SL Corporate Health and Productivity Awards 2020 recognise best workplaces

Winners 

By Divya Thotawatte

In a bid to ensure wellness of employees while improving their efficiency in the corporate sector, ‘Sri Lanka Corporate Health and Productivity Awards 2020’ organised by the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) in collaboration with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) was held recently. 

COYLE Chairman Aminda Rodrigo stated, “As part of our ongoing effort to promote health and wellbeing at work, last year we launched the Sri Lanka Corporate Health and Productivity awards and today we’re rewarding the best workplaces which have made tremendous effort towards achieving a healthy working environment. The awards program was developed with the main objective of encouraging corporates to establish an effective system to manage the health and wellbeing of employees, while increasing productivity and inculcating the aspects of a healthy culture into the daily duties of employers and workers.” 

The winners were awarded Gold and Silver Awards based on the categories and depending on the number of employees. Under the extra-large category, Hirdaramani International Exports Ltd. won Gold while Linea Aqua Ltd. and Kelani Valley Plantations PLC won Silver and McLarens Holdings Ltd. bagged the Merit. Under the Large category, Orel Corporation Ltd. won Gold while Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. won Silver. Screenline Ltd. and D. Samson Industries Ltd. Main Plant won the Merit while D. Samson Industries Ltd. Bataduwa Plant was awarded for participation. 

Under the Medium category, Samson Compounds Ltd. won Gold while D. Samson Industries Ltd. Sportswear plant won Silver. Toppan Forms (Colombo) Ltd. and Smithkline Beecham Ltd. won the Merit and D. Samson Industries Ltd. Karandeniya Plant was awarded for participation. Under the Small Category, Gac Shipping won the Silver. 

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama said, “I am delighted by the sheer number of corporate participants gathered here today. This is a reflection of the extent of which employers are taking a keen eye on the health and well-being of their employees. Promoting employees’ health is critical for a company’s growth. Investment in employees’ health will improve their vitality and productivity. The efforts of companies in this respect not only will significantly improve the quality of the employees life, but also will curtail the medical expenses and alleviate the burden of national health services.”

The selection criteria of the competition displayed high transparency similar to the previous year, and the process was presented at the event by the SL Corporate Health and Productivity Awards Judging Panel Chairman Dr. Yoshiaki Ichikawa. The selection process was facilitated by surveys and workshops conducted with the aim of educating the enterprises the ways and means of setting up and reaching high standards in health and wellness. The enterprises were enlightened on the value of implementing health and wellness initiatives which will benefit them in the long run. 

Established in 1999, with over 116 top Sri Lankan young entrepreneurs, COYLE is a business chamber which promotes entrepreneurship, economic and development initiatives of the government, international economic development of the country and provides assistance to its members in commercial business matters.  Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is a government related organisation which promotes mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Established in 1958, JETRO’s main focus in 21st century is to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Japan.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara