Business
Aitken Spence in the Top 15 Most Respected Entities
Aitken Spence PLC was ranked amongst the top 15 in the Most Respected of the nation’s most admired corporations for 2021. The annual ranking is by LMD through an exclusive survey conducted by NielsenIQ’s to gauge peer perceptions based on a weighted ranking system.
Amidst a business climate dampened by uncertainty, Aitken Spence moved up a position in its rankings and is widely recognised as a catalyst in the country’s social economic progress. With more than 150 years of experience, the Group engages in pioneering ventures in key sectors of the economy viz. tourism, maritime and logistics, energy, plantations, apparel, and other services. Driven by a team of over 12,000 employees, Aitken Spence has a dominant presence due to its diverse business portfolio in 8 countries enabling the company to create sustainable value.
Commenting on this recognition, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC said, “We thank everyone who placed their trust and helped us especially during these challenging times. As in the past, Aitken Spence will continue to navigate through times of complexity and change to bring endless possibilities to our people and to our different communities. We have strived to earn corporate respect by consistently delivering excellence, pushing boundaries by capitalising on new opportunities, realigning priorities, reinventing the company portfolio of offerings, and relaunching businesses”.
The company believes that the cornerstones of a respectable corporate entity are trust, accountability, viability, transparency, integrity, and team spirit. It is how the business operates and creates value to all stakeholders. In the new era of change, respect is determined by an organisation’s agility, adaptability, and capacity to turn daunting challenges into a positive change while staying true to the values of the organisation.
In the turmoil of the last couple of years, Aitken Spence has focused on transforming its operations and business models to better serve customers and key stakeholders. They have embarked on a strategy to realign, reinvent and relaunch their business by their motivated team referred to as ‘Spensonians’, and thereby displaying their true grit.
Corporates play a crucial role in uplifting Sri Lanka’s image on the international stage. Among the numerous bold investments made across the years, the company responded to a crucial social and development need of the country despite the pandemic by launching Sri Lanka’s maiden waste-to-energy power plant that was launched in the middle of the pandemic.
Aitken Spence is a blue-chip conglomerate anchored to a heritage of excellence spanning over 150 years and driven by more than 12,000 employees across 16 industries in 8 countries: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Fiji, India, Oman, Myanmar, Mozambique and Bangladesh.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
In a major boost to bilateral economic ties, the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL) and the Indo–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ISCCI) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in real estate, infrastructure, and urban development.
The agreement establishes a formal framework for both institutions to drive collaborative initiatives, including business delegations, high-level conferences, workshops, B2B matchmaking sessions, and technical site visits. Designed to bridge businesses, government institutions, and project stakeholders across the Palk Strait, the partnership aims to unlock new avenues for cross-border joint ventures and technology transfers.
A focal point of this newly minted partnership is the facilitation of an upcoming trade delegation from the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) of India. Comprising major Indian players in the real estate and infrastructure sectors, the visiting delegation will engage in targeted business meetings, workshops, and inspection tours of prominent construction projects in Sri Lanka.
Under the terms of the MoU, CCISL will serve as the principal host coordinator in Sri Lanka. In close consultation with ISCCI, the apex construction body will curate itineraries, identify viable projects for engagement, and facilitate high-level dialogues with key government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry leaders.
With both nations prioritizing sustainable urban growth, modern construction technologies, and infrastructure expansion, industry leaders view the partnership as a timely catalyst for economic rejuvenation. The collaboration is anticipated to accelerate market access, knowledge exchange, and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka’s burgeoning property and development sectors.
To ensure the success of the upcoming NAREDCO delegation, CCISL has issued an urgent appeal to statutory authorities and relevant project owners to come forward with viable investment proposals. Stakeholders holding projects seeking foreign investment or technical partnerships are invited to submit comprehensive details to the Secretary General and CEO of CCISL via email at secyces@gmail.com.
Both chambers emphasize that translating this foundational agreement into tangible partnerships and robust capital flows will significantly strengthen bilateral connectivity between the construction and real estate sectors of India and Sri Lanka.
Hettich, the globally renowned German manufacturer of furniture fittings and architectural hardware known for its state-of-the-art manufacturing plants and magical interior solutions across the world celebrated a significant milestone in Sri Lanka, marking 10 years of presence in the country with its inaugural Partner Meet in Colombo.
The landmark event brought together Hettich’s key partners, stakeholders and industry leaders to celebrate a decade of growth, collaboration and shared success, while reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the Sri Lankan market.
Over the past decade, Hettich has strengthened its presence in Sri Lanka through its focus on German engineering, innovation, quality and functionality, contributing to the creation of contemporary and intelligently designed living and working spaces across the country.
The gala evening was graced by a distinguished delegation of senior leaders, including Dr. Andreas Hettich, Chairman, Hettich Group Advisory Board; S. K. Poddar, Chairman, Hettich India & Adventz Group; Mr. Akshay Poddar, Director, Hettich India; Andre Eckholt, Managing Director, Hettich India, SAARC, Middle East & Africa; Rahul Thakkar, Director – Sales, Hettich India & SAARC; and Dinusha Bhaskaran, Managing Director, Vallibel One PLC.
GS Evo Motors Limited, the authorized distributor of JMEV electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, has officially launched the JMEV EWIND, a next-generation compact electric SUV. The vehicle is designed to offer strong performance, intelligent technology, premium comfort, and high safety standards, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s growing electric mobility sector.
The EWIND features a sleek, aerodynamic exterior with penetrating LED daytime running lights, trapezoidal chain-inspired LED tail lamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a bold silhouette. Inside, it offers a spacious cabin with a panoramic moonroof and retractable curtain, an ultra-thin suspended instrument panel, a D-shaped multifunction steering wheel, multi-colour ambient lighting, premium finishes, and electrically adjustable front seats.
The SUV is available in single-motor front-wheel drive configurations, producing up to 108 kW and 210 Nm, with 0–100 km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds.
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