ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards showcases winners across seven top industry categories

■ „Fifteen awards presented for 2022

DIALOG Axiata PLC came up trumps in the sustainability stakes when it won the overall award for the Best Sustainability report 2022, while Diesel & Motor engineering PLC was adjudged overall runner-up at the ACCA Sustainability reporting Awards 2022. Dialog Axiata PLC also topped the General Services category in which South Asia Gateway Terminals was runner-up. Diesel & Motor engineering PLC won the Conglomerates & Diversified Category whilst Hayleys PLC came runner up.

Commercial Bank and national Development Bank were the winner and runner-up respectively in the Banking category, while Citizens Development Business Finance won the Financial Services & insurance category with the runner-up being Union Assurance. John Keells Hotel Holdings and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings were the winners and runner-up respectively in the Leisure & Connected Services category, Talawakelle Tea estates and elpitiya Plantations were the winner and runnerup respectively in the retail & Trading category and Oxford College of Business won the SME category.

With these awards, ACCA Sri Lanka has since 2004, striven to improve imperatives in sustainability reporting, giving credence to an organisation’s sustainability practices with recognition of the strong link between business strategy, corporate governance and sustainability. Worldwide, over 3,000 entities in 25 countries use a predetermined reporting methodology within Global reporting initiative guidelines. Companies across multiple sectors submitted reports for judging by an eminent panel of sustainability specialists – Sriyani Hulugalle, Dr. ramani Gunatilaka, Prof Kennedy Gunawardana , Dinesh Weerakkody, Dr. ranjith Cabral, and Anthony Jayaranjan led by the consultant to the panel of judges Franklyn Amerasinghe.

The Chief Guest was Kunle Adeniyi – representative, Sri Lanka, Country Director, The Maldives

United nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Prior to this assignment, Kunle served as the Country representative of UNFPA in The Gambia. He brings nearly two decades of experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH), human rights, public health, public policy, and law. Congratulating the winners and ACCCA for continuous commitment to support sustainable growth through improved corporate reporting. Adeniyi said corporate reporting is an enabler of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This global development agenda means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Businesses and corporations can fundamentally support this cause by doing business responsibly. Valuable initiatives like the ACCA awards guide the harmonization of sustainability reporting and become a good practice that works for people and the planet”

Chairman of the Member network Panel of ACCA Sri Lanka Jehan Perinpanayagam posed the question “Can accountants save the world? The challenging question posed by the IFAC President. The climate crisis continues to escalate at an alarming pace, threatening the global economy. in this backdrop what must we, as responsible corporates and as finance professionals, do to stem the tide and make a real and meaningful change for the better? Can we make a difference? it also starts with measuring and reporting. ACCA has championed sustainability reporting for over a decade and i’m very privileged to celebrate the outstanding achievements of several corporates that have shown real leadership and pioneered several outstanding sustainability measures.

■ Overall Winner – Dialog Axiata PLC

■ Overall Runner Up – Diesel & Motor engineering PLC

Banking Category

■ Winner – Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC

■ Runner Up – national Development Bank PLC

Conglomerates and Diversified Category

■ Winner – Diesel & Motor engineering PLC

■ Runner Up – Hayleys PLC

Finance Services and Insurance Category

■ Winner – Citizens Development Business Finance PLC

■ Runner Up – Union Assurance PLC

General Services Category

■ Winner – Dialog Axiata PLC

■ Runner Up – South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd

Leisure and Connected Services Category

■ Winner – John Keells Hotels PLC

■ Runner Up – Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC

Retail and Trading Category

■ Winner – Talawakelle Tea estates PLC

■ Runner Up – elpitiya Plantations PLC

SME Category

■ Winner – Oxford College of Business (Pvt) Ltd