MAS recognised as Exporting Conglomerate of the Year at Presidential Export Awards 2018

From left: Shakti Ranatunga - Director Group Human Resources, MAS Holdings; Chamindra Mirando - General Manger, Operations MAS Fabrics Matrix; Ziyan Zahir – Director, Direct Brands, MAS Intimates; Dulani Dilrukshi Ganegoda - President Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) MAS Intimates Slimline; Shirendra Lawrence - Chief Operating Officer, MAS Holdings; Surangi Madhuwanthi Perera - Secretary Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), Unichela Panadura; Suren Fernando - Chief Executive Officer, MAS Intimates; Ruwan Keragala - Director Finance, MAS Intimates and Rajiv Dharmendra - Chief Marketing Officer, MAS Intimates

MAS Holdings made history by being recognised as the Exporting Conglomerate of the Year, as the overall award was introduced for the first time to appreciate and celebrate export excellence by a Sri Lankan corporate at the Presidential Export Awards 2018.

At the same event, MAS Intimates was honoured with the coveted Exporter of the Year Awardas well as also receiving the Overall Awards for Net Foreign Exchange Earner and Contributor from the Region to the Export Supply Chain. 

In addition to the four overall awards, MAS walked away with two sectoral awards, the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner – Apparel award won by MAS Intimates and the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner – Footwear award won by MAS Fabrics Matrix.   

The gala awardswere held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH, Colombo. 

Commenting on the occasion, MAS HoldingsChairman and Co-founder Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean said:“Today, consumer dynamics have evolved and digital commerce is disrupting the traditional retail landscape. Digitisation is creating opportunities while Innovation will play an important role in transforming the apparel industry.”

He went on to state: “MAS is proud to have contributed towards positioning Sri Lanka as an ethical and sustainable destination for high value-added, technologically advanced design-to-delivery apparel solutions. These awards are a testament to the hard work and commitment shown by all our associates across the country and beyond.”

Initiated by the Export Development Board in 1981, the Presidential Export Awards (PEA) are the most prestigious awards for exports in Sri Lanka and are presented to exporters who have made a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s exports.

The Presidential Export Awards recognise and reward the top performers of the export community who contribute largely to national development. The awards are conferred following a stringent selection process, curating those who excel in the export business, especially in non-traditional products and services. 

The Conglomerate of the Year Award was adjudged based on criteria that encapsulated a company’s export turnover, financial performance, value addition and creation of employment opportunities. Focus areas such as product and market innovation as well as the implementation of sustainable policies where MAS Holdings has displayed industry-wide dominance and leadership over the years were also evaluated. 

Other measures such as a company’s impact through CSR, implementation of Quality Management Systems, incremental growth of exports and exports under Sri Lankan registered brands rounded the list of criteria that saw MAS claiming the top honour of the night. 

Being a world-class apparel and textile manufacturer with unrivalled excellence, MAS has contributed to the world’s foremost apparel brands for over three decades. The $ 1.8 billion conglomerate, headquartered in Sri Lanka, has 53 state-of-the-art apparel manufacturing facilities across 16 countries backed by a workforce of 98,000 associates. Diversifying its portfolio over the years, MAS not only caters to the fashion and lifestyle sectors but also drives IT businesses, brands, shared services and industrial parks.  

MAS is driven by productive actions that leverage the company to deliver nothing short of excellence, while instilling the consciousness of MAS’ role in contributing to the sustainability of the industry, community, country and the world.