The winners with President Ranil Wickremesinghe
Munidasa Kumaratunga once said “a nation that does not create new things will not rise in the world” and a country like Sri Lanka, which is slowly emerging from a huge economic abyss, needs more and more innovation.
Innovation is very much needed in Sri Lanka which is moving towards an export economy. The ‘Presidential Export Awards Ceremony’ held for the 25th time on November 23 at the BMICH under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe was an opportunity to witness this phenomenon firsthand.
The awards ceremony is organised annually by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) to recognise exporters who have rendered great service to the country’s economic development.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe and State Minister Dilum Amunugama present the Exporter of the Year Award for 2022/23 to CEO, MAS Kreeda, Ziyan Zahir and Team Member, Sewing at MAS Kreeda, Buddhini Gayanthi. Pic: Sulochana Gamage
This year’s ceremony recognised Sri Lanka’s top exporters for the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23 as the awards ceremonies for these years were not held due to the pandemic and then the economic crisis.
Awards were presented under two main categories with 13 awards for each financial year and 51 awards in the product and service sectors. The awarding of plaques and certificates to the winners was done symbolically by President Wickremesinghe.
President Wickremesinghe emphasised that merely improving existing exports is not enough when creating an export economy and that attention should also be paid to new export areas. He also said that new investors should be invited and the Government will provide them with the necessary facilities.
The President said: “We have to increase our exports. We have to develop the industrial sector as well. For the first time in this year’s budget, money has been allocated to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and institutions like the National Productivity Commission have been set up to increase their productivity.
And there are many other areas where we will support you, but improving existing export areas alone is not enough. We should focus on new export areas and new export markets. Our product portfolio should be diversified. For that, new investments should be invited.”
The President also underscored the importance of modernising agricultural practices and enhancing research capabilities with an eye on exports.
He revealed plans to restructure and modernise existing agricultural research institutes, culminating in the establishment of the Agro-Technology University of Sri Lanka.
This institution aims to support extension services and further innovation in the sector. In a global context, President Wickremesinghe acknowledged the challenges posed by international competitors such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia in the export-oriented industries.
Despite this, he stressed the urgency of the current export drive, stressing on the need to secure the country’s future and prevent a further brain drain.
At this year’s awards ceremony, MAS Active Trading (Pvt) Ltd MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of MAS Holdings, the country’s global apparel and textile giant, won 16 presidential awards, including the Best Exporter Award for the years 2021/22 and 2022/23.
In appreciation of the company’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s export sector, MAS Active (Active and Kreeda Divisions) won the Best Exporter Award in Sri Lanka for the two years 2021/22 and 2022/23, in addition to MAS Active MAS Intimates which won 16 other awards. This recognition was an opportunity that confirmed MAS Holdings’ standing as an industry leader and a critical contributor to the national economy.
At the awards ceremony, the best exporter of the year 2021/22 was won by Black Tea Exports Private Company and the best exporter of the year 2022/23 was won by Quality Seed Company (Private) Limited.
The Emerging Exporter of the Year 2021/22 award went to Alumex PLC and the Emerging Exporter of the Year 2022/23 award went to Jaya Farms. The Women Exporter of the Year 2021/22 award went to Senikma Holdings (Pvt) New Lanka Cinnamon Pvt won the award for the year 2022/23.
Minister of State for Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama also spoke at the award ceremony. Ministers Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Douglas Devananda, Jeevan Thondaman, State Ministers Tharaka Balasuriya, Kanaka Herath and Aravinda Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Investment Promotion M. M. Naimuddin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SLEDB Dr. Kingsley Barnard, foreign ambassadors, Government officials, entrepreneurs in the export sector and a large number of guests were present.
Pix Sulochana Gamage
