Achievements

April 18, 2024

Visa, the global payment solutions company, honoured Commercial Bank of Ceylon for ‘Excellence in Launch of Affluent and Mass Corporate Card Variants’ at a Visa Commercial Solutions Client Forum in Colombo recently, in recognition of the Bank’s commitment to the introduction of Visa’s Corporate Card series in the local market.

The Visa Commercial Solutions Excellence award was presented by Visa Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms Avanthi Colambage and was accepted on behalf of the Bank by Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking Miss Tamara Bernard.

Visa’s Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions – India and South Asia Ms Shruti Gupta and Head of Visa B2B Connect – Asia Pacific Mr Qinwen Xiao were among the senior representatives from Visa at the event, while Commercial Bank’s representation included the Bank’s Assistant General Manager – Corporate Banking Mr Sidath Pananwala, Senior Manager Card Centre Mr Asanka Krishan and officers of the Card Centre and Corporate Banking Department.

Commercial Bank recently launched Visa Signature and Visa Platinum Corporate Credit Cards in Sri Lanka for employees of corporates and other business entities. This new product enables corporates to manage expenses of employees, and the card is linked to a corporate credit card account of each company. These cards can be used by employees of corporates to pay anywhere in the world for travel, entertainment and other expenses authorised by their respective companies, and the Visa Signature Corporate Credit Cards also offer their users complimentary benefits such as lounge access at international airports, and other travel-related support.

Commercial Bank cards are the market leader in Sri Lanka. The Bank offers global credit card brands in the Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers and a variety of cards in the premium segment. The cards are equipped with ‘Tap ’n Go’ NFC technology and are backed by a strong NFC Point-of-Sale (POS) network. ComBank Cards offer an exciting array of promotions and offers across all categories and also offer the Max Loyalty Rewards scheme for selected card categories covering both credit and debit cards.

Commercial Bank is the largest private sector bank in Sri Lanka and the first Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the Top 1000 Banks of the World. The Bank operates a strategically-located network of branches and 964 automated machines in Sri Lanka, is the largest lender to Sri Lanka’s SME sector, and is a leader in digital innovation in the country’s Banking sector. Commercial Bank has the widest international footprint among Sri Lankan Banks, with 20 outlets in Bangladesh, a Microfinance company in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, and a fully-fledged Tier I Bank with a majority stake in the Maldives.

Visa (NYSE: V) is the global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Visa’s mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. The Company believes that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement.

April 18, 2024

Prime Health Herbal Products (PHHP), a leading herbal nutraceutical manufacturer in the country was recently honoured for their contribution towards the creation of herbal medicine at the Golden Inmediens Awards 2023. The award ceremony, which aims to develop and promote indigenous medical entrepreneurship, was held at the Water’s Edge Hotel. Focusing on research and development of pharmaceutical/nutraceutical products, PHHP manufactures their products with a particular emphasis on non-infectious diseases such as Cancer, Diabetics, Obesity and Coronary diseases. Their Research and Development Facility has been established in collaboration with several local and international universities such as the Universities of Peradeniya, Kelaniya (Faculty of Indigenous Medicine), and Ruhuna, and the Universities of Melbourne, Osaka, Spain, and Burling. Their state-of-art factory is in operation under the guidance and supervision of the Research Team’s Head, Senior Prof. R. V. P. J. Rajapakse.

PHHP was honoured at the Golden Inmediens Awards in recognition of their contribution to develop the product, ‘LivingMo600’. It has been developed with six years of extensive research by the related parties. Made of active ingredients of bitter gourd (Karavila), “alfa Eleostearic fatty acid”, and cinnamon bark oil, LivingMo600 has been found to have potential to control the development of cancer and prevent metastasis, and to be able to mitigate the side effects of chemo and radiotherapies used in cancer treatments. The award ceremony was organised by the State Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, the Lanka Ayurveda Promotion (Pvt.) Ltd., the Department of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Drug Corporation. It was attended by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardana, State Minister of Indegenous Medicine Sisira Jayakody and several other Cabinet and State Ministers, and Government officials.

April 9, 2024

Hereditary Herbals (Pvt.) Ltd., a leading Ayurvedic product manufacturer in the country, bagged the Ayurvedic Innovation Talent Award at the Golden Inmediens Awards 2023. The award ceremony aimed at developing and promoting indigenous medical entrepreneurship, was held at the Water’s Edge Hotel in Battaramulla on 19 March. Founded by Dr. R V. D. R. M. M. Ihthisham under the guidance of his father Dr. R. V. D. R. M. M. M. Irshard. Hereditary Herbals is a unique Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company that focuses on manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines to treat health issues such as Arthritis, Catarrh, Cholesterol, Diabetes, Fatty liver, Gastritis, Hypertension, Gallbladder and kidney calculi, Paralysis, Hemorrhoids, sexual disfunction and infertility, dental illnesses and immune system-related conditions. Their wide range of products includes herbal medical tablets, teas, oils, balms, syrups, soaps and other related products to fulfill customers cosmetic requirements.

Hereditary Herbals brand names are allocated to represent a particular disease. Some of such brands are; Lipi-Nil for cholesterol, D-Cap for high blood sugar, Pilonivarani for piles-related conditions, Amla-Pro for gastritis, Calcu-Pro for kidney/gallbladder stones, and Spot-Free for skin-related conditions. They always lay high emphasis on maintaining the natural herbal medicinal value and quality that is combined with the latest technology to offer high-quality products to their local and international consumers. Their products, which are manufactured in compliance with both local and international standards, can be viewed on their official website www.hereditaryherbals.com. Organised by the State Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, the Lanka Ayurveda Promotion (Pvt.) Ltd., the Department of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Drug Corporation, the award ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Sisira Jayakody and several other dignitaries including Cabinet and State Ministers and senior Government officials.

April 9, 2024

Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank, HNB PLC, recently won three awards at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024, including the ‘Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience title’.

Hosted by LankaPay to recognise and reward flag bearers and promoters of innovative digital payment solutions, the awarding night was held at Shangri-La Hotel Colombo on the 20th of March, with the participation of Chief Guest State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath and State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe,

“These awards are a recognition of our team’s work towards pioneering digital payment solutions and our ethos to always prioritise customer convenience. As Sri Lanka embraces a digital payments uptake, particularly regarding financial requirements, our recognition by LankaPay validates our efforts and motivates us to further enhance our digitalization drive further,” said Sanjay Wijemanne, DGM – Retail Banking Group at HNB.

In addition to being presented with the Gold Award for the ‘Bank of the Year for Excellence in Customer Convenience’, HNB also won the Silver Award for ‘Best Digital Payment Strategy’ and a Merit Award for ‘Most Popular Digital Payment Product’.

HNB’s drive for digitalisation took notable steps forward over the past year, unveiling new products and significantly improving their current digital portfolio. Notably, HNB recently launched HNB TXB – a powerful integrated digital transaction banking platform that offers companies – from MSMEs to MNCs – enabling enterprises of any size to gain complete visibility and management over payments, cash management, global trade, value-chain financing, treasury and settlements of foreign currency transactions. The Bank also rolled out HNB Self Onboarding, a transformative digital banking solution that allows any Sri Lankan national the opportunity to sign up for the full range of HNB’s key products entirely remotely.

Initiated in 2017 to recognise the pioneers of payment technology innovations in the country, the LankaPay Technnovation Awards institutions enhance the efficiency of the national payment network.

“It is quite evident that the world is seamlessly adapting to digital mediums, especially in financial and banking requirements. HNB will continue to understand this shift and work to innovate and improve its digital payments products.” HNB AGM-Digital Business Chammika Weerasinghe said.

With 254 customer centers, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative private banks. Consolidating its legacy in sustainability, good governance, and corporate excellence, HNB was crowned the Best Corporate Citizen for 2022 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Awards. Other major accolades include being adjudged the “Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka” for the 14^th occasion by the Asian Banker, being declared the “Best SME Bank” by Asiamoney Magazine, as well as securing a Top 5 position on Business Today’s Top 40 rankings for 2023.

HNB was ranked among Sri Lanka’s Top 10 Most Admired companies in 2022 by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka. HNB was also recognized for its service excellence in trade services at the Euromoney Awards, taking home the prestigious titles of Best Market Leader in Trade Finance Services and Best Services provider

April 8, 2024

The Hambantota International Port (HIP) was a primary awardee at the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) 45th Anniversary Awards, held at the Presidential Secretariat last week. HIP was recognised as one of the most significant FDI contributors to Sri Lanka from 2017-2022, with an investment of $1.4 Billion US dollars.

Johnson Liu, Chief Representative for China Merchants Port and the CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), received the award from President Ranil Wickramasinge. He said, “In addition to our initial investment of US$ 1.4 billion US dollars, we infused another USD 28.7 million to enhance the port’s infrastructure. We believe development has to go hand in hand with investment for enterprises to develop and grow, and going forward, will continue to invest in the port. Our goal is to make HIP the best service offering in the region.”

The CEO said the port has also contributed significantly towards Sri Lanka’s industrial sector, with the ongoing success of their Industrial Park. “Our industrial park has already yielded considerable secondary FDI’s, generated from a number of global investors. We are well aware that collective collaboration between the Government, export oriented manufacturers and service providers are all instrumental in paving the way to position Sri Lanka as a favourable investment hub.”

BOI’s awarding criteria for top enterprises was based on substantial contributions made towards Sri Lanka’s economic transition over the past forty-five years. The categories included significant FDI contributors i.e. projects that helped shape and transform the local economy, based on the value of FDI. This was a key criteria for the BOI whose principal mandate is facilitating foreign direct investment. Other categories were the recognition of longstanding BOI enterprises and longstanding exporters.

The 45th anniversary was inaugurated by President Ranil Wickramasinge. Minister Dilum Amunugama and BOI Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody were also present at the event, where a cross section of exceptional enterprises across the country were recognized.

April 5, 2024

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Recognising DFCC Bank’s exceptional efforts to further financial inclusion through digital innovation, the bank was honoured with the Gold Award for Financial Institution of the Year for Financial Inclusion – Category C, at the recently concluded LankaPay Technovation Awards. In addition to this prestigious accolade, DFCC Bank also received the Merit Award for Best Common ATM Enabler of the Year – Category B. These awards underscore DFCC Bank’s commitment to being the ‘Bank for Everyone’, envisioning a sustainable future of financial inclusivity driven by digital enablement.

Commenting on this achievement, Thimal Perera – CEO of DFCC Bank said, “We are deeply honoured to have been recognised with these prestigious awards. The Gold Award, a first for us on this esteemed platform, is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our numerous individuals and teams in their pursuit to establish and uphold DFCC Bank as the premier financial institution for all. We have experienced sustained growth through their relentless endeavours, even amidst challenging circumstances. Importantly, our steadfast commitment to our customers has ensured uninterrupted access to vital financial services. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the awarding body for this recognition and commend the exceptional contributions of our team members. Furthermore, I sincerely thank our loyal customers for their unwavering support of DFCC Bank.”

These awards reflect DFCC’s unwavering commitment to delivering customer-centric solutions that appeal to all Sri Lankans. As a pioneer in digital service delivery and internal digital transformation, DFCC Bank delivers a seamless omnichannel customer experience. Furthermore, these initiatives are also well-aligned with the Bank’s sustainability goals, helping reduce reliance on paper and other resources, increasing operational efficiency and lowering the carbon footprint.

The LankaPay Technnovation Awards is Sri Lanka’s premier awarding body for financial technology innovation. Launched in 2019, the Awards recognise the best tech innovations across the island and reward those who have made outstanding contributions towards promoting electronic payments and enhancing customer service and convenience. The Awards are highly competitive, with candidates required to meet strict criteria, and an independent panel of industry experts judges all entries.

April 4, 2024

Seylan Bank announced its outstanding success at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024, where it secured multiple accolades, including two Gold awards, one Bronze award, and a Merit Award. The Bank’s commitment to innovation and customer-centric digital banking solutions has been recognized once again, solidifying its position as a leader in the banking industry.

Seylan Bank clinched a Gold award for the best “Common ATM Enabler,” underscoring its dedication to enhancing customer convenience by encouraging the widespread usage of ATMs for transactions. Additionally, the bank secured another Gold award for “Bank of the year for Excellence in Customer Convenience,” reaffirming its relentless pursuit of excellence in user experience and service improvement based on customer feedback.

Additionally, Seylan Bank secured a Bronze Award for overall Excellence in Digital Payments whilst the Merit award was bestowed for “Bank of the year for financial inclusion,” highlighting the institution’s efforts in reaching out to customers and empowering them through accessible and inclusive banking services.

These achievements reflect Seylan Bank’s strategic focus on digital transformation and innovation. Over the past few years, the bank has diligently worked on consolidating and upgrading its digital infrastructure, resulting in top-notch digital banking services.

In the retail banking sector, Seylan Bank has pioneered several initiatives, including eKYC-based onboarding and the introduction of cutting-edge mobile banking applications. The bank’s commitment to digital excellence extends beyond its existing customer base, with the introduction of SeylanPay, a versatile mobile application catering to both bank customers and non-customers, facilitating seamless digital payments and transactions.

On the corporate Banking and SME front, Seylan Bank continues to excel with its innovative solutions. The Seylan Merchant Portal stands out as a groundbreaking platform, providing SMEs with hassle-free online payment collection solutions, thereby enhancing their operational efficiency and enabling them to focus on their core business activities.

Moreover, Seylan Bank has made significant investments in back-end core infrastructure and middleware, including robust API services, to facilitate seamless integration for corporate clients. These initiatives reflect the bank’s unwavering commitment to empowering businesses with secure and efficient digital solutions.

Commenting on the awards, Chaminda Senewiratne, AGM of Digital Banking channels, Seylan Bank stated, “We are thrilled to be recognized for our commitment to innovation and customer-centricity. These awards are a testament to our ongoing efforts to leverage digital technology to enhance banking experiences and foster financial inclusion. At Seylan Bank, innovation is ingrained in our DNA, guided by our core principle of being ‘The Bank with a Heart,’ where customer needs always come first.”

Seylan Bank’s resounding success at the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024 reaffirms its position as a trailblazer in the banking industry, setting new benchmarks for digital excellence and customer satisfaction.

April 4, 2024

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INSEE Sanstha has once again been recognized as the People’s Housing and Construction Brand of the Year 2024 by SLIM Kantar, marking its 13th consecutive win in this prestigious category. The award, presented by The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), signifies the trust and loyalty that customers have placed in the brand over the years, driving INSEE Sanstha’s legacy as Sri Lanka’s #1 Cement brand.

Speaking about the accolade, INSEE Cement’s Commercial Director Safeekhan Siddeeque expressed gratitude INSEE’s customers for their continued support and trust in the brand, even during challenging times in Sri Lanka’s construction industry. “At INSEE Cement, we are deeply committed to delivering excellence in everything we do. For the past five decades, we have been consistently providing the best in products and solutions at the highest quality consistently. This award fuels our motivation to continue raising the bar of excellence and further strengthening our legacy.”

The SLIM Kantar People’s Awards, established in 2007, are among the most highly anticipated events in the corporate calendar. This year’s awards ceremony was held on Monday 18 March at the Monarch Imperial in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, with the attendance of senior marketers and officials, representing both brands and agencies.

What sets these awards apart is their unique basis on consumer preferences, determined through a comprehensive survey rather than by a panel of experts. Kantar, on behalf of SLIM, undertakes an exhaustive data collection and analysis process to select the winners for various categories, including the coveted People’s Housing and Construction Brand of the Year.

INSEE Sanstha Cement was the first Portland-Composite-Cement ever to be launched in Sri Lanka and is also the only cement manufacturer with an integrated cement plant. INSEE Cement is also the first company in Sri Lanka to receive Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for its comprehensive product portfolio, demonstrating a commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting sustainable construction practices. INSEE Sanstha Portland Composite Cement became the first cement brand in Sri Lanka to be awarded the prestigious Green Certificate by the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. INSEE Sanstha was also awarded the gold certificate from the Ceylon Institute of Builders in 2023.

April 2, 2024

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Hayleys Fentons Limited, Sri Lanka’s No.1 Solar EPC company and MEP contractor commemorates its first-ever Award at the recent “Best Management Practices Company Awards (BMPC) 2024”, recognising exceptional management practices.

The Best Management Practices Company Awards are organised by the esteemed Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM, Sri Lanka).

“We are proud to receive this award from CPM Sri Lanka,” said Hasith Prematillake, the Managing Director of Hayleys Fentons Limited. “This recognition serves as a strong validation of our commitment to continuous improvement and the tireless efforts of our team in upholding the highest standards of management practices.

“We firmly believe that our unwavering focus on best practices will continue to be a significant driver of its growth and achievements.”

This distinguished achievement underscores the company’s dedication to implementing best practices across all aspects of its operations, including leadership, strategic direction, human resources, collaborations, resource management, and process optimisation, ultimately leading to outstanding performance.

April 2, 2024

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Classic Travel, a leading IATA-accredited travel agent based in Sri Lanka and a member of the renowned Expolanka Group of Companies, has been awarded the prestigious Gold Award as the No.1 Travel Agent by Emirates. The coveted award was presented at the Emirates Awards Night, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, in recognition of Classic Travel’s exceptional support and dedication to Emirates Airlines throughout the year 2023.

Emirates Airlines, known for its commitment to excellence and unparalleled service, honoured Classic Travel as the most preferred travel partner during a gala event that celebrated the contributions of travel agencies to Emirates’ success. This accolade reaffirms Classic Travel’s position as a trusted and reliable travel partner, offering high-quality services that exceed customer expectations.

Mr. Sabry Bahaudeen, General Manager of Classic Travel, expressed gratitude for the Gold Award, stating, “Receiving the Gold Award is a tremendous honour for Classic Travel, and it fuels our determination to excel further and provide exceptional travel services and experiences. This recognition reinforces our commitment to excellence. We are deeply thankful to all our clients and partners who have been integral to our journey, enabling us to achieve this milestone.”

A trusted travel solutions provider for over 25 years, Classic Travel is an IATA accredited travel agent based in Sri Lanka and a member of the prestigious Expolanka Group of Companies. Classic Travel specializes in providing comprehensive travel solutions to both corporate and leisure markets. It is the only travel agent in Sri Lanka to be open 24 hours, 365 days of the year for any customer queries relating to flight information, purchasing of air tickets, booking of hotels or to discuss any future holiday travel itineraries.

Older Posts

Visa recognises ComBank for excellence in the launch of Corporate cards

Prime Health Herbal Products honoured at Golden Inmediens Awards for developing ‘LivingMo600’

Hereditary Herbals shines at Golden Inmediens Awards

HNB recognized for digital payment innovation with three awards at LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024

Hambantota International Port – Most Significant FDI contributor to Sri Lanka – BOI

DFCC Wins 1st Gold Award at LankaPay Technovation Awards for Commitment to Financial Inclusion

Seylan Bank Shines at LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024 with Multiple Wins

INSEE Sanstha Named SLIM Kantar’s People’s Housing and Construction Brand of the Year for the 13th Consecutive Time

Hayleys Fentons Wins Merit Award at Best Management Practices Company Awards 2024

Classic Travel Honoured with Gold Award as No.1 Travel Agent at the Emirates Awards Night