Business Today
The Business Today Tap 10 award winners: (L-R) Sumithra Gunasekara, Director, John Keels Holdings; Mustanser Ali Khan, CEO, Ceylon Tobacco Company; Eran Wickramaratne, CEO, NDB; Thilak De Soysa, Chairman, The Bukit Darah; Harry Jayawardena, Chairman, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka; Mathi K Parthipan, Managing Director, BT Options; His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa; Dr Hans Wijayasuriya, CEO, Dialog Telekom; Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Telecom; Rohan Fernando, Director, Aitken Spence & Co; Ravi Dias, COO, Commercial Bank; Keith Bernard, Analyst, Business Today Top 10 and Rajendra Theagarajah, CEO, Hatton National Bank
The Business Today Top 10 awards ceremony which recognised the top ten companies in Sri Lanka for the year 2006 – 2007 was held at Temple Trees. This event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka.
The ceremony was honoured by the Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara Thero, chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya temple, Ministers, members of the diplomatic community, foreign dignitaries and leaders of the public and private sectors.
Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, opened the ceremony by welcoming those present. He congratulated the winners and said that he was aware of the selection process being open and impartial. Weeratunga stated that President Rajapaksa has been a part of the Business Today Top 10 since he was Prime Minister.
Welcome address by Lalith Weeratunga,
Secretary to the President
Lalith Weeratungu, Secretary to the President delivers the wekurme address in the presence of President Rajapaksa, es Excellency Shahzad A Chaudhary, High Commisioner of Pakistan (centre) and His Excellency Ye Dab Ambassador of China
Most Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara Thero, Chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya temple in Colombo, Your Excellency, honorable Ministers, Excellencies, winners of the Business Today Top 10 awards and friends. I am greatly privileged to welcome you all to the Temple Trees for the most prestigious business event of the year, the Business Today Top 10 awards.
His Excellency the President, has been associated with this prestigious event for many years and I recollect that the first such occasion was when he was the Prime Minister in 2005.
He had the opportunity to be with you on the same day that he filed his nominations to contest the Presidential elections, which of course he went on to win. I want to convey to all of you at this time that he believes you all contributed towards his victory.
Since his assumption of office, the President has very much been a part of the Business Today Top 10 and this remains true last year at the Presidential Secretariat and today at Temple Trees.
Without taking much time, I want to congratulate all the winners because I understand that the selection of the winners is done very impartially and is a very competitive and open process.
We have with us the Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara Thero who has been an ardent fan and advocate of good business practices. He has been very helpful in ensuring that the private sectors contribute to the well being of the nation. Let me say thank you to you all for being here.
Speech of Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara Thero
I would like to thank Mr Mathi K Parthipan and his staff for continually organising this grand event. The President and the business community including the public are tremendously happy about this occasion, which gives such a big boost to the business world. The President and the business community including the public are tremendously happy about this occasion, which gives such a big boost to the business world.
Recently the President has laid out the foundation to build a swimming pool and playing fields and to provide facilities for students of Sri Jayawardenepura University. I would like to request the business community to select a university that they can take care of, in terms of educational resources and facilitate those young people so they have a chance to progress. Otherwise they will develop into society misfits. We have to eradicate poverty, but for that we have to work together and join efforts. But to fulfil this, we experienced barriers in the past that’s also not to be forgotten.
One day I had suggested to the business community to donate some form of transport to students who live in rural areas like Hambantota, to ease their travel problems from home to school. Today some of the business representatives have done a symbolic donation to the President. I think in the future, other business people will help with this initiative. I now ask you to support the President in his campaign to further develop the country. And I believe that President Rajapaksa is also supportive of the business community.
The Top 10 Award Winners
01. Dialog Telekom: Dr Hans Wijayasuriya
02. Sri Lanka Telecom: Leisha De Silva Chandrasena
03. Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka:Harry Jayawardena
04. John Keells Holdings: Sumithra Gunasekara
05. Aitken Spence & Co.: Harry Jayawardena
06. Hatton National Bank: Rajendra Theagarajah
07. Commercial Bank: Ravi Dias
08. NDB Bank: Eran Wickramaratne
09. Ceylon Tobacco Company:Mustanser Ali Khan
10. The Bukit Darah: Thilak De Soysa
BT Awards 2006 - 2007
Gallery
(L-R) Lalith Weerutunga, Shahzad A Choudhury: Ye Dabo; Yassir Kadhim Chasat, Charge of Affairs, Embassy of req: Mohamed Tasa Al Owolfan, Change d’ Affairs, Embassy of the State of Kiowait, Rebecca Cohn, Mission Director, US Aid and Patricia You Moi Chia, Secretory General The Colombo Plan Secretariat
Mathi K Parthipan and Wimal Weerawansa, Chairman of National Freedom Front
(L-R) Wimal Weerawansa, Mahidha Samarasinghe; Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights and Karu Jayasuriya, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs
Ashok Pathirage, Chairman, Softlogic Holdings with Lalith Weeratunge
President Rajapaksa with Mahesh Amalean, Chairman of MAS Holdings
(L-R) Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs; Keith Bernard and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe
In the foreground: Bernard Gomez, Chairman, Bound of Architectural Publications, Glen Ray, Executive Director, care a International and Edward Fun, General Manager, Country Development Group, Apple South Asia
SN Kamar, Director of Sel Lanka Telecom with Nushad Perera, CEO – Dialog TV/Group Chief Marketing Officer Dialog Telekom
Mahesh Amalean and Upali Gunaratne, Chairman, National Savings Bank
Nushad Perera, Dialog
Prof G L Pieris, Minister, Constitutional Affairs and the Venerable Thero
In the foreground: (L-R) Suren Rajakarier, Partner, KPMG Ford Rhodes Thornton & Cpmpany; Shanker Somasunderam, Deputy Chairman, Brown & Co. and Nimesh Udeshi, Directors of Siedles
(L-R)Prof G L Pieris, the venerable Thero, Keith Bernard, Mathi K Partipan and President Rajapaksa
(L-R) The Venerable Thero with Mathi K Parthipan and President Rajapaksa
(L-R) Glenda Partipan with President Rajapaksa whilst Lalith Weeratunga looks on
Manilal Fernando, Chairman, Holcim Sri Lanka with President Rajapaksa
(L-R) Mathi and Glenda Parthipan with Lalith Weeratunga
Chandra Mohotti, Vice President (Leisure Division) of Galle Face Hotel Management
Harry Jayawardena
Dr Iqbal Haroon Mohamed
Antil Tittawela
(L-R) Ashok Pathirage, Dr Chris, Dr Iqbal Haroon Mohamed and Mahesh Amalean
Dr. Chris Nonis, Chairman of Mackwoods
Nimal Perera, Managing Director of Royal Ceramics Lanka
Thilanga Sumathipala, Managing Director, Sumathi Group (L) and Gamini Senerath, Chief of Staff & Additional Secretary to The President (R)
(L-R)Glenda Parthipan, Managing Director, Emphasis; His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mathi K Parthipan,
Managing Director, BT Options
Team BT Options with President Mahinda Rajapaksa