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Tea exporter Anverally and Sons ends 2022 with two prestigious awards
Anverally and Sons (Pvt) Ltd., a leading exporter of Sri Lankan tea, whose unique blends have captured the attention of connoisseurs worldwide, has ended 2022 on a high note, winning two prestigious awards for export performance and brand excellence.
The 132-year-old company was presented the Silver award in the ‘Extra-Large’ category at the 2022 Annual Export Awards of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) and received the Export Brand of the Year – Bronze award at the 2022 Brand Excellence Awards presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) for its innovative export brand – ‘Tea 4U.’
Notably, this was the 10th NCE award won by Anverally and Sons since 2012.Themed ‘Recognising, Inspiring and Strengthening,’ the 30th NCE Annual Export Awards honoured exporters who are the frontrunners of the country’s economy. The Silver award Anverally & Sons won recognises not only the volume of exports but also the Company’s excellence in other key aspects, such as value additions, entry into new markets, innovation, research and development, brand building, compliance, ethical practices, and CSR activities.
Meanwhile, the SLIM Export Brand of the Year award, recognised ‘Tea 4U’ as one of the most promising export brands of the year that demonstrated excellence and success in international markets. This was based on the brand processes, that drove the target audience to value the brand and its key elements, its performance in the marketplace including customer satisfaction and loyalty, brand awareness and reputation, and business performance, among others.
Incidentally, this is the first win for the ‘Tea 4U’ brand whose colourful range of refreshing Ceylon iced tea is widely available in local supermarkets too. In 2020, Anverally and Sons’ ‘Al-Otuor’ brand — known for its distinctive Earl Grey flavoured tea — also won the same title at the SLIM Brand Excellence awards.
Commenting on the Company’s double win, Anverally and Sons Chairman Mr Mohamed Anverally said: “We have been a consistent winner at the NCE and SLIM awards over the years. Despite the adverse economic conditions that have posed challenges such as difficulties in fulfilling orders due to fuel and power shortages and policy uncertainties, the rising cost of raw materials and other factors such as consumer attitudes towards the prices of tea, we have experienced robust growth in the targeted international markets. These awards recognise our resilience and give us much-needed encouragement to keep moving forward. We are especially delighted about the recognition ‘Tea 4U’ received as it is a brand that was launched to signify the connection between tea and people around the world who are passionate about the beverage. With over a hundred different varieties available under ‘Tea 4U,’ the brand has endeavoured to personalise the tea-drinking experience of our customers, which was also recognised by the SLIM award.”
The NCE Export Awards programme is a flagship event in the Sri Lankan business calendar and is designed to recognise and reward outstanding performance of exporters. The SLIM Brand Excellence awards programme is a celebration of brand excellence at a national level and a recognition of the outstanding efforts of top-notch marketers. Through this event, SLIM endeavours to not only encourage best practices in branding but also to raise local brands to global standards.
Established in 1890 by the great grandfather of the present Chairman, Anverally and Sons employs more than 1,000 people today and exports Ceylon Tea to over 100 countries.
The Company’s selection comprises of a diversified tea range with a variety of packing options. Anverally has established a range of international brands such as Anverally Tea, Al-Otuor, Sultan, Tea 4U, and Taj – that represent the regional preferences of tea. Its latest diversification initiatives include the offering of Ceylon King Coconut water under the brand name Coco.In addition to the popular black, green, and flavoured tea ranges, the ’Tea 4U’ brand offers an interesting assortment of Ceylon iced teas, tea pods, and instant tea premixes which are new entrants to the product range.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
