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Wednesday, 12 November 2014 00:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The winning team of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa (from left): Health and Safety Officer Chanaka Yapa Bandara, Consultant Daya Siripala, Engineer Kamal Liyanaarachchi, HR Manager Chamara Liyanaarachchi, Specialist Sustainability Dinushka Kalutota and General Manager Sanjeeva Perera accepting the Presidential Award for Excellence
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts proved its commitment to the John Keells Group Pledge ‘I Will Care’ when five of its properties walked away with accolades in their respective categories at the Occupational Health & Safety Awards held in October 2014.
Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa won the Presidential Silver Award for Excellence, competing amongst all industries, whilst Cinnamon Citadel Kandy topped the list achieving the Sector Award for Tourism. Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and Bentota Beach Hotel all took home Merit Awards in the hospitality sector.
The winning team of Cinnamon Citadel Kandy (from left): Engineer Mahendra de Silva and General Manager Arosha Pananwala accepting the award
Sunimal Senanayake, Sector Head Leisure Resorts - Sri Lanka and Maldives and Executive Vice President of John Keells Group, stated: “The recognition we have received at this prestigious forum not only brings us great pride, but is an acknowledgement of our efforts to raise the bar of every standard we set for ourselves. While our health and safety policy assures that we work with our employees to achieve optimum levels of efficiency in a safe and healthy environment, there are also procedures established to evaluate and monitor progress. This has been our formula for achieving this outstanding result, especially competing amongst all industries. Our people are crucial to delivering our brand promise. We therefore need to ensure that their interests are well preserved.”
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo Assistant Manager Quality Certifications Thivanka Thabrew accepting the Merit Award in the hospitality sector
Hospitality is a growth market with high potential, currently among the main income generators to the Sri Lankan economy. Being a labour intensive industry, occupational health and safety becomes imperative to sustain best practices within the hospitality sector.
Speaking on the win, Sanjeeva Perera, General Manager of Bentota Beach Hotel and former General Manager of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa, said: “Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts are certified for occupational health and safety through OHSAS 18001 Certification and continues to maintain the highest standard of occupational health and safety. Winning this national award serves to establish this.”
Cinnamon Grand Manager Compliance Health and Safety Rajitha Amarasinghe receiving the Merit Award in the hospitality sector
He added: “The employer alone cannot make occupational safety happen. There has to be collaboration between the employer and employee. This should be seen as an opportunity to make the workplace conducive. We use this as a tool to live up to the John Keells Group Pledge, ‘I Will Care’.”
Sri Lanka has stringent laws to ensure occupational safety and the health of the working population in this country and to further this cause the Government in 2009 established the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations.
