Business
Lion Brewery and Luxury Brands sweep SLIM NASCO Awards 2022 with 19 awards
Leading members of the Lion Brewery and Luxury Brands trade marketing teams were honoured at the recently held SLIM National Sales Congress (NASCO) Awards. The awards recognize that the sales function is crucial to the total marketing strategy and highlight the outstanding contribution of professionals who propel their businesses, brands and industries forward. Now in its twenty-second year, the awards for 2021 and 2022 financial years returned to an in-person gala ceremony on 22nd March.
Entries to the NASCO Awards are reviewed by a judging panel drawn from a cross-section of industry dominating brands.
Front-Liners and Executives are evaluated on their individual performance and ability to advance in their careers.
Territory Managers are assessed on their ability to increase sales revenues, enhance market reach and other key performance indicators within assigned geographical areas.
Regional Sales Managers must embed brand and category building and customer development plans in route-to-market strategy while demonstrating outstanding leadership and meeting overall business objectives.
Under the Alcohol and Tobacco Sector, winners from Lion Brewery and Luxury Brands, its sister company operating in the premium segment of the larger alcobev market, received nineteen awards for efficient and exceptional performance across different categories.
Under the Front-Liners category, Thashindu Thenuwara and Sahan Sandeepa were awarded Gold, Subashana Herath, Nirosh Harshana, Kanagaraj Prashanth received Silver, and Dilanka Jayanath Mapa and Sandeep Madumal claimed Bronze in the same category.
Under the Executive category, Prasanna Wimalaranga and Thuwan Basheer grabbed a Gold and Silver respectively, while Rajith Lakmal, Amal Kulathunge and Ryle Madena received Bronze awards.
In the Territory Manager category, Madura Buddhika and Hemal Herath received Golds whilst Sanjula Hettiarachchige and Dinesh Rathubaduge sealed Silver awards. Priyantha Wijesundara, Nipuna Wijerathna and Crisho Melroy Silva were awarded Bronze under the same category.
In the Regional Sales Manager category, which is one of the most senior classifications in NASCO, Saminda Hitibandara was awarded a Bronze.
This year’s awards are testament to Lion Brewery’s and Luxury Brands’ formidable trade marketing team capabilities and quality of human capital that ensure excellence in execution and the ability to win both customers and consumers. The winners also responded to particularly challenging business conditions that shaped the market over the past two years.
Lion Brewery is one of the largest capex investors in the manufacturing sector of the economy with its state of the art brewery in Biyagama. In addition to earning foreign exchange for the country’s treasury, it has attracted foreign direct investment to Sri Lanka through Carlsberg’s equity stake in the business. The Brewery is the second largest tax payer in the alcobev segment, contributing LKR 47bn during the year ended 31st March 2022 while injecting LKR 8bn to the economy through the purchases of goods and services excluding its contribution to government.
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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