Connect with us

Business

Aitken Spence, the only Sri Lankan company in the Top 100 Global Companies for Sustainability 2022

Published

on

Sustainability magazine, January 2022 | Publication Cover - Top 100 Companies in Sustainability

Aitken Spence PLC has been recognised in the global ranking of Top 100 Companies in Sustainability 2022, in an independent assessment carried out by the ‘Sustainability’ magazine which is an established international publication. Aitken Spence is the only Sri Lankan company to have been included in this ranking of global industry leaders such as Nissan, Lenovo, Novo Nordisk, Accenture, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, PWC, Ernst & Young and KPMG to name a few with Schneider Electric taking the highest position in the ranking. The DPD Group, who operates in Sri Lanka with Aitken Spence as its network partner, is also listed in this ranking.

The ‘Sustainability’ magazine is a trusted, leading voice on sustainability with a global platform, with a targeted audience of global executives. It is a digital community for the global sustainability space that connects the world’s largest sustainability brands and their most senior executives with the latest trends, industry insight, and influential projects as the world embraces technology and digital transformation. This is a matter of pride for Aitken Spence as well as the private sector in Sri Lanka for illustrating leadership in sustainability.

Commenting on this recognition, Dr. Parakrama Dissanayaka – Deputy Chairman & Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC said “At Aitken Spence, we manage the triple bottom line by controlling the fourth P – the processes we use to run our operations. This recognition is an appreciation to every single Spensonian who has passionately embraced the Group’s commitments to sustainability. It is their effort coupled with the unwavering support of the senior management of the company that has put our sustainability strategy on the global map. It is what kept us going as we worked through some of the toughest times, we have faced in the last couple of years without compromising on our commitments to sustainability. We are truly humbled by this recognition at a global platform.”

Aitken Spence took an integrated, systemic approach to sustainability more than a decade ago, well ahead of their peers. The company focused on institutionalising policies and procedures to ensure social and environmental governance and sustainability. The company’s comprehensive policy framework was developed in-house by the Group’s core sustainability team taking in the nature and scale of environmental and social impacts, stakeholder needs, lessons learnt, and experience gained across the Group’s diversified operations in 8 different countries. Despite the challenges of diversified operations with a plethora of diverse priorities, this policy ensured replicability across all their operations with its unique framework. It is no surprise that this policy framework has been classified as ‘Best in Class for Policy Coverage’ in local indices for corporate accountability as well. Aitken Spence is also the only company in Sri Lanka to have been ranked among the Top Ten Best Corporate Citizens of Sri Lanka by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for an unparalleled 16 consecutive years, showing their consistent commitment to create sustainable value.

Aitken Spence is credited for introducing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified architecture to the hospitality industry with Heritance Kandalama, the world’s first LEED certified hotel. More recently, the company introduced LEED architecture to the Maldives with Heritance Aarah. The company also owns and operates the first LEED certified, carbon neutral, green printing facility in South Asia which connects global brands to local printing and packaging solutions. Aitken Spence also marks 1 year since they launched Sri Lanka’s first waste to energy power plant amidst a global pandemic. This year, Aitken Spence will mark 20 years as one of the first signatories to the United Nations Global Compact in Sri Lanka. An active member of its steering committee, the company also leads the Working Group on Human Rights at the Workplace while participating in the Working Groups on Gender and Climate Action. Aitken Spence was also one of the first companies in the world to become signatory to the Women’s Empowerment Principles.



Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure

Published

on

SLT-MOBITEL marks its triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026

Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development

In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.

Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.

Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.

“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.

Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.

However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.

Continue Reading

Business

Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement

Published

on

The panel discussion at the engagement

Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.

The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.

In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.

Continue Reading

Business

American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026

Published

on

The achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories.

American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.

Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.

For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.

Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.

Continue Reading

Trending