‘Asia Best Employer Brand 2016’ conferred on Bank of Ceylon

Bank of Ceylon Deputy General Manager Human Resource G.H. Chandrasiri (left) receiving the award

Adding another jewel to its crown, the seventh annual awarding ceremony of ‘Asia’s Best Employer Brand’ awards endorsed the Bank of Ceylon as one of those classed as a ‘Best Employer Brand’ for the year 2016. The ceremony was hosted by the Employer Brand Institute, World HRD Congress and Stars of the Industry Group along with the strategic partner CHRD Asia. 

The bank was selected as one of the winners from among candidates from more than 40 countries throughout Asia including Australia at the ceremony which took place at Pan Pacific Marina Square, Singapore recently.

The awarding institution had a stringent evaluation process based on information that have been gathered about the bank’s contribution in specific areas; creating a culture of contribution and innovation at work; consistent improvement in HR Policy by measuring organisational health and inculcating values that help to achieve the vision; being a Social Employer and developing future leaders in the organisation. The panels of judges consist of Professionals from different parts of the Asia. 

Winners are selected based on the framework of being exemplary in learning and development initiatives, communicating distinctiveness in employee hiring, training and retention practices and continuous innovation.

“Staff of the Bank of Ceylon consists of knowledge, skills and competency who reach amazing heights to deliver remarkable results. Being an employer of an over 7,900 task force, BOC takes every measure to ensure that every member is motivated and empowered to carry their duties whilst achieving their own personal goals in life. We possess a mix of various age groups bringing different perspectives of life which enable the bank to look into each and every need of most of the Sri Lankans thus establishing ourselves as the Banker’s to the Nation. There is a no greater privilege for us than to have our staff with me in celebrating this International Award I also wish to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment towards this organisation,” stated the bank’s General Manager D.M. Gunasekera.

“The bank’s HR team is currently in the process of implementing a fully fledged Human Capital Management system that is technologically driven in line with the bank’s Digital Transformation. We look forward to further strengthening our staff capabilities and managing our pool of talent through this system. As the No.1 Bank in the country our staff has always shown excellence in service and on part of the HR Division we always provide necessary guidance and specialised training for them to upgrade their skills at all times,” stated Deputy General Manager Human Resource G.H. Chandrasiri.  

Leading the Sri Lankan Banking industry with over 77 years experience, the Bank of Ceylon has become the most stable and the trusted bank in the country that serves Sri Lankans from all walks of life helping them to build their lives and make themselves financially stable and uplifting the country’s economy. The Bank of Ceylon was named as the Strongest Bank in the country for the year 2015 by the prestigious ‘The Asian Banker’ and it earned global recognition as one of the top 1000 banks in the world, (Country rank No.1) as listed by ‘The Banker Magazine’ (UK) respectively in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

The Bank of Ceylon won the overall Gold Award at the NBEA Awards Ceremony 2015 with five other ‘Winner’ awards. The bank claimed its award as the only Sri Lankan brand recognised as one of Asia’s Best Brands in 2013 by the Chief Marketing Officer’s Council (CMO Council) based in Mumbai, India. Brand Finance Lanka ranked Bank of Ceylon as the country’s No. 1 brand for the last eight consecutive years. The bank has passed exceptional milestones in recent years such as becoming the first to gain over Rs. 1.5 trillion assets and over Rs. 1 trillion deposits. 

Focusing on the bank’s achievement, Fitch Rating Lanka ranked the Bank of Ceylon at AA+(lka) which is the highest rating awarded to a local commercial bank and ICRA (lk) awarded AAA rating which is the highest credit quality rating issued by ICRA Lanka. Bank of Ceylon maintains international presence with three overseas branches and a subsidiary in London.