The European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) today launched their new Report ‘Unlocking the Power of DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) today launched their new Report ‘Unlocking the Power of DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as a Strategic Imperative for Business Success and Social Harmony’ produced in partnership with the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) programme which is co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms.

The findings and recommendations of the Report seamlessly aligns with the coherent set of actions proposed in the National Strategy to Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Businesses to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (ISB Strategy for the SDGs) developed under the leadership of the Sustainable Development Council with technical support from UNESCAP, following a collaborative cross-sectoral and cross-agency consultative process. The ISB Strategy for SDGs was recently approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and forms a national vision for private sector development in Sri Lanka.

The ISB Strategy underscores the need for impact driven investments that are both timely and strategic to achieve the SDGs in Sri Lanka. The Report launched by ECCSL recognizes the transformative power of the private sector in shaping social dynamics and explores the status of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Sri Lankan Businesses and provides a concrete set of recommendations for businesses to harness the potential of DEI to realize tangible, commercial benefits and make an important contribution to social harmony and economic stability in Sri Lanka.

The event was attended by ministers, senior government officials, representatives from the private sector, development agencies. etc

The Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Hon. Wijedasa Rajapakse, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. M.U.M Ali Sabry, the EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E Carmen Moreno spoke at the event and highlighted how embracing DEI empowers Sri Lankan businesses to better serve all clients and achieve global competitiveness.

The event featured a presentation of the ISB Strategy for the SDGs by the Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Ms. Chamindry Saparamadu and a presentation of the findings and recommendations of the ECCSL Report by the Inclusive Business Practice Lead of ECCSL, Mr. William Baxter.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion on hoe the private sector can leverage DEI to unlock business successes and social cohesion moderated by Mr. Dhananath Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of Advocata Institute. The Panelists included Ms. Chamindry Saparamadu, Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Imali Jayathilake, General Manager (Group HR), Hayleys Advantis Limited, Mr. Kesava Murali Kanapathy, Head of Better Work Sri Lanka, International Labour Organization (ILO), Ms. Thanuja Jayawardene, Head of Women’s Empowerment, Advocacy and Code of Conduct, MAS Holdings and Mr. William Baxter, Project Lead, Inclusive Business Practices, ECCSL.