The first Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala shared her experience in confronting challenges while scaling it. Delivering a special guest lecture on ‘Challenging Gender Stereotypes to Reach the Top’ on 25th April 2025 at the BIDTI, she elaborated on the complications faced not only due to the stark climate conditions but also as a female.
At the outset, Kuru-Utumpala emphasized the importance of acclimatization when a decision is taken to go for a trekking. In this regard, she explained her determination to proceed scaling the Everest, despite non availability of trekking equipment as well as outfits for women.
She enlightened the audience of the gender stereotypes and challenges facing when winning goals in the global arena as well. Further, she mentioned of the improvement of the global trade environment particularly, manufacturing equipment with regard to hiking and climbing mountains in the Asian region.
Participants coming from different backgrounds attending the lecture raised questions not only on speaker’s accomplishment but also on how to prepare for a similar challenge. Kuru-Utumpala interacted with all who raised queries providing satisfactory answers.
The special guest lecture on ‘Challenging Gender Stereotypes to Reach the Top’ was organised by the BIDTI under the special events of the Institute launched in 2019.
