Business

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has implemented the purpose-designed HR plans  at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, BOC Senior Deputy General Manager K.E.D Sumanasiri disclosed.

The bank has managed to ensure a safe and dynamic environment for the successful mobilization of staff plus continuous provision of services, despite ongoing restrictions and safety concerns, he added.  

In managing the early part of the pandemic, BOC’s HR function proactively engaged all employees, drawing on a novel method of delegation, seeing that it would be the most effective and efficient way forward in handling an unprecedented situation posing similarly unseen challenges.

This draws from BOC’s culture of smart delegation, a core component of its HRM and operational philosophy.  

To mobilize a team exceeding 8,000 staff members in the initial months of the global pandemic, required the bank’s HR department to give trust and confidence, to all employees across the organization, in their capabilities and decision-making power.

The system of delegation adopted was driven by this empowering of staff, where managers and employees at every level were instructed to take decisions in their respective positions, using their discretion to act and delegate as necessary.  

BOC adopted a two-tiered strategy, where the primary objective included the protection of all employees, and secondly ensuring business would go on as normal even with the restrictions.

Therein, employee adherence to all Health Department enforced regulations and orders remained a key HR goal, complemented by its own initiatives to drive employee safety and continuity of operations.  

The bank continues to bear all costs for quarantine procedures and PCR tests to be performed by employees. Apart from essentials such as providing PPE for all employees, BOC also adopted a roster system and offered free transport, to ensure its 8,000 strong staff have been able to progressively resume work.  

Accounting for the many impacts of COVID-19 on the bank’s HRM function, BOC has adopted numerous changes in its delivery of HR services including digitalization.

It has adopted unique methods of showing appreciation to employees in overcoming challenges to meeting in person, remote hiring and recruitment with video platform-based interviews to save time and ensure safety.

Towards this end, BOC has afforded much focus to ensuring a strong work-life balance for employees, in line with the increased need for work-from-home and flexible work arrangements organization-wide.

As an avid supporter of bridging gender disparities whilst empowering women in the workforce, Dialog Axiata PLC (Dialog), Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider joined hands as Platinum Sponsor on the 10th anniversary of WIM’s (Women in Management) foremost annual event the ‘Top 50’ Professional and Career Women Awards, to recognize and celebrate individual and corporate achievements of trailblazing women leaders in Sri Lanka for the year 2020.

Reckitt Benckiser Lanka's Dettol has been actively contributing to the battle against Covid 19 by extending continuous support to the authorities. The brand completed yet another such initiative recently with the donation of 3000 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits for use by the Public Health Inspectors (PHIs).

The official donation took place at the Ministry of Health with the participation of key officials representing the Health Ministry and Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Ltd.

One of the most prominent sanitary brands in the country and a household name for 5 decades, Dettol has always been a socially conscious brand with a heavy focus on CSR. With the outbreak of the pandemic in Sri Lanka last year, Dettol took an active role in the battle against Covid 19 by diverting all its CSR efforts and funds to support the authorities.

Over the last year, Dettol worked in partnership with the Health Ministry, Red Cross Sri Lanka, Education Ministry, PHI's Association, Railway Department and many more authorities and carried out multiple initiatives for this purpose. These initiatives included deployment of Dettol mobile hand washing units to hospitals and other public places, conducting awareness campaigns, donation of Dettol products to health authorities, carrying out disinfection projects in public locations such as police stations and places of worship like Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and Munneswaram temple in Chilaw etc.

In another noteworthy project, Dettol donated hand washing units to over 25 schools in Matale and Puttalam districts and carried out educational programmes, benefitting over 30,000 students. Cover Photo (From left to right) Dr. Thilina Wanigasekara, Director – Organizational Development, Ministry of Health, Dr. Indika Jagoda, Regional Director - Health Services / Colombo District, Ministry of Health, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Director General - Health Services, Ministry of Health, Tehan Samarasinha, Product Group Manager – Health, Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Ltd, Shaminda Perera, Head of Marketing, Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Ltd.

Sri Lankan Airlines together with the country’s premier meeting, events, and function hosting venue BMICH, have come together to promote MICE tourism in Sri Lanka.

National Savings Bank has recently raised a USD 35 million loan facility supported by Indian Bank & Indian Overseas Bank, NSB media release revealed.

The National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) Provides recognition to the outstanding achievement of individuals and organizations in Sri Lanka that have developed high-quality ICT products.

The Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) Group ended the 2020 financial year on a high note with a significant 25 per cent YoY growth in profit after tax to LKR 7.9 billion despite many challenges faced arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grand finale of the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year Awards - 2019  will be  held on 4th of March 2021 at BMICH (Main Hall) from 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm subject to health regulations of the Ministry of Health, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) said.

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd (CCBSL) successfully installed one of the largest single location rooftop solar projects in Sri Lanka at its facility in Biyagama, as part of the company’s pledge towards sourcing renewable energy, and combating climate change through the reduction of its carbon footprint by approximately 1.94 Mt per annum.

With a pioneering vision to provide timely and trusted prescription medication service to the Sri Lankan public, Mymed.lk has become an essential part of peoples' lives in the face of a pandemic.

LOLC Finance – Sri Lanka’s largest Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFI), has introduced a credit card named 'Savi', exclusively designed for pensioners and state sector employees across Sri Lanka.