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Wednesday, 19 December 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Consolidating its reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most respected tea producers, Hayleys Plantations made history after its subsidiary Talawakele Tea Estates PLC (TTEL) was presented with the award for Overall Excellence at the recently-concluded National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) 2018.
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Hayleys Plantations Sector Managing Director Roshan Rajadurai addressing the occasion after TTEL won the overall Gold award
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TTEL’s victory marks the first time in the history of the NBEA that a plantation sector company has emerged as Overall Winners where in the past the award has been an honour typically reserved for large blue chip companies.
In total, Hayleys Plantations – which is also comprised of Kelani Valley Plantations PLC (KVPL) – received 15 accolades at NBEA 2018, with TTEL receiving further Gold awards in the Agriculture and Plantation Sector, Excellence in Performance Management and Extra Large Company categories.
TTEL was also presented with Silver awards in the Excellence in Environmental Sustainability and Excellence in Local Market Reach categories in addition to two Merit awards for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility and Excellence in Corporate Governance.
Commenting on the record breaking performance of TTEL at this year’s awards, respected industry veteran and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Roshan Rajadurai said: “As an organisation we are deeply honoured at being crowned winners at a forum as prestigious as the National Business Excellence Awards. At a time when the plantation industry itself faces unprecedented challenges, we hope our victory helps to shine a light on progressive approach to plantations management employed at Hayleys Plantations.
“By showcasing the best that this industry has to offer, we are confident that we will be able to inspire a systemic transformation of Sri Lanka’s plantation sector – and in so doing, help secure and brighter and more prosperous future for an industry that is intrinsically linked to this nation’s economy, culture and history.”
A similarly outstanding performance was recorded by KVPL which was also presented with a Gold award for Excellence in Performance Management in addition to three Silver awards in the categories of Agriculture and Plantation Sector, Excellence in Environmental Sustainability and Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility. KVPL was also presented with two further Merit awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance and Excellence in Local Market Reach.
“The performance of TTEL at NBEA 2018 stands as further vindication of the outstanding progress we have made towards the creation of a truly sustainable model the tea industry. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Hayleys Group, and to our Managing Director for the invaluable role that they have played in steering our company to greater prosperity. And most importantly, we thank our team of employees at every level of the organisation whose collective efforts are at the heart of our success,” TTEL Director/CEO Dilantha Senevirathne said.
The remarkable performances of both companies at the NBEA builds even greater momentum for Hayleys Plantations, where in 2017, KVPL made history by becoming the first plantation sector company to ever breakthrough into the winners bracket of the NBEA when secured a total of eight awards and including a spot among the top three companies of the year.
“As part of Hayleys Plantations, we take a lot of pride in the outstanding achievement of TTEL at this year’s awards, and we are equally enthusiastic about the outstanding performance of KVPL. As the first plantation industry company to succeed at the NBEA we are inspired by the continuing dominance of Hayleys Plantations companies at this important forum. Moving forward, we aim to continue to channel our efforts into adapting global best practices with local knowledge to enable business excellence through economically, environmentally and socially sustainable practices,” KVPL Director/CEO Anura Weerakoon stated.
Organised by the National Chamber of Commerce since 2004, the NBEA is considered to be among Sri Lanka’s longest running and most prestigious corporate awards with a reputation for professionalism, and stringent evaluation.
The performance of Hayleys Plantations at the NBEA is the latest in a string of accolades and prestige secured by the organisation, with TTEL and KVPL bringing home Gold and Silver awards respectively at the 54th CA Sri Lanka Annual Report Awards in the Plantation Companies category. Similarly, TTEL went on to secure five awards at the Presidential Environmental Awards 2018, for the fifth consecutive year, making it the only plantation company that has successfully competed with local industrial competitors.
Among the leading and most successful RPCs currently operating in Sri Lanka, Talawakele Tea Estates PLC and Kelani Valley Plantations PLC – which together comprise the plantation sector of the Hayleys Group – have consistently set new benchmarks in human resources management and environmental sustainability, by winning numerous awards and accolades both locally and internationally, including Gold at National HR Excellence awards, winner of IPM ‘Great HR Practices’ 2018, Gold at Asia-Pacific HR Excellence Awards and Global HR Excellence Awards, Gold at South Asian Partnership Summit & Business Awards (SAPS), Gold at SLITAD People Development Awards, Gold and Silver at National Social Dialog and Work Place Cooperation Awards, few to mention.
Supported by a legacy and culture of excellence established by its parent, the Hayleys Group and ably guided under the visionary leadership of its Managing Director Roshan Rajadurai, Hayleys Plantations has been at the forefront of a progressive transformation in the plantation sector. Through a sustained focus on employee welfare and the development of a performance based culture, Hayleys Plantations is rapidly emerging as one of the homes of innovation and excellence within the industry.
