NCCSL launches 'National Business Excellence Awards 2006'

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), the national trade promotion organisation launched the 'National Business Excellence Awards 2006' which will be held on November 16 at the Colombo Hilton.

The event which will be held for the third consecutive year was first launched in 2004. The National Business Excellence Awards have been designed to recognise business organisations making a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.

The awards competition conducted by the NCCSL to recognise the performance of business enterprises has contributed immensely to the economic progress of the country, President NCCSL, Nirmali Samaratunga said.She said over the years the awards have gained recognition from the business community.The business organisations must be recognised and rewarded through events of this nature.

Samaratunga said the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. P. B. Jayasundera had referred to the contribution made by the business sector to achieve a healthy growth trend of over 7 percent at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), AGM. Dr. Jayasundara said the apparel and advertising sectors have performed well during recent times.

The NCCSL is committed to support the business sector in all its endeavours to achieve excellence. An event of this nature will definitely encourage business organisations to grow, she said.

Chairman, Panel of Judges, Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara said the best companies will be those that have proved to stakeholders that they have been successful for a considerable period of time.

Prof. Nanayakkara referring to the tax fraud involving the private and public sectors said a company may be gaining tremendous profits and making rapid investments but if its corporate governance and social responsibility is not up to the mark then what do we achieve in rewarding such an organisation.

In recognising the performance of an organisation we have to consider corporate governance and social responsibility as equally important.Poverty is rampant in our society and as a result corruption is on the rise. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of an organisation should be to extend a helping hand to the government in its efforts to eradicate poverty, Prof. Nanayakkara said.

Awards will be presented to 76 leading business organisations under the large, medium and small categories by an eminent panel of judges chaired by Prof. Nanayakkara.