Business
Aitken Spence wins Diversified Holdings sector award
Triumphant with 9 awards – most number of awards won by a single entity
Aitken Spence PLC once again showed a stellar performance and was crowned the sector award winner in the Diversified Holdings category and the winner of Demonstrated Resilient Practices for covid-19 context. The company won the most number of awards at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022 held annually organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Moreover, Aitken Spence is the only company to be the Ten Best Corporate Citizen for the 17th consecutive time. The company received the category award for Customer Relations as well. 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. These certificate awards were in the categories of: Environment commitment, Environmental integration, Customer relations, Community relations and Employee relations.
Managed by Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC, Elpitiya Plantations PLC stood tall among other larger corporates in securing 5 awards that included the Ten Best Corporate Citizen award for first time, the Triple Bottom Line Award – Planet (joint winners with Nestlé) and Second runner up in the below LKR 15 Bn category. Elpitiya Plantations won 2 project awards for the ‘Living Green Soil’ environmental sustainability project and project award for ‘Ready to Ready’ community development project.
Aitken Spence PLC together with Elpitiya Plantations PLC walked away with a total of 14 awards.
Commenting on this achievement, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake – Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC said, “We are extremely honoured and humbled to have won some of the main category awards such as in the Diversified Holdings sector and for Demonstrated Resilient practices for covid-19. This is truly reassuring as this achievement is despite being in industries that are heavily impacted due to covid-19 and the economic downturn. Our Group’s comprehensive sustainability strategy and unwavering commitment seen across our teams are main reasons behind our multiple wins not just this year but for more than a decade. The road ahead will continue to be challenging but we will continue to create great futures for all and reach greater heights in our sustainability journey”.
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 8 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.”
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