COYLE-JETRO to champion health and productivity in Sri Lanka

From left: COYLE CEO Indunil Ukwatte, COYLE Past Chairman Aminda Rodrigo, COYLE Past Chairman Dinuk Hettiarachchi, COYLE Chairman Manjula Wijesundera, JETRO Colombo Resident Representative Hiroki Oi, SLCHPA Organising Committee Chairman Mihiru Perera, JETRO Colombo Senior Research Executive Lakna Ayeshmanthi and COYLE Senior Vice Chairman Suren Chandraratna

The Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) and Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), a significant step toward strengthening international collaboration and fostering workplace well-being. 

The partnership is aimed at fostering mutual development and promoting a culture of ‘health and productivity management’ across Sri Lanka’s corporate sector.

Held in Colombo recently, the signing ceremony marked the beginning of a strategic cooperation between two forward-thinking organisations committed to shaping a healthier, more resilient workforce and business ecosystem.

At the heart of this collaboration is the implementation and expansion of the Sri Lanka Corporate Health and Productivity Awards (SLCHPA), which is an initiative launched by the COYLE to recognise companies that prioritise employee well-being, workplace sustainability and long-term productivity. This awards platform, now backed by the JETRO, is poised to be a national benchmark for corporate wellness and responsible business leadership.

The MoU outlines a joint framework for knowledge exchange, benchmarking and shared learning, drawing on Japan’s globally respected expertise in human resource management and health-oriented workplace innovation. By collaborating with the JETRO, the COYLE aims to bring international best practices to Sri Lankan enterprises while creating opportunities for deeper bilateral engagement in economic and social spheres.

Speaking at the event, the representatives from both organisations expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to drive impactful change. They emphasised the shared values of sustainability, people-first leadership and progressive corporate culture.

The MoU signals a powerful alignment between Sri Lanka’s private sector ambitions and Japan’s long-standing experience in workplace excellence. It also reinforces the COYLE’s commitment to elevating the standards of entrepreneurship and business leadership in the country.

The JETRO-COYLE partnership is expected to create lasting value, not only for businesses and employees in Sri Lanka but also for broader economic development rooted in health, productivity and international collaboration.