ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024: Celebrating 20 Years of Promoting Excellence in Sustainable Business Practices

The evening began with a warm welcome from Chaaminda Kumarasiri, Chairman of the Member Network Panel, ACCA Sri Lanka, who expressed appreciation for the gathered guests. H.E. Andrew Patrick, the British High Commissioner, was the Chief Guest of the occasion. In his address, he highlighted the critical importance of sustainability in today’s business landscape and how businesses must evolve to meet global sustainability challenges

The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024 marked a significant milestone, celebrating 20 years of recognizing excellence in sustainability reporting. Held at the Cinnamon Grand in Colombo, the event honored organizations and individuals who have made remarkable contributions toward sustainable business practices, demonstrating ACCA’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

The evening began with a warm welcome from Chaaminda Kumarasiri, Chairman of the Member Network Panel, ACCA Sri Lanka, who expressed appreciation for the gathered guests. H.E. Andrew Patrick, the British High Commissioner, was the Chief Guest of the occasion. In his address, he highlighted the critical importance of sustainability in today’s business landscape and how businesses must evolve to meet global sustainability challenges.

A special virtual guest speaker, Emmeline Skelton, Senior Subject Manager – Sustainability & Sustainable Business at ACCA UK, shared valuable insights on sustainability reporting. Her presentation explored what more large corporations can do to drive meaningful sustainability initiatives, encouraging businesses to go beyond the basics and lead by example.

A poignant moment of the evening was dedicated to the late Franklyn Amerasinghe, the former consultant to the Panel of Judges. A one-minute silence was observed in his honor, acknowledging his significant contributions to the sustainability efforts within the ACCA community.

This year’s awards saw the distinguished panel of judges, led by Santhosh Jayaram, Adjunct Professor of Practice at the Amritha School of Sustainability Futures assessing the sustainability practices across various sectors. During the event, joining vertually Santhosh Jayaram presented the judges’ report, shedding light on the sustainability initiatives of the organizations being recognized.

In addition to the award presentations, Aruni Rajakarier, an ACCA member, provided an overview of the ACCA Professional Diploma in Sustainability. This program is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to lead sustainability practices within the corporate sector.

The evening’s highlight was the Award Presentation ceremony, where H.E. Andrew Patrick, Chaaminda Kumarasiri, and Nilusha Ranasinghe, ACCA South Asia Head, presented awards to the winners. The prestigious Overall Winner of the ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024 was Hayleys PLC, recognized for its comprehensive and consistent sustainability efforts across its various business divisions. Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC was honored as the Overall Runner-up, lauded for its commitment to sustainable finance and practices.

In the category awards, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC led the agriculture category, while Horana Plantations PLC earned runner-up recognition for its eco-friendly agricultural methods. In banking, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC claimed the top spot, followed by Sampath Bank PLC as the runner-up. Hayleys PLC triumphed in the Conglomerate & Diversified category, with Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC as the runner-up. Dialog Axiata PLC topped the non-financial services category, while Hayleys Advantis Limited was the runner-up.

In the other financial services category, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC was the winner, with Ceylinco Life Insurance Limited as the runner-up. Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC led in retail and trading, with JAT Holdings PLC being recognized as runner up for responsible business practices. RESUS ENERGY PLC excelled in the SME category for advancing sustainable energy, with Oxford College of Business (Pvt) Ltd as the runner-up.

John Keells Hotels PLC was awarded the winning award for its sustainable tourism practices, with Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC as the runner-up. Ceylon Cold Stores PLC was recognized for its sustainable manufacturing processes in the food and beverages category, with Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC as the runner-up. In manufacturing, Brandix Lanka (Private) Limited secured the top position, with Hayleys Fabric PLC and HAYCARB PLC as joint runners-up.

In addition to the category awards, Hayleys PLC received the Special Award for Risk Reporting. This special award recognized the company’s transparent and effective risk management practices, demonstrating its proactive approach in navigating the evolving business environment.

The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024 once again underscored ACCA’s unwavering dedication to recognizing and celebrating organizations that lead the way in sustainable business practices. By setting benchmarks for others to follow, these awards continue to inspire and promote the adoption of sustainability practices, creating a ripple effect toward a more sustainable future for businesses and the communities they serve.