In the recent 2011 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sustainability Reporting award ceremony, DNV Business Assurance’s key customer, John Keells Holding (JKH) Group, a premier blue chip company in Sri Lanka, was facilitated with the ACCA title award in the large scale industry category.

"We take pride in the honor that our customer has received from a global body for professional accountants like ACCA,” says Santhosh Jayaram, Head-Sustainability & Business Excellence Services (South Asia).

John Keells Holding Group (JKH), the largest holding company in Sri Lanka, with diversified operations in sectors like hospitality, tourism, plantations, including others, was recently honored by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sustainability Reporting award, in the large scale industry category. JKH is DNV Business Assurance’s key customer, and we take pride in the honor that our customer has received from a global body for professional accountants like ACCA,” says Santhosh Jayaram, Head-Sustainability & Business Excellence Services (South Asia).

DNV Business Assurance India & Sri Lanka has been associated with John Keells Holding (JKH) since Y2008…when DNV did gap assessments in the area of Corporate Responsibility for the company. Later, since the last 2years (Y2009, Y2010), DNV Business Assurance has verified and assured JKH’s Corporate Sustainability reports. Pointing out, Santhosh says, “John Keells Holding (JKH) is a company which is committed towards transparent reporting, and this award reinforces their commitment. JKH truly deserves this recognition.”

Sustainability Reporting: From 'Nice to have' to 'Must have'
On asking Suresh Rajendra, President of John Keells Holdings (JKH) Group, what this award means to him and his company, he says that, "We are extremely proud to receive this award as we consider it as a recognition of the efforts of every employee of the group," adding, "We have always aimed to make sustainable business practices a part of the culture of our organization...and this award only reinforces our commitment."

"Organizations in Sri Lanka are becoming increasingly conscious of Sustainability reporting, as it is an important route through which corporate accountability and integrity can be demonstrated to stakeholders," says Suresh Rajendra, adding, "Sustainability reporting is progressing rapidly from a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’ initiative….consequently, increasingly becoming a deciding factor in attracting global investments in Sri Lanka’s current exponential growth environment."

He continues, “DNV has played an integral role in the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Initiatives of the John Keells Group. Since 2008, when DNV conducted the gap assessment and thereafter the awareness and training workshops for the Group, they have always been at hand to assist and mentor our teams. We wish to acknowledge the contribution by DNV…in our journey to realize our vision to be a strong and sustainable leader in business.”