‘Nation Builders: Powered by People’ honours organisations driving Sri Lanka’s growth

Great Place To Work Sri Lanka Director and CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka (left) and Practice Head and Head of Assessment Ruwani Alwishewa 

Great Place To Work Sri Lanka has announced the inauguration of ‘Nation Builders: Powered by People,’ a pioneering national recognition program designed to identify and celebrate organisations making a measurable contribution to nation-building through people, culture, leadership, and responsible business performance. 

At its core, this initiative is a catalyst for shaping the future of Sri Lanka through the collective strength of its people. These organisations will be recognised for their bold leadership, commitment to community development, and ability to inspire change that extends far beyond the workplace.

The evaluation framework for Nation Builders is grounded in the Triple Bottom Line—People, Planet, and Profit. This sustainability model measures social and environmental impact alongside financial performance, with the workforce serving as a key driver in each pillar. 

Under ‘People,’ criteria include investment in human capital, labour practices, and employee experience, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) policies. The ‘Planet’ pillar assesses environmental investments and ethical sourcing, while ‘Profit’ evaluates the real economic benefit a company provides to its host society and economic environment by its financial performance and capital investment in infrastructure development and R&D that drive nation building. This holistic approach ensures recognised organisations are sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally conscious – a true nation in every sense.

The purpose of this recognition is to identify and celebrate organisations whose contributions uplift the nation, highlight the impactful work that drives economic growth, and provide meaningful work and community development. By highlighting these leaders, the program encourages businesses across Sri Lanka to emulate these examples, fostering collective progress and stability. It seeks to inspire a vision for Sri Lanka’s future as a thriving hub in South Asia, anchored by its talent pool. 

By showcasing these achievements, Nation Builders aims to spark a national movement where organisations across all industries contribute to building a stronger, more prosperous nation for generations to come.

Being recognised as a Nation Builder offers organisations a unique opportunity to align their corporate and employer brands, positioning themselves as national icons. This recognition provides national-level validation as trusted leaders driving Sri Lanka’s progress. It enhances customer loyalty through shared purpose and attracts top talent while elevating employee pride and retention—critical in a time of heightened competition for skilled talent and ongoing challenges in talent management. 

It also provides strategic business advantages by strengthening investor confidence and competitive positioning. Ultimately, recognised organisations gain credibility not only as successful businesses but as pillars of national development, promoting ethical leadership and cultural stewardship. 

Among the anticipated outcomes are increased awareness of contributions to national productivity, encouragement of sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments, strengthened brand positioning across industries, promotion of ethical leadership and innovation by all, greater environmental and cultural stewardship, enhanced civic engagement and community empowerment, and the establishment of benchmarks for employee perception among nation builders. 

Great Place To Work Sri Lanka Director and CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka said: “Strong nations are built by strong institutions, and strong institutions are built on trust, leadership, and people. ‘Nation Builders: Powered by People’ sets out to recognise organisations where culture is not cosmetic—it is operational—and where leadership choices translate into measurable societal value. This recognition is both a benchmark and an invitation for organisations to lead with purpose, invest in people, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s long-term progress.”