HNB clinches Gold Award for sustainability reporting at ACCA Awards 2018

Sri Lanka’s leading retail bank, HNB PLC won the Gold Award in the Banking Category, in addition to being awarded first runner-up in the overall category at the 12th Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards.

The bank’s two awards further cements HNB’s place as a true leader in sustainable corporate governance, transparency and accountability, having previously won the Gold award on several occasions in the past. Seeking to recognize corporates who provide comprehensive, credible and transparent analysis of their social, economic and environmental impact, the ACCA Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards is considered among the most prestigious awards open to the Sri Lankan corporate sector.

The awards are aligned with the standards espoused by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) practiced by over 3,000 corporate entities 25 countries across the globe, with a strong emphasis on completeness, credibility and communication.

“It is an honour for HNB to once again bring home the Gold Award in the banking category and emerge overall runner up at the 12th annual ACCA Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards. These awards help to reinforce the tremendous value for all stakeholders arising out of accurate, clear and transparent financial and sustainability reporting.

“Moving forward HNB will continue to strive for further refinement of our disclosures and governance in order to build on the invaluable progress made and set new benchmarks in sustainability reporting within the banking sector and the wider corporate sector,” HNB Managing Director/CEO, Jonathan Alles stated.

The gala awards ceremony was presided over by the High Commissioner for South Africa, Robina P. Marks as Chief Guest. With 14 awards across 7 industry categories, the ACCA Sri Lanka Sustainability Reporting Awards are one of Sri Lanka’s largest and longest running awards, with over 60 reports being submitted for this year’s ceremony.

“HNB has maintained a stringent commitment towards transparency and accountability in its financial reporting. Over the years, we have worked to replicate these efforts channelled towards an open discussion and analysis of our financial position with our sustainability reporting in order to clearly communicate our achievements, impact and future plans on social and environmental initiatives.

“These engagements are part of HNB’s wider goal to consistently serve as a mode for responsible corporate citizenship in Sri Lanka, and across the globe. We look forward to further developing and refining our sustainability reporting standards, in keeping with the values and goals of the Group,” HNB Chief Human Resource Officer/ Deputy General Manager – Human Resources, L Chiranthi Cooray explained.

This year’s awards were presented following a series of stringent evaluations by an eminent panel of headed up by Franklyn Amarasinghe, Prema Cooray, Sriyani Hulugalle, Dr. Kennedy D. Gunawardana, Srilal Miththapala, Dinesh Weerakkody and Ramani Gunatilaka.

The ACCA award adds to the numerous accolades received by HNB over the past year including the Banker Magazine UK’s pronouncement of HNB as Bank of the Year 2017. Similarly, HNB was also recognized as the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka at the Asian Banker Awards 2017 for the 9th time while HNB also won recognition for possessing the ‘Best Micro finance Product in the Asia Pacific Region’.

Additionally, HNB was awarded Best Bank for SME and Best Bank for CSR in Sri Lanka by the Asia Money Magazine. CFA Sri Lanka bestowed HNB with a ‘Bronze’ award for Investor Relations while HNB’s Annual Report was adjudged to be among the top 10 integrated reports at the CMA Sri Lanka awards 2017.

Similarly, HNB’s leadership in technology was also recognized with the bank’s extensive ATM network being awarded the ‘Best ATM Network of the Year’ at the Lanka Pay Technovation Awards 2017.

Furthermore, HNB moved up the ranks during the year to ranked No. 3 in the LMD Top 100 Companies ranking and to the second position in Business Today top 30 rankings, which places HNB as the highest ranked bank in both these rankings.