Sustainability and CSR

As have been emphasised elsewhere in this integrated annual report, at Sunshine, sustainability is not a box to be ticked but a principle deeply embedded across how we operate, compete and contribute. During the financial year 2024-25, this philosophy manifested in its consistent social outreach, progressive workplace practices and the growing recognition of our brands and businesses as responsible, high-performing actors.

Recognition for responsible business

During the year under review, Sunshine received recognition for the strides we made in responsible business practice. Perhaps most notable instance of this was our being recognised as a Best Workplace in Sri Lanka and Asia by Great Place to Work®, a true testament to our focus on inclusivity, employee wellbeing and internal trust. We were also named among the Best Workplaces for Women as well as in the Manufacturing and Production Industry, highlighting our efforts to build a diverse, supportive and resilient workforce.

In another feather in our cap, Sunshine’s supply chain practices earned us the title of Best Supply Chain Practicing Organisation in the Large-Scale Manufacturing category at the National Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2024, reflecting our continued, unrelenting efforts toward ethical sourcing, efficiency and resilience.

On the brand front, Watawala Tea won the Effie Award 2023 and Gold at the Digis for digital campaigns that connected meaningfully with consumer values, which is an important consideration in terms of generating stakeholder value. Our mass-market tea brand Ran Kahata was honoured with a Gold Dragon for Best Brand Building, a Silver at the Four A’s Advertising Festival for storytelling, and Gold and Bronze Awards at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards, demonstrating how consumer engagement can serve as a platform for national pride and cultural identity.

Social impact through the Sunshine Foundation for Good

During the reporting period, the Sunshine Foundation for Good (SFG) strengthened its focus on scalable, high-impact interventions in health, water access, and education.

Healthcare: The Suwa Diviya diabetes awareness and management programme expanded significantly, with over Rs. 7.5 Mn. invested in reaching urban and semi-urban communities through workshops and digital platforms.

Health Services: The project supports the free medical clinic managed by the Ramakrishna Mission in Batticaloa with essential medication provided on a quarterly basis.

Safe Water: Two new Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants were commissioned in Senagama (Matale) and Nakwaththagama (Kurunegala), totaling 21 RO Plants across the country, while groundwork began for additional units in Moneragala and Chilaw, together contributing to a broader mission of combating chronic kidney disease of unknown-origin (CKDu) in rural areas.

Education: 642 students from 7 low-resource schools in the vicinity of our operational centers received stationery vouchers, ensuring that access to learning resources did not become a barrier to their educational opportunity.

The way forward

Looking ahead, as discussed in more detail elsewhere, Sunshine seeks to further institutionalise ESG into Group strategy, with enhanced sustainability disclosures, better integration of non-financial risk into decision-making, and more targeted deployment of CSR capital. The Foundation’s work will evolve with national priorities in mind, ensuring that as the country recovers, our growth continues to be inclusive, ethical and enduring.