Business
Unilever ranked No 1 most respected FMCG company in Lanka once again
Unilever Sri Lanka has been ranked the Number 1 Most Respected FMCG company in the country in LMD’s Most Respected Entities publication for 2022. This marks the 17th consecutive time that Unilever has been ranked in the list, moving 4 places up from 2021 to claim the overall 6th position from over 100 varying companies. Unilever was also declared the Sector Winner in both the ‘Consumer Products’ ‘Multinational’ categories yet again, maintaining its winning streak.
The company also emerged as the highest rated FMCG company to appear in LMD’s Top 12 performance measures/ indicators for awarding the rankings, namely: ‘Financial Performance’, ‘Quality Consciousness’, ‘Management Profile’, ‘Honesty’, ‘Innovation’, ‘Dynamism’, ‘Corporate Culture’, ‘CSR & Sustainability’, ‘Vision’, ‘National Perspective’, ‘HR & People Management’ and ‘Crisis Management’.
Sharing her comments on the recognition, Hajar Alafifi, Chairperson and Managing Director of Unilever Sri Lanka said, “It is truly a proud and honourable moment for us to be ranked as Sri Lanka’s Most Respected FMCG company once again, and more so for the 17th consecutive time of being recognised by the people of Sri Lanka. This underscores the positive impact we have made in the lives of Sri Lankans across the years, through our purposeful brands, our corporate vision to make sustainable living commonplace, and the unwavering commitment of our people towards integrity and excellence in all that we do. We also offer our heartfelt appreciation to LMD and its management for creating a platform to encourage and recognise good corporate conduct across the economy, society and the environment.”
Over the past 84 years, Unilever has been deeply rooted in Sri Lankan society, curating a landscape that preserves and nurtures the true Sri Lankan way of life. It is one of the largest FMCG companies in the country and produces 96% of its products to the strictest manufacturing standards at its manufacturing facility in Horana and local third-party manufacturing sites. The company’s portfolio comprises 30 market leading brands including Sunlight, Signal, Lifebuoy, Knorr, Vim and many others, through which it enhances the lives of 21 million Sri Lankans every day.
The company was ranked the ‘Number 1 Employer of Choice’ for the 10th consecutive year in 2021 by NielsenIQ, awarded the ‘Most Effective Marketer of the Year’ award for the 6th consecutive year at the 2021 Effie Awards, adjudged the ‘Most Awarded Entity’ in the ‘Consumer Products’ and ‘Multinational’ Categories in Sri Lanka in LMD’s 2021 ‘Most Awarded’ Edition, and had 15 Unilever brands ranked as the ‘Most Loved Brands’ in Sri Lanka in LMD’s 2022 Brands Annual Ranking. Unilever’s Horana factory was also honoured with the ISO 14001:2015 certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) for its commitment to identify, manage and reduce its impact on the environment through its operations.
The ‘Most Respected Entities in Sri Lanka’ ranking is based on an annual survey conceptualized by Sri Lanka’s leading business magazine – LMD and conducted by NielsenIQ. This year’s survey covered the opinions of 800 respondents from listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in LMD’s Top 100 list (2020/21) and in the Brands Annual 2021 list. The final rankings were based on the total sum of value of the weighted scores for each company.
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
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