Business
ComBank wins 4 awards at world’s largest annual report competition
The 2021 Annual Report of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has won four awards including a Gold and a Bronze at the latest edition of the MerComm ARC Awards, the world’s largest annual report competition. The Bank has been adjudged winner of the Gold Award for ‘Interior Design,’ the Bronze for ‘Interactive Annual Report’ in the ‘Integrated AR & CSR: Non-Traditional Format’ category, and two Honours Awards for ‘Written Text’ and ‘Chairman’s/President’s Letter’ under the ‘Regional Banks’ category.
The ARC awards – dubbed “the Academy Awards of Annual Reports” – recognise the success of Commercial Bank’s Annual Report in communicating the company’s story and were based on values such as creativity, clarity, effectiveness, and excellence and not on corporate profitability or production values.
“For any public listed entity, the Annual Report is the most important communications tool to demonstrate transparency, accountability, governance and performance,” Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge commented. “At Commercial Bank, producing the Annual Report has become a fine art, which is borne out by the many accolades our Annual Reports have won over the years. The latest ARC award is a prestigious addition to this collection and is a great source of encouragement to the team that produces the Annual Report.”
Commercial Bank’s 2021 Annual Report titled ‘Beyond a shape, beyond a colour’ explored the changing landscape of the banking industry that witnesses incessant consumer demand for enhanced banking experiences, a surge in disruptive technologies, evolving operational context where social and environmental concerns are included in the corporate agenda, and new opportunities and possibilities.
It was produced by Smart Media as an Integrated Annual Report that is GHG-neutral. The letter from Justice K. Sripavan, the Bank’s Chairman at that time, reflected on the resilience of the Bank in the backdrop of a challenging year. The story in text format, while adhering to the overall theme of the year, also traces the Bank’s organisational overview, opinions of members in top management, operating environment, business model for sustainable value creation, and governance and risk management strategies, in addition to the financial report.
Commercial Bank’s annual reports have consistently been recognised with local and regional awards for many years. The Bank won four awards for its 2020 Annual Report at the CA Sri Lanka Awards of 2021, including its 16th Edmund J. Cooray Memorial Trophy for the Best Annual Report among Banking Institutions since 2000. It was also the 16th occasion that the Bank was ranked among the top three companies in Sri Lanka overall for financial reporting.
The ARC Awards, established by MerComm, Inc. in 1987, were created to honour overall excellence in annual reports, and to encourage noteworthy and vital writing, as well as imaginative and original design. Some of the elements that were considered in the judging of the annual reports include cover design, president’s letter, interior design, clarity of written text, presentation of corporate information, expression of financial data, and how well the spirit of the organisation is communicated. This year, the ARCs received 1,656 entries from 33 countries. MerComm, Inc. is the world’s only independent awards organisation, founded with the mission to advance the standards of excellence in the fields of corporate communications.
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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