Business
Unilever Horana Factory Recruits First Ever Female Workforce
Achieves another milestone in diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Unilevers Horana facory has recruited its first ever female work force with 23 new women employees joining the production line at its personal products and baby cologne plants currently run entirely by females, the company announced last week.
The 23 new women employees possess vocational qualifications with some having degrees in various specializations, a news release said.
It said that in Sri Lanka, 55% of Unilever’s management committee are made up of women while 31% of its total workforce are females. Globally the company has achieved a 50:50 gender balance which was a commitment made in 2010 to achieve gender balance in managerial roles across its global business by the end of 2020, a target which Unilever achieved a year early.
Speaking about Unilever’s commitment to diversity & inclusion, Ananya Sabharwal, Director, Human Resources of Unilever Sri Lanka said, “We have been striving to increase female representation in our frontline operations in Manufacturing and Sales, which are currently male dominated. Introducing our first ever female workforce at Horana marks one of the proudest achievements in the diversity history of Unilever Sri Lanka. I am humbled to say that we have also launched some industry-first policies like our fertility support and domestic violence support policies. For us, diversity is not just about gender balance, but about creating an inclusive climate for all kinds of diverse talent. I truly believe that allowing people to be themselves helps both individuals and organisations thrive”.
Commenting on the milestone, Nayani Peiris, Head of Employee Relations and Senior HR Business Partner of Unilever Sri Lanka said, “Seeing our first female employees at Horana is the fruitful result of careful planning over a few years. It has been a long and exciting journey but worth the effort to get it right the first time around. Having been a relatively male dominant site from inception, our Horana factory floor underwent several changes to create an inclusive environment for our female factory workforce. We are proud of our efforts and the steps we have taken to drive more female representation at the workplace.”
Adding his thoughts, Damith Abeyratne, Horana Factory Manager, Unilever Sri Lanka said, “From designing and building state-of-the-art female friendly washrooms and sanitary and welfare facilities, to identifying areas where our female factory workforce could be deployed, and creating awareness on the importance of diversity & inclusion to our male employees, we have invested heavily to build an all-inclusive environment at our factory premises. We are happy to have come this far in empowering women and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace.”
Unilever tested the waters first by introducing women employees on casual terms during peak periods over the last three years. The company then underwent a comprehensive plan to retain its first female factory workforce, the release said.
Since its inception in 1938, Unilever Sri Lanka has established itself as one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in Sri Lanka. Its current product portfolio includes 30 market leading brands in categories such as Home Care, Personal Care and Consumables. 96% of its products are manufactured locally, to the strictest manufacturing standards.
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, has underscored the critical role of sovereign credit rating agencies in helping debt-distressed nations smoothly transition out of default status after successful debt restructuring.
Speaking at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) in Washington DC on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, Dr. Weerasinghe shared Sri Lanka’s ongoing debt restructuring experience.
He highlighted that while restructuring is a crucial step toward economic recovery, rating agencies must play a proactive role in reassessing countries’ creditworthiness fairly and promptly once restructuring is completed.
The GSDR, co-chaired by the IMF, World Bank, and G20 Presidency, serves as a key platform for debtor nations and creditors to address debt challenges.
Sri Lanka, a country which has undergone complex debt negotiations, has been an active participant in these discussions.
Governor Weerasinghe’s remarks come at a pivotal time, as Sri Lanka seeks to restore international investor confidence post-restructuring.
His call aligns with broader discussions at the GSDR on improving coordination between debtors, creditors, and financial institutions to ensure sustainable debt solutions, and help restore international investor confidence in countries such as Sri Lanka.
The roundtable also highlighted the newly introduced Sovereign Debt Restructuring Playbook, designed to guide countries through restructuring processes.
The Central Bank’s push for more responsive and supportive rating agency policies could set an important precedent for other debt-distressed economies as well.
Speaking at the GSDR, Treasury Secretary K M M Siriwardana acknowledged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as instrumental in stabilising Sri Lanka’s crisis-hit economy, as the country prepares to receive its fifth IMF tranche of $344 million in the coming weeks.
Siriwardana reflected on Sri Lanka’s ‘extremely challenging journey’ since its 2022 economic collapse marked by severe shortages, public unrest, and a loss of confidence in governance.
“Seeking IMF support was a strength, not a weakness,” he asserted, crediting the Fund’s policy framework and technical assistance for reversing the economic freefall.
He highlighted over 200 IMF training programmes conducted to strengthen institutional capacity, stating, “The IMF laid the foundation for stability.”
Notably present at the discussion was Peter Brewer, the IMF’s former Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, underscoring the close collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Fund.
Siriwardana traced the roots of the crisis to political instability between 2017–2019, the 2019 Easter attacks, and contentious tax policies, which collectively deepened Sri Lanka’s economic vulnerabilities. “Yet,” he noted, “Difficult reforms are now yielding positive results.”
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Calcey, a global software services provider, has achieved ISO 27001:2013 certification, the international benchmark for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). This certification highlights Calcey’s strong measures in safeguarding client data and managing security risks.
The rigorous audit covered Calcey’s security protocols, risk management, and operational processes across its offices in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the U.S.
Mangala Karunaratne, CEO of Calcey Technologies, stated that this milestone underscores their dedication to top-tier data security, reinforcing trust among clients in the U.S., Europe, and the Nordic regions.
The certification ensures compliance with global security standards, benefiting Calcey’s diverse clientele, from startups to large enterprises.
Chinese Dragon Café, a leading Sri Lankan-style Chinese restaurant, has announced that its temporary outlet at Alpine Hotel in Nuwara Eliya will remain open until April 30, catering to both loyal customers and tourists during the Avurudu season.
The seasonal branch has already gained popularity among locals and visitors, offering signature dishes like seafood fried rice, fried noodles, tom yum soup, hot butter cuttlefish, and crispy spring rolls. To enhance convenience, the café provides free delivery within Nuwara Eliya for hotel guests and holidaymakers.
This marks the brand’s first seasonal expansion to Nuwara Eliya, capitalizing on the influx of tourists especially from Colombo, enjoying the cool climate and festive atmosphere.
Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts
People have now started to think of themselves as Sri Lankans sans ethnic or religious divisions- PM
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Eastern and North-central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu and Kurunegala districts.
-
News6 days agoOrders under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruptions Act No. 9 of 2023 for concurrence of parliament
-
Features6 days agoRuGoesWild: Taking science into the wild — and into the hearts of Sri Lankans
-
Business2 days agoPick My Pet wins Best Pet Boarding and Grooming Facilitator award
-
News5 days agoProf. Rambukwella passes away
-
Opinion6 days agoSri Lanka’s Foreign Policy amid Geopolitical Transformations: 1990-2024 – Part IX
-
Features2 days agoKing Donald and the executive presidency
-
Business2 days agoACHE Honoured as best institute for American-standard education
-
Features4 days agoThe Truth will set us free – I