Government relies on private sector to achieve targets, Yapa tells Best Corporate Citizen Awards

“After winning the three-decade long war, the Sri Lankan Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa concentrated on rapid economic development in order to provide benefits to the people of this country and to improve their lives. The role of the Government is to facilitate the private sector to contribute to the rapid economic development. The Government will discharge its obligations towards achieving this aim. Nevertheless, the responsibility of enhancing the quality of life, clean environment and sustainable development is not only in the hands of the government. We rely on the private sector to achieve this massive task,” stated Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa addressing the Best Corporate Citizen Award ceremony organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on Monday evening.

The Minister also announced that the Ministry of Environment has launched the National Green Reporting System of Sri Lanka for the manufacturing and services sector to ensure the sustainability performance of the private sector in terms of achieving sustainable development of the country and urged organisations to be associated with the National Green Reporting System of Sri Lanka.

The Minister added: “The private sector is doing a lot of good work in discharging their social responsibilities. The private sector has contributed in no small way to keep the economy going even during the difficult time under the war.

We also had satisfactory growth rates which enabled the Government to carry out the development program and other welfare programmes even during the difficult times.

What I urge you today, the leaders of the private sector to do is to continue to do what you do best, and engage in more and more work that benefits the society and the environment, because the future of your businesses depend on the manner in which you give back to the society, the community that you work with and the environment.”

Held for the ninth consecutive year the Best Corporate Citizen Award recognises sustainable business practices and CSR. It also awards Best CSR Projects carried out by organisations.  

Aitken Spence won the Best Corporate Citizen Award 2012. Singer (Sri Lanka) became the first runner up while Ceylon Biscuits Limited was the second runner up. National Development Bank was the winner in the less than Rs. 15 b turnover category.

Standard Chartered Bank and People’s Leasing Company became the first and the second runner up in the same category.  

The 10 best corporate citizens were Aitken Spence, Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Diesel & Motor Engineering, HSBC, National Development Bank, People’s Leasing Company, Singer (Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka Telecom, Standard Chartered Bank, and Unilever Sri Lanka.

Aitken Spence also bagged two sector awards for Environment and Economic Contribution and Governance while the sector award for Social: People and CSR was won by Singer (Sri Lanka).

The awards ceremony also recognised organisations excelling in diverse areas in business and the category award for Employee Relations was won by Ceylon Biscuits Limited while Singer (Sri Lanka) carried off the awards for both Customer and Supplier Relations and Community Relations and CSR. Economic Contribution Award was won by Sri Lanka Telecom and Financial Performance award was won by Aitken Spence. Diesel & Motor Engineering was awarded the category award for Governance and Reporting.

Best CSR Projects winners were Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Coca Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd., Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC, Asia Recycling (Pvt) Ltd., Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka )PLC., Keells Food Products PLC, MTV Channels (Pvt) Ltd., National Development Bank PLC, Janashakthi Insurance PLC, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Applications for the Best Corporate Citizen Award 2013 Best CSR Projects will be called in July 2013. More information on the Award can be obtained at www.chamber.lk or on +94 115588823.