The National Productivity Awards Competition is back after 5 years……..

The inaugural ceremony of the National Productivity Awards Competition, which is planned to be held after 5 years as a tool to achieve the objectives of the “Clean Sri Lanka” national project, was held recently at the Main Hall of Temple Trees under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and the participation of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti.

This National Productivity Awards Competition, organized by the National Productivity Secretariat under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, is planned to be held under 3 main sectors: Schools, Government and Manufacturing and Services. The National Productivity Secretariat, established in 1994, is the premier government institution working to promote productivity in Sri Lanka under the guidance of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) in collaboration with 20 regional countries. The Productivity Secretariat implements a number of programs to promote productivity in various sectors of Sri Lanka’s GDP, and the National Productivity Awards Competition holds a prominent place among these programs.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who appreciated the support provided by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) to enhance productivity in various sectors of Sri Lanka, said that the government is implementing a number of programs with the aim of enhancing the economic and social development of the country and that it is important that productivity programs are implemented in every sector of the country in parallel with the “Clean Sri Lanka” national project. The Prime Minister said that this productivity concept has been brought into the Sri Lankan school system for the first time in history, and the benefits it will bring in the future will be more sustainable.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti said that he is happy to be able to bring the productivity concept to the public again after 5 years through the National Productivity Awards Competition. He also said that the objective of his ministry is to socialize the productivity concept and that he hopes to increase the overall productivity of the country through this competition, which is being held in line with the objectives of the “Clean Sri Lanka” national project implemented by the current government. Minister Handunnetti also emphasized the possibility of eliminating inefficiency in the public service and taking the public service to a new path through the implementation of these productive concepts.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Indra Pradhana Singawinta, Secretary General of the Asian Productivity Organization, highlighted the importance of applying productivity concepts for sustainable economic development in any country.

The criteria for the 2025/2026 National Productivity Awards Competition were also unveiled at this event. The event was attended by Secretary to the President, Dr. Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Haputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries, Thilaka Jayasundara, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Governors, Ministry Secretaries, Tri-Forces Officers, Heads of State Institutions, Chairmen of Institutions, State Officials and many other dignitaries.