Business
Ceylinco Life is Sri Lanka’s ‘Brand of the Year’ for second successive year
Takes top honours at SLIM Brand Excellence Awards, also winning ‘Service Brand of the Year,’ ‘Local Brand of the Year,’ ‘Agile Brand of the Year’ & ‘CSR Brand of the Year’
Ceylinco Life conquered the “Everest” of Brand Excellence in Sri Lanka this week, winning the Company’s second successive ‘Brand of the Year’ title and three other Golds at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) awards on December 18, the company announced.
Sri Lanka’s life insurance leader was also adjudged the country’s ‘Service Brand of the Year,’ ‘Local Brand of the Year’ and ‘Agile Brand of the Year’ and won the overall Silver award for ‘CSR Brand of the Year’ in an unprecedented victory of the most prestigious awards at this awards event, a news release said.
“We are absolutely elated to be adjudged the country’s top brand across all sectors for a second consecutive year,” Ceylinco Life Chairman Mr R. Renganathan declared. “There can be no better benchmark of brand supremacy than this, and the fact that it is in respect of a year of multifaceted challenges makes the accolade particularly significant. This award is a tribute not just to our marketing team but to every Ceylinco Life employee that lives our brand values every day in testing conditions.”
For Ceylinco Life, the 2023 SLIM Brand Excellence Awards event was especially noteworthy as it was also the third consecutive year that the Company was adjudged Sri Lanka’s ‘Service Brand of the Year.’ The Company’s Gold award as the ‘Agile Brand of the Year’ is also remarkable as it was the first occasion that Ceylinco Life had applied for the accolade, which measures the agility and responsiveness of a brand amidst external environment changes.
Meanwhile the ‘CSR Brand of the Year’ award recognizes brands that conduct sustainable, strategic activities related to people and/or the environment, demonstrating that CSR is an integral part of their brand strategy. Ceylinco Life’s multifaceted community welfare and sustainability-linked initiatives include the construction and donation of classroom buildings, the donation of essential medical equipment to hospitals, the conduct of ‘Waidya Hamuwa’ free health camps and the development and maintenance of High Dependency Units (HDUs) at key hospitals, all of which are closely linked to the core brand message of offering protection and facilitating progression in the lives of communities in Sri Lanka.
The biggest event of the year for marketing professionals, the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards recognize top brands with five main awards and 10 special awards every year.
For the purpose of these awards, multiple aspects of brand building are evaluated under the headings of Brand intent, Brand content, Brand process and Brand performance, assessing not just the commercial success of brands but their fulfillment of promises to consumers. The SLIM Brand Excellence awards are considered the ultimate recognition of the courage, dedication and perseverance marketers have demonstrated in making their brands champions.
According to the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, the awards honour exceptional marketing efforts and outstanding brand stories. Through this awards program SLIM endeavors to not only encourage best practices in branding but also to inspire local marketers to raise the bar to stand shoulder to shoulder with international standards.
In a significant move for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, NKAR, a stalwart in the industry for over 45 years, has announced a partnership with Holiday Max, Australia’s largest tour operator. Based in Perth, Holiday Max has ventured into Sri Lanka for the first time, marking a promising expansion for both entities.
This collaboration aligns with NKAR’s strategic vision to enhance the country’s appeal to international travelers. Nilmin Nanayakkara, Chairman and Managing Director of NKAR says, “Our policy has always been to promote Sri Lanka to new markets by attracting new operators, rather than competing through price undercutting or making unrealistic promises.” This statement encapsulates NKAR’s commitment to fostering sustainable tourism growth by focusing on quality over cost.
By prioritsing service excellence and maintaining high health and safety standards, NKAR aims to elevate the overall travel experience for visitors. This approach not only positions Sri Lanka as a premium destination but also attracts reputable operators like Holiday Max, who are drawn to the island’s unique experiences and NKAR’s dedication to quality service.
The partnership represents a remarkable opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s diverse offerings to Australian travelers, potentially opening new avenues for tourism growth. As NKAR continues to innovate and adapt, this collaboration is set to bolster Sri Lanka’s standing as a sought-after travel destination, steering the industry away from aggressive price competition towards sustainable growth through authentic experiences.
By focusing on attracting new operators and markets, NKAR is paving the way for a revitalised tourism landscape in Sri Lanka, one that values quality, safety, and the unique charm of the island. NKAR is recognised as one of the top five destination management companies in Sri Lanka. The company recently won 3 major awards at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
LOLC Finance secured five Gold Awards and one Merit Award at the LankaPay Technovation Awards 2025, including the prestigious Overall Excellence in Digital Payments Gold Award for the sixth consecutive year.
The company dominated both bank and NBFI categories, winning Best Digital Strategy Gold Award, proving its superiority over traditional banks in digital finance.
Awards won were as follows.
Gold Awards:
Best Digital Payment Strategy (Banks & NBFI)
Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via JustPay (Banks & NBFI)
Excellence in Customer Convenience (NBFI)
Financial Inclusivity (NBFI)
Overall Excellence in Digital Payments (NBFI)
Merit Award: Most Popular Digital Payment Product (iPay)
CEO Krishan Thilakaratne emphasized digitalization as core to LOLC Finance’s operations, enabling seamless, 24/7 financial access through platforms like LOLC Real Time and iPay.
Chairman Conrad Dias highlighted the audited, performance-based recognition and iPay’s mission to solve real-world financial challenges with cutting-edge tech.
iPay & JustPay innovations were Recognized for leading digital payment adoption with 1M+ downloads, 1.8M monthly transactions, and 65% JustPay market share, featuring biometric security and AI fraud detection.
Financial Inclusivity was recognized for Bridging gaps via multi-lingual services, cashless processes, and rural outreach programs.
Customer Convenience was recognized for real-time solutions (SLIPS, CEFTS) eliminating branch visits for payments and transfers.
Tree House International, located in Dehiwala, has been recognised as the Most Evidence-Based Special Needs School of the Year at BWIO Awards. The only international school in Sri Lanka dedicated exclusively to children with special needs, 75% of its students relocate from abroad for its high-quality, result-driven education.
Last semester, 100% of students transitioned to mainstream or vocational training.
The school is led by Dr. Anton James, a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist with over 20 years of global experience.
His evidence-based approach earned the highest honour from the British Psychological Society, and he was elected a Chartered Scientist. Co-directed by Chrystal Honsaker, an expert with 15 years of international special needs experience, the school also offers an accredited British curriculum alternative to GCSEs.
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