CA Sri Lankan TAGS Awards Press conference head table Chief Executive Officer, CA Sri Lanka Anusa Piyadigama, Chief Executive Officer, Colombo Stock Exchange Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Vice President, CA Sri Lanka Tishan Subasinghe, Chairman of CSE Dilshan Wirasekara,Chairperson, TAGS Awards Committee, CA Sri Lanka Chamila Cooray, Alt. Chairperson, TAGS Awards Committee, CA Sri Lanka Nishani Perera. 
Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) announced the commencement of applications for the TAGS Awards 2024, celebrating excellence in corporate reporting for the 59th year. 
A beacon of innovation and best practices in financial and non-financial reporting, the TAGS Awards will culminate in a grand ceremony on 12th December 2024 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. 
The TAGS Awards, (which stand for Transparency, Accountability, Governance, and Sustainability), formerly known as the Annual Report Awards, held since 1964, continue their legacy in celebrating & recognizing organisations that excel in both financial and non-financial reporting. The competition is open to a wide range of entities, including multinationals, blue-chip companies, conglomerates, SMEs, NPOs, NGOs and other entities that produce annual reports. 

“The Digital Edge - Enriching Corporate Reporting Excellence,” the theme for the 2024 TAGS Awards, underscores the transformative potential of AI and digital innovation in corporate reporting. 
The official announcement was made at a press conference on 30th July which was attended by CA Sri Lanka Vice President Tishan Subasinghe, Chairperson of the TAGS Awards Committee Chamila Cooray, Alternate Chairperson of the TAGS Awards Committee Nishani Perera, and Chief Executive Officer Asoka Piyadigama. 
During the press conference, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) officially joined as the Strategic Partner of the TAGS Awards 2024, in the presence of its Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara, and Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike. 
The application period runs from 30th July 2024 to 31 st August 2024. Eligible organisations include those producing annual reports for the financial year ending on 31st December 2023, or 31st March 2024. The competition will recognize companies across 29 industry sectors, plus a newly introduced category for non-listed companies with export revenue exceeding USD 50 million. 

The top-performing annual reports will receive the Overall Excellence in Corporate Reporting Awards - gold, silver, and bronze. Additionally, companies will be acknowledged in four special award categories: Corporate Governance Disclosure, Sustainability Reporting, Integrated Reporting, and Digital Transformation. 
This year, an AI model supports the judging panel to increase the efficiency and the precision of the evaluation process. Please refer details by accessing www.ara.casrilanka.orq 
The TAGS Compliance Badge, launched last year. will also be awarded to winners. It signifies an organization’s commitment to improving corporate reporting excellence. It can be viewed under company profiles www.cse.lk, promoting brand recognition and stakeholder engagement. 
This competition offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the commitment to excellence in corporate reporting practices and contribute to the nation’s long term sustainable growth. The winners of the TAGS Awards 2024 will be honoured at a gala ceremony on 12 December at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo.