Senaka Alawattegama, the CEO of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, has been recognized as the Plantation CEO of the Year 2022 at the CEO Awards night. This is a significant achievement for Alawattegama, who has been instrumental in driving the success of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC. This award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the industry, including his leadership in driving sustainability, profitability, and employee well-being.
Alawattegama’s career in the plantation sector began in 1986 when he started as a trainee planter. After completing his training successfully, he was appointed as an Assistant Superintendent to the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation. He continued to work in the industry and was absorbed into Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC after privatization in 1992. Since then, he has held several positions within the company, including General Manager Plantations and Director Plantations, prior to being appointed as Director/CEO of the company.
As the Director /CEO of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Alawattegama has been a driving force behind the company’s success. He has led the company’s efforts to increase sustainability, reduce costs, and improve employee well-being. Under his leadership, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC has become one of the leading tea producers in Sri Lanka, with a strong focus on sustainability and quality.
Under his guidance, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC has achieved many milestones in sustainability, profitability, and employee well-being. The company has set industry benchmarks for sustainable agricultural practices, including waste management, water conservation, and soil health. This has resulted in the production of high-quality tea, making Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC the number one quality producer among regional plantations companies in the upcountry, low country, and at national level rankings. This achievement is a testament to Alawattegama’s leadership, his focus on quality, and his commitment to driving the company’s growth in a highly competitive industry.
Moreover, Alawattegama has also prioritized employee wellbeing and has introduced numerous initiatives to improve the living standards and the overall quality of life for employees and their families. The company provides its employees with access to high-quality healthcare services, educational opportunities, and housing facilities. Additionally, the company has implemented programs that focus on the personal and professional development of its employees, including leadership training, skills development, and career advancement opportunities.
As a result of these initiatives, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC has created a supportive and nurturing work environment, which has resulted in high employee satisfaction rates and low turnover rates. The company’s commitment to employee well-being has also helped to build a strong sense of community among its employees, which has led to increased productivity and improved business outcomes. Under his leadership, the company was recognized as “Great Place to Work” in 2022 being the first plantation company in Sri Lanka, and placed Second in Asia. In all, TTE PLC won 7 awards under GPTW. Annual Reports have also yielded many accolades, winning the highest number of Golds for a single company in 8th Asia Sustainability and Integrated Reports Awards 2022 – Four Gold awards, Two Silver and a Bronze award and finalists for all applicable categories. Won Top Three awards in CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2022 including the award for “Five Excellent Integrated Reports”. The crowning achievements were the four main awards in Best Corporate Citizen Awards 2022 including the winner “Agriculture Sector”, winner “Corporate Environmental Commitment”, First Runner Up in “Less than Rs. 15 Billion turnover” companies and capped it off by being awarded “Ten Best Corporate Citizens”. This winning strategy was further highlighted at the Social Dialogue and Workplace Corporation Awards 2019, organised by the Ministry of Labour, where TTE PLC won Gold, Silver and Merit Awards. Moreover, TTE PLC, Committed and Verified by Science Based Targets, Committed to 1.5C and NetZero 2050 Agenda, Member of Biodiversity Sri Lanka, United Nation Global Compact (UNGC) and Pledge to United Nation Women Empowerment.
Senaka Alawattegama’s appointment as the Director/CEO of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and expertise in the plantation sector. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a deep commitment to sustainability, profitability, and employee well-being. His journey from an Assistant Superintendent to the Director/ CEO of the company is an inspiring example of how hard work and dedication can lead to success.
In addition to achieving industry benchmarks, Alawattegama’s legacy also includes his vision for the company’s long-term success. He has guided Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC in pursuit of its long-term vision of becoming the most admired plantation company in the country. He has also ensured that the company remains resilient and competitive in a highly volatile business environment.
Alawattegama’s leadership has not only driven the success of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC but also benefited its employees and their families. The company’s ethos of ensuring a better future for all its employees and their families is a testament to his commitment to employee well-being. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and engagement, Alawattegama has ensured that the company’s employees are empowered, motivated, and able to contribute to its success. Alawattegama motivates his workforce by creating a family-like environment where employees can openly share their problems, ideas, thoughts, and opinions. He appreciates good performance, recognizes and rewards it, and maintains good communication not only with the top management but also with the bottom line. Most importantly, he ensures a healthy work-life balance among the employees, which helps reduce stress and prevent burnout in the workplace.
Alawattegama’s belief in the importance of being a good leader is reflected in his management style. He understands that building good relationships with employees is crucial to creating a positive and productive work environment. As a result, he has placed a strong emphasis on communication, collaboration, and transparency within the company.
He recognizes that leadership involves more than just giving orders and delegating tasks. It requires the ability to influence, motivate, and encourage people to work together towards a common goal. He believes that creating a compelling vision for the company and bringing people together around that vision is essential to achieving great success.
To accomplish this, Alawattegama has worked hard to build trust with his employees. He has emphasized the importance of listening to their concerns, providing support and guidance when needed, and recognizing their contributions to the company’s success. He has also encouraged his employees to take ownership of their work and to embrace new ideas and innovation. Also, Senaka is a well-renowned leader in the Agriculture Sector and holds leading positions as the Chairman of the Planters Association of Ceylon, Deputy Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders Association, a Director of the Rubber Research Institute and The Sri Lanka Tea Board.
Senaka Alawattegama’s outstanding leadership and contribution to the plantation sector have been recognized by the Plantation CEO of the Year 2022 award. His commitment to sustainability, profitability, and employee well-being has set Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC as a pre-eminent and leading regional plantation company. His dedication to motivating his workforce and being a good leader has created a family-like environment where employees can thrive, leading to the company’s success.