Business
Aitken Spence in the Top 15 Most Respected Entities
Aitken Spence PLC was ranked amongst the top 15 in the Most Respected of the nation’s most admired corporations for 2021. The annual ranking is by LMD through an exclusive survey conducted by NielsenIQ’s to gauge peer perceptions based on a weighted ranking system.
Amidst a business climate dampened by uncertainty, Aitken Spence moved up a position in its rankings and is widely recognised as a catalyst in the country’s social economic progress. With more than 150 years of experience, the Group engages in pioneering ventures in key sectors of the economy viz. tourism, maritime and logistics, energy, plantations, apparel, and other services. Driven by a team of over 12,000 employees, Aitken Spence has a dominant presence due to its diverse business portfolio in 8 countries enabling the company to create sustainable value.
Commenting on this recognition, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC said, “We thank everyone who placed their trust and helped us especially during these challenging times. As in the past, Aitken Spence will continue to navigate through times of complexity and change to bring endless possibilities to our people and to our different communities. We have strived to earn corporate respect by consistently delivering excellence, pushing boundaries by capitalising on new opportunities, realigning priorities, reinventing the company portfolio of offerings, and relaunching businesses”.
The company believes that the cornerstones of a respectable corporate entity are trust, accountability, viability, transparency, integrity, and team spirit. It is how the business operates and creates value to all stakeholders. In the new era of change, respect is determined by an organisation’s agility, adaptability, and capacity to turn daunting challenges into a positive change while staying true to the values of the organisation.
In the turmoil of the last couple of years, Aitken Spence has focused on transforming its operations and business models to better serve customers and key stakeholders. They have embarked on a strategy to realign, reinvent and relaunch their business by their motivated team referred to as ‘Spensonians’, and thereby displaying their true grit.
Corporates play a crucial role in uplifting Sri Lanka’s image on the international stage. Among the numerous bold investments made across the years, the company responded to a crucial social and development need of the country despite the pandemic by launching Sri Lanka’s maiden waste-to-energy power plant that was launched in the middle of the pandemic.
Aitken Spence is a blue-chip conglomerate anchored to a heritage of excellence spanning over 150 years and driven by more than 12,000 employees across 16 industries in 8 countries: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Fiji, India, Oman, Myanmar, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
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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