Lankan wealth creation measured by corporate impact on society and the environment
The Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity platform was launched by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, IUCN and the Dilmah Conservation two years ago at a national level initiative to bring policymakers, academics, the business community and the public togeher to promote and conserve the country’s biodiversity.
The winner’s award presented to MAS Intimates Pvt Ltd. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
To date 55 businesses have enrolled in the programme, said the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Suresh Shah at the Best Corporate Citizens Sustainability Awards ceremony held in Colombo this week. The event marks the 11th consecutive year where country’s most successful corporates are recognized. The event was organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd was declared winners of the best citizen’s award with Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC as first runner-up and Aitken Spence PLC as second runner-up.
Mr. Shah said the “Sri Lanka National Platform for Disaster Management” was the second initiative launched in August, 2014, a joint effort between the chamber and the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies affiliated to the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management. The main objective of this alliance was to bring together the government, the private sector and NGO’s to respond to disasters. This programme had brought relief to victims of the recent drought that affected 14 districts of the country and the landslide at Meriyabedda. In future the National Platform will focus on disaster prevention to avoid death, destruction of property and economic losses. The third project the chamber plans to proceed with is known as the “Adopt A Village” programme to empower and build capacity within a village such as mentoring, skills and knowledge transfer, and supply chain linkages. These are low cost projects with a small portion of a company’s CSR budget. “We anticipate to spend annually not more than Rs. 250,000 per village, an extremely small sum for an initiative to make an impact within Sri Lanka,” he added.
Speaking further, he said in today’s corporate environment, making profits and meeting shareholder expectations are no longer the only objectives. The process of wealth creation is measured, not just in terms of return on investment but also in terms of a corporate’s impact on society and the environment. He said the chamber recognises and rewards best corporate companies that have achieved extraordinary results for their shareholders whilst protecting the environment and giving back to society in a truly meaningful manner.
“We also recognize the Best Sustainability projects that had been conducted by the corporates. We hope the examples set by these organizations will motivate others along a similar path.”
Dr. Subir Gokarn, an Economist and a Former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India delivered the keynote speech while Hilmy Cader, CEO of the MTI Consulting attended as the Guest of Honor.
The Top Ten Corporate Citizens were Aitken Spence PLC, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Hatton National Bank PLC, MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd, Peoples’ Leasing & Finance PLC, Sampath Bank PLC, Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC and Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.
| Other award winners were Category B (less than Rs.15 billion turnover): Winner – Laugfs Gas PLC; Category Awards Environmental Management: MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd Triple Bottomline Awards: Environmental Sustainability: MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd Sector Awards Agriculture: Watawala Plantations PLC Best Sustainability Project Awards 2014 – Long term projects: - Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC - Supporting the National Healthcare SystemProject Best Sustainability Project Awards 2014 -Merit Certificates: - Aitken Spence PLC – Empowering Sri Lanka First Project |