Hayleys Group, Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified conglomerate, recently celebrated groundbreaking achievements at the Chairman’s Awards 2025. The event recognized pioneering projects that align with global priorities in energy transition, food security, resilience, and social impact.
Now in its 13th year, the awards emphasize people-led innovation as a key driver of resilience and long-term competitiveness, focusing on innovation, ESG, quality and lean management, and service excellence.
Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage expressed gratitude to the teams, saying, “These awards are an opportunity to thank our teams for their exceptional commitment and dedication to enriching lives across every touchpoint, from products and solutions that serve Sri Lankan families to world-class exports competing in global markets. These initiatives have strengthened Hayleys’ international standing, deepened our national contribution to the economy and society, and showcased the true capability of Sri Lankan enterprise.”
At the core of the awards are pioneering projects that establish national firsts while addressing global challenges. Haycarb PLC, from the Purification Sector, secured the Overall Winner Award for their innovation of specialty activated carbon for silicon-carbon composites used in next-generation anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. This initiative, which introduced the HCE 400 Series to enhance energy density and battery life, also won the Innovation Category Award, signifying a strategic move into advanced materials aligned with the global battery and energy storage markets.
In the Agriculture Sector, Sunfrost (Pvt) Ltd was recognized for transforming Sri Lanka’s coconut industry through a sustainability-driven initiative that improved cost efficiency, market access, and supply-chain consistency. By expanding into global markets and integrating renewable energy, effluent treatment, and spoilage reduction, Sunfrost positioned CocoLife by Hayleys as a globally competitive player, earning the Quality and Lean Management Award.
Hayleys Fabric PLC, from the Textiles Sector, was acknowledged for developing a Smart Energy Saving System for Stenter Machines. This automated, low-investment solution reduces idle-time energy loss in a power-intensive process, significantly cutting thermal and electrical consumption while avoiding 159,600 kg of CO2 emissions per machine annually. The project won the ESG Category Award, aligning with Net Zero 2050 and SBTi pathways.
From the Transportation and Logistics Sector, K&A Logistics—a joint venture between Hayleys Advantis Group and Karnaphuli Group—received the Service Excellence Award for establishing 3PL market leadership through record growth and strategic diversification in Bangladesh. The project enhanced service reliability and positioned Advantis as a capable regional logistics partner within the South Asian supply chain ecosystem.
The Hayleys Chairman’s Awards 2025 celebrated bold innovation, operational excellence, and meaningful social impact across sectors, showcasing projects that redefine competitiveness, reinforce sustainability, and position Sri Lanka as a leader in global manufacturing and services.
Image Caption: Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage presents Haycarb PLC with the Overall Winner Award at the Hayleys Chairman’s Awards 2025 for their pioneering work in silicon-carbon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
