Business
Aitken Spence, most awarded company at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2020
Aitken Spence PLC walked away with 12 awards and the highest number of awards received by a single company at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability (BCCS) Award 2020. Aitken Spence emerged ‘1st Runner-Up’ and was unmatched as the only company to have been ranked among the Top Ten Best Corporate Citizens of Sri Lanka for 15 consecutive years and placed in the Top 3 for eight consecutive years. The company was also the recipient of the highest number of certificate awards for ‘Consistent Commitment and Continuous Improvement’ which goes to show the robust sustainability strategy and unparalleled commitment to sustainability from its teams across the diversified Group even during extremely challenging times.
The company was also awarded the top 10 best corporate citizens, triple bottom line awards for plant and people, category awards for environmental integration and environmental commitment, sector award in the diversified holdings and consistent commitment and continuous improvements certificate awards for environmental commitment, environmental integration and environment beyond the business, employee relations and customer relations.
Organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, this annual event recognises best practices of organisations that have successfully achieved a sustainable balance between social, environmental and economic performance.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosts this award with an esteemed panel of experienced evaluators and judges comprising of industry leaders, and experts on sustainable development. Recognition at this platform is aimed to encourage businesses, a major contributor in the country’s economy and development, to adopt sustainable practices. The diverse categories within this programme evaluate processes and systems ensuring integration of environmental and social sustainability within the business, measures to strengthen employee relations and customer satisfaction, systemic efforts for community development and economic contribution, governance structures, consistent commitment as well as sustainable projects carried out by corporates.
Commenting on this achievement, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake – Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC said, “My gratitude goes out to our Spensonians for their unwavering commitment especially during these challenging times. These many awards won by a single company validates the approach we have adopted across the leadership of Aitken Spence and is a reflection on our sustainability ethos.”
“Aitken Spence is one of the very few organisations in Sri Lanka that are truly international and diversified and because of this, developing a strategy that encompasses the priorities of all our operations is all the more complex. I wholeheartedly thank the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and all our stakeholders that have been on this long journey with us. We will use the constructive feedback from the esteemed panel of judges to improve and I am confident that Aitken Spence will continue to raise the benchmark for sustainability in the corporate sector,” he further added.
With an indisputable repute as one of Sri Lanka’s pioneering corporates, Aitken Spence is a blue-chip conglomerate anchored to a heritage of excellence spanning over 150 years. Listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange since 1983, Aitken Spence is a responsible enterprise driven by over 13,000 employees across 16 industries in 9 countries in hotels, travels, maritime, freight and logistics solutions, plantations, power generation, insurance, printing, apparel, and other services.
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.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
