri Lanka;[29] Winner 'Best Female Entrepreneur' award at the seventh US Stevie Awards for Women in Business[30]
*2013 - named Echelon Magazine's 'Most Powerful Woman in Sri Lanka',[31] listed in 'The Sri Lanka Rich List 2013'; her personal website, www.otara.lk won the ‘Best Personal Website’ award for the first time in 2010 conducted by the Lanka Domain Registry Office[32][33]
*2014 - Selected and honoured as one of the ‘Prominent Women of the Country’ by the Women’s Parliamentarians’ Caucus, for her achievements in business and for her service to the country; Ambassador Earth Hour Sri Lanka.[34]
*2017 - 'Passionate 2017' by Business Today.[35]
*2018 - Woman of the Year Award, Women in Management (WIM) in partnership with IFC, member of the World Bank Group.[36] Featured in LMD’s 2018 A-List of Sri Lankan Top 50 Business People.[37]