The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in a press release this week said in its “continuing effort to promote Strategic Corporate Sustainability” will host its Best Corporate Citizen Awards for the 5th consecutive time on November 18, 2008. The applications will close on September 30, 2008.

The Awards honour the Corporate Community for their efforts in promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and evaluate the applicants on five categories before selecting the ‘Best Corporate Citizen’ for 2008.

The 10 Best Corporate Citizens for the year 2007 were (in alphabetical order) Aitken Spence, AMW, Cargills, CTC, Holcim, JKH, Nestle Lanka, Sampath Bank, HSBC and Unilever. Incidentally, one of the winners – JKH – has been found guilty of fraud and deception in the LMSL case.

“The main objective of the award is to raise awareness of the importance of CSR to the business community and to promote and encourage CSR practices amongst the corporate sector,” the CCC said.