In a distinguished celebration of organisational excellence and progressive people management, South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) was proudly recognised at the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) National Best Employer Awards 2025 with an Honourable Mention Certificate in the Franklin Amarasinghe Memorial Award for Best Industrial Relations Practices category. The Honourable Mention denotes formal recognition by the judging panel, distinct from the overall category winner, and is awarded to organisations that demonstrate sustained excellence aligned with the award criteria.
The awards ceremony took place on 20 January 2026 at Galle Face Hotel, where leading corporate, government and civil society figures gathered to acknowledge organisations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, robust employee-focused practices, and exemplary contributions to Sri Lanka’s socio-economic landscape.
SAGT’s achievement reflects the company’s enduring commitment to developing strong, ethical and constructive workforce relations, placing it among Sri Lanka’s most respected proponents of an employee-focused organisational culture. Notably, SAGT was one of only five organisations shortlisted nationally for this prestigious category, highlighting the competitive and selective nature of the recognition.
In an era where organisations are increasingly judged not only by what they deliver but by how they treat their people, South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) offers a compelling Sri Lankan example of how people-centred leadership can translate into world-class performance.
“At SAGT, people-centred leadership has never been an abstract ideal, but a clear business imperative,” said Thushara Jayawardana, General Manager – Human Resources at SAGT, who also serves as President of the Association of HR Professionals Sri Lanka. “Industrial harmony, trust, and open dialogue with our workforce have enabled us to deliver consistent operational excellence in one of the most demanding environments in global logistics.”
At the core of this performance lies a deliberate approach to industrial relations, treated not as a compliance exercise but as a strategic partnership. Continuous engagement with employee representatives, transparent communication, and mutual respect have contributed to sustained industrial harmony in a sector often prone to volatility.
“Our experience clearly demonstrates that strong industrial relations and high productivity are not competing priorities,” Jayawardana noted. “When employees feel respected, listened to, and invested in, performance follows naturally. That stability directly supports our customers and the wider national economy.
At the ceremony, SAGT was among the five organisations shortlisted for the prestigious Franklin Amarasinghe Memorial Award. While the final trophy in the category was awarded to another organisation, SAGT’s inclusion on the shortlist and subsequent presentation of an Honourable Mention Certificate acknowledged the company’s longstanding efforts in cultivating industrial stability and progressive workforce relations.
Receiving the honour on behalf of SAGT were Zafir Hashim, President Transportation Sector of John Keells Holdings PLC, together with Thushara Jayawardana, General Manager, Human Resources at SAGT. Members of SAGT’s human resources leadership were also present at the ceremony as the team responsible for shaping and maintaining the organisation’s people strategy.
The Honourable Mention for Best Industrial Relations Practices sits at the intersection of people strategy and business performance, a recognition of SAGT’s long-term and consistent focus on developing respectful, transparent and mutually beneficial relationships with its workforce.
At a time when global logistics and container terminal operations face dynamic challenges, from workforce expectations and technological integration to fluctuating trade patterns, SAGT’s approach to employee relations has emerged as a strategic differentiator, underpinning operational reliability, continuity and productivity.
The recognition reflects why SAGT was shortlisted: a combination of sustained industrial harmony, leadership continuity, structured HR systems, and outcomes achieved over time rather than short-term initiatives. This recognition further reinforces SAGT’s reputation as a leader in the Sri Lankan corporate landscape and reflects its commitment to upholding standards of workplace engagement that align with national development aspirations.
Commenting on the recognition, Thushara Jayawardana, General Manager, Human Resources at SAGT and President of the Association of HR Professionals Sri Lanka, said, “At SAGT, our people practices are designed not merely to comply with expectations, but to elevate the experience of every employee through trust, open dialogue and shared purpose. Being honoured by the EFC in this category is a testament to our shared belief that strong employee relations are foundational to organisational resilience and excellence.”
He emphasised that workforce relations at SAGT are viewed not as a standalone HR function, but as an integral element of the company’s strategic framework, supporting operational performance, employee engagement, and sustainable organisational growth.
This philosophy has been consistently championed at the leadership level, having been strongly embedded during the tenure of former Chief Executive Officer Romesh David, and carried forward under the leadership of current Chief Executive Officer Steen Knudsen, ensuring continuity, credibility and alignment between leadership intent and workforce experience.
SAGT, operating at the hub of the Port of Colombo, manages one of the region’s most dynamic container terminals, an environment requiring not only functional precision but high levels of workforce collaboration.
The company’s industrial relations framework is characterised by:
• Structured engagement with recognised employee groups
• Open communication channels between management and staff at all levels
• Proactive identification and resolution of workplace concerns
• Strong emphasis on mutual respect and shared goals
This proactive approach has helped SAGT maintain industrial stability, reduce dispute incidents, and build a culture where employees feel heard, valued and invested in the company’s success.
Central to SAGT’s recognition is the sustained effort of its Human Resources team, whose role extends beyond standard people management to the strategic orchestration of talent development, leadership capability and employee wellbeing.
The HR team’s initiatives have included:
• Comprehensive training and development programmes tailored to role and career progression
• Safety and well-being interventions designed to support employees physically and mentally
• Leadership-led communication forums that encourage two-way dialogue
• Integration of people metrics with organisational performance dashboards
These practices not only contributed meaningfully to the company’s award submission, but have also enabled SAGT to continuously strengthen engagement levels, trust and workplace satisfaction.
SAGT’s recognition at the inaugural EFC National Best Employer Awards carries meaning beyond the company itself. It illustrates the growing importance of employee-focused leadership in Sri Lanka’s corporate context and highlights how robust workforce relations contribute to organisational resilience, economic momentum and global competitiveness.
As employers across sectors seek to attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive labour market, the benchmarks set by initiatives such as the EFC Awards provide inspirational examples of how people strategies translate into measurable outcomes, from employee loyalty to operational excellence.
For SAGT, the Honourable Mention at the EFC National Best Employer Awards reaffirms its continued commitment to people-centred values, strategic HR leadership and ethical engagement. It complements the company’s global recognition for terminal performance excellence and demonstrates how industrial relations, when nurtured with intention and consistency, can be a source of organisational strength.
By investing in respectful employment practices and creating a culture of trust, SAGT continues to set a precedent for what it means to be an employer of choice in Sri Lanka’s corporate landscape.