At the Sri Lanka Corporate Health & Productivity Award

Mr. Aminda Rodrigo, Chairman of the Chamber of Young Lankan
Entrepreneurs (COYLE),
Mr. ITONAGA Masatomo, Resident Representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Colombo Office,
Members of Panel of Judges,
Members of the COYLE, Participants of the Annual Competition,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
  
Good afternoon, Ayu Bowan, Wanakkam, こんばんは。
It is my pleasure and privilege to be here with you today at the ceremony of the “Sri Lanka Corporate Health & Productivity Awards 2020”, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and other relevant institutions for making this Award scheme possible again this year. I am equally delighted by the sheer volume of corporate participants gathered here today. This indeed is a reflection of the extent to which employers are increasingly taking a keen eye on the health and wellbeing of their employees.
 
As most of you are aware, promoting employees’ health is critical for a companys’ development. Investment in employees’ health invigorates a company by improving their vitality and productivity, and also enhances the performance and value of the company. More significantly, the efforts of companies in this respect will not only significantly improve the quality of employees’ life, but also curtail medical care expenses and alleviate the burden on national health services. Considering these facts, this award scheme has been set up by JETRO with an aim at promoting “Health and Productivity Management (H&PM)” in the corporate sector in Sri Lanka.
 
The corporate sector in Sri Lanka has been very active and progressive in adopting new management methods and concepts. In fact, the Japanese methods of “5S” and “Kaizen” were disseminated in Sri Lanka by JASTECA (Japan-Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association) and are implemented nationwide at present. Similarly, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an accepted corporate norm and many Sri Lankan companies are voluntarily engaged in CSR projects on a large scale to augment social welfare. Likewise, the concept of “Corporate Health and Productivity” has started to be widely adopted, as shown by the enthusiastic participation of Sri Lanka companies in this event for two consecutive years.
 
I trust that today’s awards will highlight outstanding companies engaged in advancing “Corporate Health and Productivity”, which would set excellent examples to others by their profound commitment towards employees’ wellbeing.
 
Last but not least, I again commend the COYLE and the JETRO for their dedicated efforts to advance health at workplaces, in cooperation with Sri Lankan institutes and Japanese companies.
 
Thank you very much.