Siam City Cement (Lanka) Limited, INSEE Cement, was honoured as the Winner in the Manufacturing sector at the inaugural CIPM Great HR Awards 2025, organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka in collaboration with global HR consulting leader Mercer.

The prestigious accolade recognizes INSEE's outstanding contribution toward elevating human resources practices through consistent, progressive, and people-centered initiatives prioritizing capability development, employee wellbeing, and sustainable organizational growth. Moreover, the award acknowledges INSEE’s achievements internally and the influence in raising HR standards for Sri Lanka's manufacturing sector.

Thusith C. Gunawarnasuriya, Chief Operating Officer, Siam City Cement (Lanka) Limited, said, “Recognition at the inaugural CIPM Great HR Awards 2025 is a proud moment for all of us at INSEE Cement. It reinforces our belief that people are the true drivers of organisational excellence. Our commitment has always been to create an environment where every employee feels empowered, supported, and inspired to grow. The award reflects the dedication of the HR teams and business leaders who work tirelessly to build a culture anchored in learning, safety, wellbeing and accountability.”

As Sri Lanka's leading and only fully integrated cement manufacturer, INSEE Cement supports the country's construction landscape with a comprehensive portfolio of building materials. It is anchored with a strong focus on sustainability and purpose-led brand promise, 'Build for Life', a philosophy extending beyond products and operations to fundamentally shape an approach to talent management, organizational culture, and people development.

INSEE Cement's people strategy places equal emphasis on capability and care, recognizing organizational success is built on the foundation of employee development and wellbeing. The company has invested significantly in progressive HR practices covering talent development, leadership capability building, performance and reward systems, employee wellbeing initiatives, and organizational health and safety programs. These initiatives are designed to strengthen individual and team performance, cultivating a workplace where employees genuinely feel valued and inspired to contribute their best.

The company's comprehensive HR framework includes structured leadership development pathways, robust succession planning frameworks, advanced learning platforms, and holistic wellbeing programs designed to nurture talent at every stage of the employee journey including onboarding to senior leadership roles.

The long-term, consistent commitment has enabled INSEE to build an organizational culture where learning, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement are embedded into everyday work, driving both employee satisfaction and business performance.

The company's competitive advantage is sustained through the capability of the people, and the award affirms the strategic investments made in creating an environment where talent can flourish. From the frontline workers to senior management, INSEE's approach offers every employee access to development opportunities, support systems, and pathways for growth. Focussing on the future, the company aims to continue to pioneer HR innovations strengthening organizational resilience and supporting the evolving needs of the workforce.

Launched as Sri Lanka's newest platform dedicated to honouring HR excellence, the Great HR Awards 2025 recognizes organizations demonstrating innovation, resilience, and deep commitment to their people in multiple dimensions including people strategy, capability development, leadership development, employer branding, technology adoption, and industrial relations. The awards aim to raise the bar for the future of work in Sri Lanka.

The awards followed a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process led by CIPM and Mercer, supported by a distinguished panel of eminent HR and business leaders from several industries. The comprehensive assessment included a detailed written application, thorough evaluation of HR strategy and governance frameworks, in-depth review of employee lifecycle programs and processes, and the careful scrutiny of measurable business and people impact metrics. For the INSEE HR team, the journey served as a valuable benchmarking opportunity against national and international standards, providing insights into areas of strength and opportunities for further enhancement.

Looking ahead, INSEE Cement remains focused on deepening its impact by embedding data-driven insights into people decisions, enhancing the end-to-end employee experience, and partnering closely with business leadership to drive sustainable growth and long-term value creation.