Business
HNB ranked among ‘Top 10 Most Admired Companies’ for the 4th consecutive year
Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, was ranked among the top 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka for the fourth consecutive year.
In a year that challenged even the strongest organisations, HNB was recognised, not just for its financial performance but also for the value created for shareholders, customers, employees, and the wider community. The Bank has proven its mettle with consistency, authority and sustainable growth, creating excellence in business performance which have inspired other organisations and entrepreneurs.
“We are delighted to be among Sri Lanka’s most admired companies as the respect of our peers and the general public is one of the strongest validations of our pioneering approach to banking. Over the past year, digital transformation was integral for business continuity and offered citizens a safe and convenient mode of completing transactions. The technologies that we have deployed will serve as the bedrock for a new decade of technologically empowered growth, adding greater value to our customers and stakeholders. We pledge to continue fueling this technological transformation to revive the national economy actively,” HNB Managing Director / CEO, Jonathan Alles said.
A collaborative effort by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), the Most Admired Companies are selected under stringent evaluation based on globally accepted criteria. The initial round consisted of a financial evaluation by a team of CIMA members, after which the Top 20 organisations were chosen from a group of nearly 50.
For the second round, companies had to present to a panel of judges, each scoring independently on multiple attributes such as the ability to attract and retain talent, quality of products and services, innovativeness, effectiveness in doing business globally, role in community, environmental, social and corporate governance principles, as well as a track record of integrity and work against corruption in all its forms. An interactive session followed the presentation with the management team and judges to assess how the companies adopted the business practices.
Notably, a survey link was shared with the general public earlier this year to nominate the organisations they felt were the most admired in Sri Lanka. The nominees were invited for the competition, while the adverts ensured other organisations applied as well.
The recognition is the most recent in a string of accolades bestowed on HNB regarding its transformational approach to banking. Earlier this year, HNB achieved an important milestone in its transformation journey when it was ranked once again among the Top 1,000 World Banks by the prestigious UK-based The Banker Magazine for the fifth time in a row. The bank was also recognised as the ‘Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka’ by the Asian Banker Magazine on eleven occasions and is ranked among the Top 3 Companies in Sri Lanka by Business Today Magazine.
With 254 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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