Business
Seylan Bank secures Silver Award at Dragons of Asia 2022
Seylan Bank, the Bank with a Heart, won a coveted Silver Award at Dragons of Asia Effective Marketing Awards 2022. The Awards recognised the very best in results-driven marketing communications, by agencies and clients, across all countries in Asia.The success of Seylan Bank’s #ResponsibleMe campaign, conceptualised to highlight the importance of self-awareness and individual responsibility in ensuring the safety of all Sri Lankan citizens in the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in the financial institution bagging a Silver Award under the Best Cause, Charity Marketing or Public Sector Campaign, making Seylan Bank the only bank to be awarded under the category.
In 2021 at the height of the third Covid-19 wave, the Bank with a Heart felt that society needed to be educated about making responsible choices to contain the spread of the virus. This was certainly the need of the hour as it was observed that there was a rising feeling of demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviours, also known as pandemic fatigue.
The Bank realised that simply saying “wear a mask” or “maintain social distancing”, would have been just another message, therefore Seylan Bank decided to execute the delivery of the message more assertively. This led to the campaign slogan “Suhada Haden, Tikak Seren”.
To pull off the campaign, Seylan team members took on the responsibility to share the #ResponsibleMe message to the public, adding their own voices through their personal social media spaces. Key opinion leaders soon joined the call, and social media came abuzz with #ResponsibleMe.
The Bank then considered a mentality change which encouraged people to accept individual responsibility to maintain preventative methods that was considered key for protection in the long term. To this end, as a responsible corporate, the Bank launched a unique virtual media briefing to effectively drive this message, with the participation of media personnel active in the digital space. The campaign was taken a step further through interviews conducted in partnership with the Health Promotion Bureau to exaggerate the importance of acting responsibly.
“The #ResponsibleMe campaign was a timely initiative, where Seylan went beyond our usual business, with the understanding that we had to overcome the pandemic together as a society and the responsibility of it lay within each one of us. It was through ensuring protection to all that we could survive,” said Gamika de Silva, Assistant General Manager for Marketing and Sales, Seylan Bank.
“Executing a campaign of this scale was no easy task during the height of a pandemic. With several factors affecting productivity and teamwork, everyone involved was able to pull through and deliver their best. Without the support from our agency partners, Boutique Agency Network, Third Shift and Ogilvy PR, #ResponsibleMe would not have been possible. We are also grateful to the Health Promotion Bureau for the support they gave us throughout the campaign. All in all, the promise to take personal responsibility for one’s actions to ensure the prevention of spread has certainly paid off,” he added speaking of the Silver Dragon.
Such a win on an international stage stands as testament to the Bank’s efforts which led to it becoming a catalyst hero in the fight against the Covid-19 Pandemic, while also shining a global spotlight on the Nation as a whole.
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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