Picture shows (left
to right) Shiromi Halloluwa Head of Legal, Shanel Perera Officer in Charge
Sustainable Business, Hemantha Seneviratne Assistant Manager Sustainable
Business, Sanjay Wijemanne Deputy General Manager- Retail Banking, Chiranthi
Cooray Chief Transformation Officer, Jonathan Alles Managing Director/CEO,
Dilshan Rodrigo Chief Operating Officer, Damith Pallewatte Deputy General
Manager- Risk /Chief Risk Officer / Chief Information Security Officer,
Chammika Weerasinghe Head of Marketing, Dilunika Jayasinghe Senior Manager -
Credit Risk Management and V. Disharatnam Sustainability Unit of HNB
Sri Lanka's most respected retail bank, HNB PLC continued to win prestigious acclaim for its efforts in driving a more sustainable banking and corporate culture, this year winning a total of 7 awards at the recently concluded Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2019 (BCCSA).
·
Second
Runner Up Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award
·
Ranked
in the Top Ten Corporate Citizen list for 2019
·
Winner
of Consistent Commitment and Continuous Improvement - Governance award
·
Winner
Triple Bottom Line Award in Economic Sustainability (Profit) category
·
Winner
Employee Relations Category Award
·
Winner
- Best Projects Sustainability Award for Sustainable Development Goals Action
Campaign
· Merit Certificate in Best Sustainability Projects for Thundola Conservation Project
Building
on an outstanding reputation for corporate stewardship, this year the bank
emerged as Second Runner Up in the events flagship category, the Best Corporate
Citizen Sustainability Award, in addition to being ranked among Sri Lanka's Top
Ten Corporate Citizens for 2019.
The
Bank was also declared winners in the Consistent Commitment and Continuous
Improvement - Governance category, in addition to the Triple Bottom Line Award
- Economic Sustainability (Profit) category.
HNB
emerged as winners in the Employee Relations category award in recognition of
its pioneering human resources management, development and engagement
strategies which are aimed at enhancing the capabilities of its entire
workforce.
The
Banks outstanding efforts to drive progress in relation to the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through direct and indirect support
channelled towards environmental conservation, renewable energy, water and
waste management at a national scale helped HNB to secure the first place among
its peers in the Best Projects Sustainability Award.
Additionally,
the Banks Thundola Conservation Project won HNB further recognition having
been presented with the Merit Certificate in the Best Sustainability Projects
category.
Elaborating
on the strategies and policies that contributed towards the Banks remarkable
performance at this years awards, HNB Chief Transformation Officer, Chiranthi
Cooray reiterated the need for all Sri Lankan corporates to actively engage in
sustainable practices.
"Social
and environmental sustainability are no longer factors which can be added on to
an existing business model. The businesses of tomorrow are those which embed
sustainability and social responsibility today. In order to best align with
this new reality, HNB has already undergone major transformations that prioritize
triple bottom line growth and foster sustainable economic opportunities at
every level of the national economy," she stated.
Since
establishment, HNB has been closely linked to the growth of Sri Lankan
enterprises and by the 1980s, became the very first private sector commercial
bank to enter the SME sector with the specific purpose of fostering growth and
wealth creation in Sri Lankas vital rural economy.
Utilising
its extensive network of Gami Pubuduwa officers stationed across Sri Lanka, HNB
has successfully pioneered a vibrant model for microfinance that hinges on the
cultivation of trusting and long-lasting relationships with grassroots
entrepreneurs that extend beyond access to capital to also include vital
advisory services and free training programmes designed to enhance financial
literacy, strengthen enterprises, and facilitate export opportunities.
Today
the Banks sustainability strategy has become a central pillar in HNBs wider
vision for the Sri Lankan economy. Working to align with United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals, the bank has implemented a spectrum of
progressive policies promoting everything from diversity in the workplace to
investments in renewable energy, environmental conservation, rural livelihood
development and a range of innovative digital banking services aimed at
empowering Sri Lankans from all walks of life.
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