Business
Unilever ranked No 1 most respected FMCG company in Lanka once again
Unilever Sri Lanka has been ranked the Number 1 Most Respected FMCG company in the country in LMD’s Most Respected Entities publication for 2022. This marks the 17th consecutive time that Unilever has been ranked in the list, moving 4 places up from 2021 to claim the overall 6th position from over 100 varying companies. Unilever was also declared the Sector Winner in both the ‘Consumer Products’ ‘Multinational’ categories yet again, maintaining its winning streak.
The company also emerged as the highest rated FMCG company to appear in LMD’s Top 12 performance measures/ indicators for awarding the rankings, namely: ‘Financial Performance’, ‘Quality Consciousness’, ‘Management Profile’, ‘Honesty’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Dynamism’, ‘Corporate Culture’, ‘CSR & Sustainability’, ‘Vision’, ‘National Perspective’, ‘HR & People Management’ and ‘Crisis Management’.
Sharing her comments on the recognition, Hajar Alafifi, Chairperson and Managing Director of Unilever Sri Lanka said, “It is truly a proud and honourable moment for us to be ranked as Sri Lanka’s Most Respected FMCG company once again, and more so for the 17th consecutive time of being recognised by the people of Sri Lanka. This underscores the positive impact we have made in the lives of Sri Lankans across the years, through our purposeful brands, our corporate vision to make sustainable living commonplace, and the unwavering commitment of our people towards integrity and excellence in all that we do. We also offer our heartfelt appreciation to LMD and its management for creating a platform to encourage and recognise good corporate conduct across the economy, society and the environment.”
Over the past 84 years, Unilever has been deeply rooted in Sri Lankan society, curating a landscape that preserves and nurtures the true Sri Lankan way of life. It is one of the largest FMCG companies in the country and produces 96% of its products to the strictest manufacturing standards at its manufacturing facility in Horana and local third-party manufacturing sites. The company’s portfolio comprises 30 market leading brands including Sunlight, Signal, Lifebuoy, Knorr, Vim and many others, through which it enhances the lives of 21 million Sri Lankans every day.
The company was ranked the ‘Number 1 Employer of Choice’ for the 10th consecutive year in 2021 by NielsenIQ, awarded the ‘Most Effective Marketer of the Year’ award for the 6th consecutive year at the 2021 Effie Awards, adjudged the ‘Most Awarded Entity’ in the ‘Consumer Products’ and ‘Multinational’ Categories in Sri Lanka in LMD’s 2021 ‘Most Awarded’ Edition, and had 15 Unilever brands ranked as the ‘Most Loved Brands’ in Sri Lanka in LMD’s 2022 Brands Annual Ranking. Unilever’s Horana factory was also honoured with the ISO 14001:2015 certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) for its commitment to identify, manage and reduce its impact on the environment through its operations.
The ‘Most Respected Entities in Sri Lanka’ ranking is based on an annual survey conceptualized by Sri Lanka’s leading business magazine – LMD and conducted by NielsenIQ. This year’s survey covered the opinions of 800 respondents from listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in LMD’s Top 100 list (2020/21) and in the Brands Annual 2021 list. The final rankings were based on the total sum of value of the weighted scores for each company.
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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