Slimline overall winner at National Business Excellence awards

Slimline (Pvt.) Ltd was the overall winner of the National Business Excellence awards held at the Colombo Hilton on Tuesday. National Chamber of Commerce organised the event while the print media sponsor was Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited.

Royal Ceramics Lanka Ltd was the first runner-up while Dialog Telekom Ltd was the second runner-up.

President, NCCSL, Nirmali Samaratunga, said that businesses in Sri Lanka face many challenges both locally and globally. "We have changes in the leadership of the country with a new President assuming office. The focus on building up industry, small and medium enterprise sector and the agricultural sector will strengthen the country's resource base," she said.

A new National Economic Policy is to be formulated integrating the positive attributes of the free market economy with the domestic aspirations whilst also encouraging foreign investments, which is welcome. Businesses would nevertheless be faced with the challenge of adapting to these new policies whilst maintaining and growing their businesses.

"In this regard we await with interest the official policy statement to be announced by the President on Friday, which will spell out the detailed economic policies of the Government. Internationally, trading conditions continue to be very demanding with increased competition and higher quality standards. It has become imperative for businesses to gain that competitive edge in the International market to survive," she said.

"Issues such as high cost of energy, sound infrastructure, law and order and above all peace and political stability are imperative for businesses to efficiently operate. Under the leadership of President, Mahinda Rajapakse, we look forward to such issues being immediately addressed, thus expediting the economic development of the country," she said.

The awards are designed to recognise those business organisations making a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country through exemplary business practices and include both large, as well as medium and small businesses, which have contributed to the country's economic progress by achieving realised growth, creating capacity for economic growth and employment generation, built sustainable market competitiveness and adopted best practices in management, corporate governance and CSR in their Institutions.

The NCCSL had a commendable response to the competition, which is fast gaining recognition as a benchmark of top business performance.