Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Watawala Excels ………….. this time at the Best Corporate Citizen SustainabilityAwards-2014









Watawala Plantations PLC was adjudged the winner of the Agriculture sector and the 2nd Runner Up (Overall in the category of less than 15Bn turnovers) at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2014 - the country's foremost CSR awards competition conducted by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The Awards ceremony was held at the Oak Room of The Cinnamon Grand on the 25th November 2015 with the participation of an array of distinguished personalities in the business world. Dr. Subir Gokarn – former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India was the key note speaker. His topic for the occasion was - From ‘nice to have’ to ‘must have’: sustainability and business strategy. Mr. Hilmy Cader too addressed the gathering.


It was indeed a remarkable day for Watawala Plantations PLC to receive such recognition from amongst the many competitors and the best conglomerates in the country. This was a great tribute to the Watawala Family who engage themselves with numerous and a variety of need based CSR activities year in and year out. This was the first time that Watawala Plantations had participated at this Awards competition.


These achievements go to show case the Company’s overall commitment and excellence in its Environmental, Social and Economic fields of activity that relates to it being in people’s business serving tea rather than in the tea business serving people. Their understanding and practice of sustainability is that which is far from being merely an act but an art won through training and habituation – far from being a skill but more of being a prevailing attitude.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Watawala Plantations PLC was crowned "GOLD AWARD" at the People Development Awards 2014

Watawala Plantations PLC was the proud receipient of the coveted “GOLD AWARD” at the Sri Lanka Insititute of Training & Development (SLITAD) PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT AWARDS 2014 .
The Awards Ceremoney hosted by the SLITAD was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Galadari yesterday the 20th November 2014 amongst a very distuiguished gathering of conglomerates. The Chief Guest was the Governer of the Central Bank Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
Our CEO Dr.Dan Seevaratnam  who led the team from Watawala Plantations, was present to receive the award.
This Award is presented to organizations who scored beyond the minimum standards of the below ten critiria framework.

1.Business Strategy
2.Learning & Development Strategy
3.People Management Strategy
4.Leadership & Management Strategy
5.Management Effectiveness
6. Recognition & Rewards
7.Involvement & Empowerment
8.Learning & Development
9.Performance Measurment
10.Continious Improvement
It was indeed a proud moment for  all of the employees of the Company who were very much associated with this achievemnt. The competition received from the array of distinguished and elite private and public sector organizations this year can make us even more proud of this success.






Monday, October 20, 2014

Asian CSR Leadership Awards 2014

We are pleased to announce that Watawala Plantations PLC was awarded the Asian CSR Leadership Awards 2014 under the Category: “Promoting  Employment for the Physically Challenged”.
Our application was based on the theme “Together we will make the Difference” and centred on our ‘Empowering the differently – abled’  at the Vocational Training Centre at Kenilworth Estate.
The Award Ceremony for this competition hosted by the ‘Asian Confederation of Businesses’ was held at the Taj Palace Hotel, Dubai on the 24th September 2014.
Our CEO Dr. Dan Seevaratnam, GM – HR & Administration Mr. Ronnie Almeida and the Manager-Kenilworth Estate Mr. Dinesh Perera were present to receive the award.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO highlighted the significance of this recognition to both the inmates at the Vocational Training Centre and the Company. He went on to say how committed the Company was in uplifting the lives of those physically challenged and  to giving them a new lease in life to live with dignity. 
Other noteworthy Award Winners at this function were:
    • TATA Consultancy Services – TCS - Telecom Category for Value Added Service Providers
    • Telecom Software
    • CSR in the Telecom Category
    • TATA Steel for Community Development
    • Abbott (India) – Excellance in Health Care