The fourth annual edition of the Most Awarded ranks the nation’s most decorated corporations

LMD’s first of its kind special edition celebrates the ‘Most Awarded’ organisations in Sri Lanka by tabulating the number of awards and accolades won by business entities during calendar year 2023. These leading corporate entities are consistently recognised for their remarkable achievements, both locally and internationally, contributing to the pride of the business community and indeed, the nation.

In this fourth iteration of the pioneering annual rankings, Commercial Bank of Ceylon (ComBank) stands tall as the Most Awarded entity in Sri Lanka, having also secured the top position in the inaugural edition. ComBank accumulated an impressive 106 awards during the year – a notable increase from the 78 awards conferred in 2022.

Following the leader is National Development Bank (NDB), which slipped to second position after two consecutive years at the helm. NDB garnered 83 awards during the calendar year, which is nine less than the 92 awards it accumulated in 2022. Talawakelle Tea Estates follows in third place, having won 66 accolades – this is the first time the regional plantation company has broken into the top 50 since the inaugural edition in 2020 when it debuted in fourth position.

Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings maintains fourth position for the second consecutive year, securing 52 awards – an increase of 11 from the previous edition. Meanwhile, Jetwing Hotels climbs up the ladder with a tally of 44 awards (2022 – 21 awards), moving up from 16th position in the 2022 rankings to No. 5.

Lanka Hospitals Corporation claims sixth place with 37 awards, followed by People’s Bank (36 awards) at No. 7 while Amana Takaful and SLT-MOBITEL share the eighth spot with 34 awards each. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts rounds off the top 10 with 33 awards won during calendar year 2023.

Leading this edition’s movers and shakers in the top 50 Most Awarded entities is WSO2, securing 20th place compared to its No. 153 ranking in the 2022 edition – a remarkable climb of 133 spots. It’s followed by Teejay Lanka (No. 27 with 17 awards) and Hela Apparel Holdings, which moved from No. 93 to 48 in 2023.

And the top 50 rankings see the addition of four new entrants – viz. Talawakelle Tea Estates securing the third spot, Horana Plantations, Elpitiya Plantations and Phoenix Industries.

In terms of sectoral representation, the banking sector emerges as the dominant force in the 2023 Most Awarded rankings, boasting 427 awards – that’s more than double the total of the second placed manufacturing sector (173). Following the two leaders closely are the insurance (155), hospitality (144) and plantations (133) sectors.

Notably, a substantial number of the organisations featured in the rankings, totalling 1,258 awards, are listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Additionally, there are 202 private businesses, along with 170 multinational corporations and 104 state-owned entities (SOEs).

– LMD