Fairfirst Continues Its Winning Run in Leadership Excellence for the Sixth Year with multiple recognitions at the Great Manager Awards 2025, reaffirming the company’s long-standing commitment to developing strong people leaders and cultivating a high-performance workplace culture.
Fairfirst Continues Its Winning Run in Leadership Excellence through people-focused culture
Organised by the Colombo Leadership Academy, the Great Manager Awards recognise organisations and professionals who demonstrate excellence in people management, team development, and organisational leadership. Fairfirst Insurance was once again recognised as an organisation with Great Managers, marking the sixth consecutive year the company has received the distinction.
The achievement reflects Fairfirst’s continued investment in leadership development and its broader strategy of building an organisational culture centred on trust, accountability, collaboration, and employee empowerment.
Industry observers note that in today’s competitive business environment, companies are increasingly focusing on leadership capability as a key driver of long-term sustainability and organisational performance. Fairfirst’s repeated recognition at the awards highlights its emphasis on nurturing leaders who can effectively guide teams while creating opportunities for professional growth.
Several Fairfirst team members received individual recognitions across multiple leadership categories at this year’s awards ceremony.
Head of Finance Madhava Hettiarachchi was recognised as a Millennial Manager, acknowledging his contribution to modern leadership practices and team engagement. Head of Corporate Broker Harshana Kumbukage and Senior Manager Finance Shalini Jeganathan received recognition for Aligning Organisational Vision, reflecting their role in ensuring strategic goals are effectively communicated and implemented across teams.
Meanwhile, Manager Finance Dhananjaya Yapa and Zonal Head Northern Zone Saman Gunathilake were recognised for Building Team Effectiveness and Collaboration, highlighting their contribution toward strengthening teamwork and operational coordination.
Head of Motor Claims Madhawa Perera was recognised for Leadership Integrality and Holistic Approach, while Sales Manager Travel Ravindu Fernando received recognition for Driving Results and Execution Excellence.
Fairfirst Continues Its Winning Run in Leadership Excellence for the Sixth Year at a time when organisations across industries are placing greater emphasis on employee engagement, leadership resilience, and people-centred management strategies.
Commenting on the recognition, Fairfirst Insurance Chief Executive Officer Ravishankar Wickneswaran stated that leadership within the organisation is shaped not only by business outcomes but also by the ability to support individual growth and long-term development.
“At Fairfirst, leadership is shaped by how we enable people to succeed and grow. This recognition reflects the collective effort of our teams and the environment we continue to build, one that values trust, encourages ownership, and supports long-term progress,” he said.
The company’s leadership philosophy has increasingly focused on creating an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture where employees are encouraged to take initiative and contribute meaningfully to organisational success.
Human resource specialists note that businesses that prioritise leadership development often experience stronger employee retention, improved team performance, and higher levels of innovation. Leadership recognition programmes such as the Great Manager Awards also play an important role in encouraging best practices in management and organisational culture.
Fairfirst Insurance has consistently positioned people development as a central pillar of its operational strategy. The company’s approach includes investing in talent development, encouraging cross-functional collaboration, and creating pathways for employees to take on greater leadership responsibilities.
The recognition also reflects broader shifts taking place within Sri Lanka’s corporate sector, where organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of workplace culture in attracting and retaining talent. As employee expectations continue evolving, companies are focusing more heavily on leadership quality, professional development opportunities, and employee wellbeing.
According to industry analysts, organisations that build strong internal leadership pipelines are generally better positioned to adapt to market changes, maintain operational resilience, and sustain long-term growth.
Fairfirst Continues Its Winning Run in Leadership Excellence for the Sixth Year while reinforcing its reputation as a company focused on people-centric leadership and organisational development. The company’s continued success at the awards signals its commitment to building an environment where employees are empowered to lead, collaborate, and grow professionally.
As businesses continue adapting to changing workforce dynamics and increasing operational complexity, leadership capability is expected to remain a critical factor in shaping organisational success across industries.