Message from Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Chairman – Panel of Evaluators and Judges

The Best Corporate Citizens Sustainability (BCCS) Award aims to recognize the businesses that mainstream sustainability into their core operations while creating a more significant economic value, contributing to healthy ecosystems and supporting communities associated with the company. The BCCS award for the year 2020 involved the April 2019 Easter Sunday disturbances and COVID-19 impacted business and working environments that even highlighted the value of contingency planning and the CEO’s demonstrated commitment to sustainability beyond business-as-usual.

The COVID-19, a zoonotic disease, brought ecosystem sustainability and human actions impacting the ecosystem and ecosystem services to the front. For example, the new normal requires exporting industries to comply with many high standards in using renewable energy, zero discharge standards, circularity including life- cycle analysis, greening supply chains and cleaner production, to name a few. In social and governance areas to the bar is increasing. Therefore, ESG aspects are at the core of any business. Thankfully, most of our corporates are well-positioned to take advantage of the “post- COVID 19 new normal” related market opportunities. With the proper support from the Government and governance establishments, Sri Lanka corporates could quickly bounce back and “build back better.” Leading corporate needs to extend the experience to Small and Medium business.

The 2020 BCCS process went through an all- digital process successfully. Our exemplary panel of evaluators for the year 2020 faced the digital evaluation challenge with commitment and dedication. We are proud that the BCCS process is transparent and successful, and we thank the Ceylon Chamber Secretariat for working with us diligently. We hope the sector level feedback mechanism introduced two years ago helped the corporates identify the weaker areas and improve the compliance and quality of submissions. Our team of Judges and Evaluators wish to thank and recognize the corporates’ untiring efforts in the year 2020 and indicate that we also learn and enjoy during the process.

On behalf of the Judges and Evaluators of BCCS 2020, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Chamber and the participating and winning corporates for being part of the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award journey.