Business
Commercial Bank wins ACCA Best Sustainability Reporting Award, Dialog first runner up
Fifteen awards presented across seven industry categories for 2021
Commercial Bank of Ceylon came up trumps in the sustainability stakes when it won the overall award for the Best Sustainability Report 2021, while Dialog Axiata was adjudged overall first runner up at the CCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2021. Commercial Bank also topped the Banking category in which Seylan Bank and National Development Bank (NDB) were joint runners up. Dialog Axiata won the General Services Category.
Hayleys and John Keells Holdings were the winner and runner up respectively in the Conglomerates & Diversified category, while Alliance Finance won the Financial Services & Insurance category with the runner up being Citizens Development Business Finance. Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings won the Leisure & Connected Services category, Talawakelle Tea Estates and Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company were the winner and runner up respectively in the Retail & Trading category and Oxford College of Business won the SME category with Resus Energy emerging Runner up.
With these awards, ACCA Sri Lanka has since 2004, striven to improve imperatives in sustainability reporting, giving credence to an organisation’s sustainability practices with recognition of the strong link between business strategy, corporate governance and sustainability. Worldwide, over 3,000 entities in 25 countries use a predetermined reporting methodology within Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. Companies across multiple sectors submitted reports for judging by an eminent panel of sustainability specialists – Sriyani Hulugalle, Ramani Gunatilaka, Dr Kennedy Gunawardana and Dinesh Weerakkody led by Franklyn Amerasinghe.
The Chief Guest was SDG Integration Specialist from the UNDP Sri Lanka Dulani Sirisena, a development practitioner with over 18 years’ experience and is currently the UNDP’s senior technical advisor on SDGs. Congratulating the winners and ACCCA for continuous commitment to support sustainable growth through improved corporate reporting, Sirisena said, “Sustainability reporting is seen as an enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At a time when the world faces a global health and socio-economic crisis of an unforeseen magnitude, the SDGs remain more relevant than ever. We are at a critical juncture that requires an integrated, whole-of-society approach to not only accelerate progress towards the goals but prevent rapid deceleration.”
President of the Member Network Panel of ACCA Sri Lanka Nandika Buddhipala mentioned that the increasing emphasis on meaningful efforts towards arresting climate change has brought in numerous stakeholders around the world on the common platform of building a better planet.
“The current move towards financial capital is increasingly drawn to businesses that are trusted, ethical and environmentally friendly together with their ability to create long-term value for society. This further strengthens the importance of comprehensive disclosures in the sustainability reports of business organizations.”
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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