Business
Sampath Bank adjudged Overall 1st Runner-up at ‘Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022’
Sampath Bank PLC was adjudged the Overall 1st Runner-up and recognised once again as one of Sri Lanka’s Top Ten Corporate Citizens at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022 (BCCS Awards) organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The Bank also became the Category Award Winner for ‘Community Relations’ and Triple Bottom Line Award Winner for ‘Social Sustainability (People)’.
Held for the 19th consecutive year, the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2022 is one of the most anticipated events in Sri Lanka’s corporate calendar. The competition aims to encourage Sri Lankan organisations to adopt best practices relating to environmental, social, and economic sustainability while pursuing corporate goals within the wider context of generational accountability. Open to both large corporates as well as smaller enterprises, it recognizes the efforts of the private and public sector to interact responsibly with its stakeholders, by focusing on the importance of corporate sustainability in the country. The key focal areas of the competition include environment, customer relations, community relations, governance, financial performance, and economic contribution, all of which were evaluated by esteemed panel of national experts in the sustainability fraternity.
Sampath Bank’s innovative and socially impactful response towards Sri Lanka’s marginalised communities was further highlighted when it also won Gold award in the ‘CSR Brand of The Year’ category at the 21st SLIM Brand Excellence Awards held recently. ‘Wewata Jeewayak’, Sampath Bank’s flagship CSR initiative initiated over 20 years ago, is a committed, coordinated effort to restore the traditional irrigation network and thus ensure a dependable supply of water for dry zone farmers to cultivate their paddy lands and reap the harvests of both the Yala and Maha paddy seasons. Under this programme, the Bank has restored 15 tanks up to 2022. The Bank has cautiously increased the investment on this programme to build more resilience in agriculture sector amidst prevailing economic headwinds. Additionally, the Bank has launched ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’ tree planting programme with the participation of schools located in the areas where its ‘Wewata Jeewayak’ tank restoration programme is conducted. The core objective of this programme is to build environmentally conscious future generation. With the progress and positive outcomes of this programme, the Bank launched the vegetable gardening programme with the enthusiastic participation of students, teachers, and principals of schools.
The Bank also initiated a long-term marine protection programme named ‘A Breath to the ocean’ which has an ocean-based component focused on coral replanting and a land-based component focused on replenishing mangrove wetlands. For the mangrove restoration project, the Bank has acquired one hectare of land in the marshy areas of the Anavilundawa Wetland Sanctuary in the Puttalam District and working with Biodiversity Sri Lanka and Department of Wildlife on a long-term project to convert the degraded land into a mangrove forest.
The Bank also has taken very important steps to conserve turtles in collaboration with Department of Wildlife. Under this initiative, the Bank will work with Department of Wildlife to build hatcheries at Rakawa village situated in southern coast of the island which is a well-known breeding zone for 5 types of endangered Turtles in the world.
Sampath Bank is a 100% local bank that has deeply rooted itself in the lives of the people of Sri Lanka. Established in 1987, the bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. It has introduced many firsts to the Sri Lankan banking sector including introducing ATMs to Sri Lanka, extended banking hours, slip-less banking and adaptation of block-chain technology to name a few. As part of its visionary 2022 approach, the bank is steadily transforming itself into a ‘tech company engaged in banking,’ from the traditional approach of a bank adopting technology.
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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