AHK Sri Lanka and FNF Sri Lanka organises Sustainability Awards 2022

• Honours diligent trailblazers making strides towards sustainability in supply chains 

Several governments are enacting laws that mandate some form of due diligence or, at a minimum, awareness into supply chains. One such example is the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act that will come into force this upcoming 1 January 2023. Companies around the world are changing the way they view their supply chain and are requiring greater due diligence measures to uphold human rights. 

This makes it necessary for SMEs and corporates alike in Sri Lanka to embark and drive sustainability and due diligence within their supply chains.

The ‘Sustainability Awards 2022’ initiative organised on 2 December 2022, by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Sri Lanka to recognise companies that has made considerable progress in sustainability in supply chains and due diligence in business. 

The evaluation criteria for the award show were developed to reflect pertinent factors and the current focus in relation to existing and forthcoming due diligence legislatives.

Over 71 companies making Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) progress a core part of its operations with the goal of making a lasting impact on the health of the planet had submitted their nominations for the award.

Four thematic areas such as the holistic approach to sustainability, visionary leadership relating to sustainability, innovative capability, and resistance to external factors were taken into consideration when evaluating the range of applications.

The winners spanned across the agriculture, textile, and tourism sectors, with two award types per sector. Six organisations and individuals were recognised as trailblazers who are leading the way in Sri Lanka’s transition to a sustainable economy.

Within the framework of the joint project of AHK Sri Lanka and Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the following companies were awarded for their extraordinary sustainability commitment in the subsequent categories; Elpitiya Plantations PLC (Agriculture sector – Large Enterprise), Starch Fruits and Beverages Ltd. (Agriculture sector – SME), Stretchline Ltd. (Textile sector – Large Enterprise), Selyn Exporters Ltd. (Textile sector – SME), Saraii Ltd. (Tourism sector – Hotel and accommodation providers) and Aitken Spence Travels Ltd. (Tourism sector – Tour operators and DMCs).

Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO), Horana Plantations PLC, Gralgo from Ceylon Ltd., Hint Nuwara Eliya Ltd., Sensa Solutions Lanka Ltd., Onivja Global Research Ltd., Teardrop Hotels, Uga Escapes Management Ltd., Summer Explorers Ltd. and Walkers Tours Ltd. were among the shortlisted companies for the Sustainability Awards 2022. 

The awardees were chosen by a jury that included FNF Country Director Wolfgang Heinze, SExport Development Board Director Market Development Anoma Premathilaka, Control Union Sri Lanka Managing Director Roshan Ranawaka, TravelLife Sustainable Tourism Auditor Alinevan der Meulen, Daily FT News Editor Charumini de Silva and Echelon Editor Shamindra Kulamannage.

At the event, AHK Sri Lanka Chief Delegate Marie Antonia von Schönburg and Head of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Wolfgang Heinze extended their heartfelt congratulations on the well-deserved success of the finalists for the awards and encouraged more companies to embark on due diligence processes to increase their competitiveness in the industry.