Business
INSEE Cement races ahead with its sustainability ambition for 2030
INSEE Cement Sri Lanka’s CEO Jan Kunigk handing over a copy of the Sustainability Report 2020/2021 to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe © INSEESL/2023/T.G.P. Deepal Indika
INSEE Cement Sri Lanka is forging ahead with a “green” ambition to fulfill its economic, environmental, and social responsibilities to the people of Sri Lanka and become one of the foremost sustainability advocates in the country by 2030.
In its recently released Sustainability Report 2020/2021, INSEE Cement highlighted significant and tangible progress in the areas of climate and energy, strengthening the circular economy and protecting biodiversity and water. Additionally, the report includes concrete actions taken to ensure the occupational health and safety of its workforce and galvanize communities and other stakeholders, which are key aspects of INSEE Cement’s 2030 sustainability ambition.
Delivering the keynote address at an event to mark the report’s launch, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe highlighted the important role of corporates in climate action and appreciated the significant efforts INSEE Cement has accomplished. “The future of this country is in the hands of green development. This does not mean compromising on economic growth,” he said. “Industries must contribute to nationally driven efforts on green development. If not, we run the restrict of losing out our competitiveness in the global market. A very important aspect is ensuring good governance pragmatically and rationally.”
Speaking at the event, INSEE Cement’s CEO Jan Kunigk described how INSEE confronted head-on the challenges of the pandemic period and put in place the necessary health and safety measures to continue sustainability and biodiversity conservation efforts. “Rather than allowing COVID-19 challenges to consume us, we focused on supporting vulnerable communities in areas we operate, while innovating and investing in staying the course in our sustainability ambition,” he said.
INSEE Cement’s CEO also noted the important role of the company’s waste management arm, INSEE Ecocycle in taking others along on the sustainability journey. “Following the expansion of our Ecocycle operation in 2020, we now offer end-to-end solutions to customers, to support the systematic collection of fast-moving consumer goods waste and post-consumer waste and transform it into alternative energy and other valuable resources. So far, we have served over 1000 customers in co-processing and eliminated over 1,000,000 metric tons of industrial waste, which otherwise would have ended up in landfills.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a key partner in INSEE Cement’s sustainability and biodiversity conservation efforts. IUCN Sri Lanka’s Country Representative Dr. Shamen Vidanage highlighted the importance of such partnerships. “We provide technical knowledge, so INSEE Cement can venture on this sustainability and biodiversity conservation journey along the right path. As a result, we have science based initiatives field tested for many years and now emerged as best practices in ecosystem restoration, ecological monitoring and coral reef restoration. The commitment of corporate partners like INSEE Cement is imperative. If we don’t take the right actions towards sustainability and environmental conservation today, we will face far greater challenges in the not-so-distant future.”.”
IUCN Sri Lanka Country Representative Dr. Shamen Vidanage highlighting the positive impact of the INSEE Cement-IUCN partnership in Sri Lanka © INSEESL/2023/T.G.P. Deepal Indika
INSEE’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in its product profile have seen the Company go beyond the conventional product innovation strategies to adopt a more holistic approach to reduce the carbon footprint of its products. In 2021, this drive to innovate led to the development of Sri Lanka’s “greenest” cement, INSEE Sanstha Portland Composite Cement.
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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