Sri Lanka's Private Sector Bank HNB named as one of country's most Women Friendly Workplaces

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 13 December 2022

At the Second Edition of the Women Friendly Workplace Awards 2022, which celebrated efforts made to uplift and empower women in the workplace, Sri Lanka's leading private sector bank HNB PLC was honoured as providing one of the country's top working cultures for women (WFWA).

A cooperative project started by Satyn Magazine and the Sri Lankan chapter of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). The WFWA highlights Sri Lankan businesses that take the initiative to create an environment where women may succeed to the fullest extent possible at work.

"Women in Sri Lanka have long had a legendary place in our society, making enormous economic contributions and exercising leadership at all levels. As a country, we must do all possible to guarantee that women are treated equally and given equal opportunity in the workplace. Our efforts to create workplaces that empower women and encourage them to reach their full potential have been validated by receiving this significant recognition, and we are honoured to have received it, said L. Chiranthi Cooray, Deputy General Manager, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer at HNB.

The bank has a nearly equal male-to-female ratio of 52:48, which demonstrates the importance of diversity and inclusion in HR strategy. Additionally, internal research conducted by the bank across executive, manager, and senior management roles has revealed that women and men working in the same pay grades are equally compensated.

Along with enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment and discrimination, the bank also ensures that women are fairly represented at all levels of employment, including on its board of directors. The bank has recently introduced a number of other policies, such as family-sensitive transfers, mobility, and remote work regulations, to further encourage female participation in its workforce.

Similar to that, HNB Talent Center's special "Women in Management" development programme was made available to 380 leaders. The bank also provides a lot of assistance to promote work-life balance among all employees, but particularly among new mothers. As a result, nearly all of the HNB staff members have decided to start working again following maternity leave.

Gayanjali Amarawansa, captain of the Sri Lankan National Women's Netball Team, discussed some of her personal experiences working for the bank. "HNB has always been incredibly supportive of my professional, athletic, and personal objectives. The bank not only invested in my professional career but also in the long-term growth of my sporting career. I'm confident that my particular experience with HNB is just one of thousands, and I'm proud to have been a part of its efforts to become the model employer for women in Sri Lanka.

Anjalee Ekanayake, captain of the Sri Lanka women's basketball team, who comes from a similar sporting background, revealed her HNB experience: “My journey with HNB started as a student manager while schooling. I have been amazed by its work culture since then. It was my dream workplace when I was a child and today, I stand proud as an employee at HNB who not only excels at her professional career, but also in representing Sri Lanka on the court. HNB has been a source of strength and plays a pivotal part in me becoming a victorious national basketball captain in 2022. I am grateful for all the support given to me by HNB and I take pride in being part of such an amazing workplace culture”.

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Sri Lanka and Satyn Magazine jointly founded WFWA, which conducted its first award ceremony in 2021 and has since attracted a lot of interest from businesses. WFWA continues to support organisations in incorporating diversity, inclusivity, and women's empowerment within its sustainable growth strategy in order to create an equitable workplace culture. The organization's mission is to recognise corporate workplace cultures that uplift women and work towards their inclusive growth.