COLOMBO ; KPMG Sri Lanka Principal–Tax and Regulatory and Deputy Head of Tax Rifka Ziyard was awarded the Gold Award for Women in Islamic Finance at the 10th Islamic Finance Forum of South Asia (IFFSA) Awards, held last Thursday (25) at Shangri-La Colombo.
The award was presented by Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker former KPMG Sri Lanka & Maldives Managing Partner and Bairaha Farms PLC Chairman Reyaz Mihular.
This recognition celebrates Rifka’s leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to advancing Islamic finance both locally and regionally. Her work has been instrumental in shaping policy, educating professionals, and fostering financial innovation.
As Secretary of the Association of Alternate Financial Institutions (AAFI), Rifka has led key initiatives in policy advocacy, regulatory reform, and public awareness. She has collaborated closely with Regulatory bodies including the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Finance Ministry and other stakeholders to promote instruments such as Sukuk, REITs, and Green Bonds, while also contributing to national Budget proposals and thought leadership forums.
The award acknowledges her outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of ethical and inclusive financial practices.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition. This award is a testament to the growing importance of Islamic finance in creating equitable financial solutions and the need to empower women in this transformative space,” she told the Daily FT.
“This achievement is not mine alone—I stand on the shoulders of many giants: mentors, colleagues, family, and friends. I hope this inspires many more women to succeed in this field,” she added.
The IFFSA Awards are a hallmark event in South Asia’s financial calendar, spotlighting excellence and innovation in Islamic finance across the region. Rifka’s recognition underscores the growing influence of Sri Lankan professionals in shaping global discourse on Islamic finance and ethical financial practices.
The ceremony marked a dual celebration—IFFSA’s 10th anniversary as a leading platform for Islamic finance dialogue in South Asia and UTO EduConsults’ 20 years of service in professional education and industry development. As the organising body behind IFFSA, UTO EduConsults has played a pivotal role in fostering thought leadership and collaboration across the region.( Daily FT)
