CDB MD/CEO Mahesh Nanayakkara holds the trophy for the Overall First Runner- Up at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2021 with the certificate held by Executive Director/Deputy CEO/CFO Damith Tennakoon, which was presented by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Vish Govindasamy and Ambassador for Norway Trine Eskedal 

• Among Top Ten Corporate Citizens for 4th consecutive year
• Also wins three category awards

Building its business on visionary sustainability principles that have been translated into tangible action, Citizen’s Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) was recognised for its commitment to People.Planet.Profit with a total of five awards at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2021 organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Championing each sustainability fundamental, CDB won the overall First Runner-Up Award in the companies with an annual turnover above Rs. 15 billion being evaluated alongside the country’s top most corporates and conglomerates.

In addition, CDB was chosen among the Top Ten Corporate Citizens for the fourth consecutive time, its best practices during the pandemic recognised with the award for Demonstrated Resilient Practices during COVID-19, the Category Award for Employee Relations underscoring its extraordinary team and the Best Presentation of an Application showcasing CDB’s creative spirit.

“Each of the five awards this year have been very special to us because these awards recognise Sri Lankan corporates who have stayed true to the fundamentals of sustainability,” said MD/CEO Mahesh Nanayakkara. “Our beginnings 26 years ago were humble and not been easy. But today, we are a leader in the financial services industry etched among the top five largest NBFIs in the country. We have seen our team unite through innumerable challenges to grow both our top and bottom lines.”

CDB’s journey throughout has been built on sustainability and tech disruption as its key enabling pillars. “For us, it’s not just about putting figures on paper, it’s about walking the talk and ingraining the core principles of corporate stewardship into our business strategy. And this is why sustainability has always been a qualitative and quantitative driven core strategy in our business.”

It is the embracing of these core pillars of sustainability and tech disruption that have pushed CDB to look beyond the conventional norms of business in every single principle embedded in People.Planet.Profit. As CDB moves forward with its ambitions and future aspirations, it remains committed to make that journey with the least carbon footprint, continuing its quest towards carbon neutral status, while being a highly socially impacting organisation. CDB’s tech strategy in turn, complements its sustainability agenda by helping it expand its capacity devoid of brick and mortar distribution, contributing towards a more resource efficient organisation. This tech focus helps expand CDB’s reach to the most remote, vulnerable and rural base of the pyramid markets, augmenting financial inclusion

CDB incorporates two strategic pillars under its sustainability agenda – going carbon neutral and inculcating a social consciousness driven by CDB Advance contributing to the green economy by 2030 and being a leader in sustainable finance. “We have established eight verticals prioritised on seven UNSDGs based on education, health, water, clean energy, responsible consumerism, life on land and partnerships,” explains Head of Sustainability and Talent Management Aroshi Ranatunga of CDB’s unique sustainability advocacy. “Our eight verticals therefore focus on renewable energy-based mobility and household solutions, enabling a shared economy, contribution to biodiversity and conservation, financial inclusion, community impacting initiatives, engaged mindful team members and responsible and sustainable branding.”

She adds to these thoughts saying, “It is our responsibility as a corporate steward to pave the path, transform mindset and push boundaries so we leave a living planet for our future generations. To spearhead this, we provide opportunities for rural youth including graduates from challenging backgrounds to be a part of our team. And we are fortunate that this team has integrated a green mindset into the very core of our business fundamentals. This is why in our journey of empowering a smarter and sustainable Sri Lanka, CDB has indelibly etched and exampled that we can achieve, ‘extraordinary results through ordinary people.”

CDB Senior Manager Talent Management and Sustainability Aroshi Ranatunga is presented with the Top Ten Best Corporate Citizen Award by Ambassador for Norway Trine Eskedal, while Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Vish Govindasamy and Vice Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa join the presentation party. Also seen (far right) is CDB General Manager, Innovation and Business Intelligence Hasitha Dassanayake