Lion Brewery PLC was recognised for excellence in people practices at the Great HR Awards 2025, Sri Lanka’s highest honour in HR, jointly organised by CIPM Sri Lanka and Mercer.
The company secured two major accolades as Winner of the Excellence Award for Best Employer Branding across all sectors and Runner‑up in the Food, Beverage & Distilleries Sector.
Lion's recognition at the Great HR Awards 2025 confirms a people-first philosophy that when employees thrive, organizations excel. Grounded in globally benchmarked standards, these accolades support Lion's commitment to a culture built on courage, inclusion, and celebration. Advancing HR practices which challenge convention and deliver measurable impact, Lion sets the benchmark for excellence in Sri Lanka, contributing to broader industry progress.
The company received the Excellence Award for Best Employer Branding for creating a workplace where recognition, culture, and the stories of Lion’s people take centre stage.
Through initiatives which amplify employee achievements and celebrate the individuals behind the company’s success, Lion has strengthened the organisation’s position as a trailblazer in employer branding, setting benchmarks for an inclusive, high‑impact workplace culture.
The company was also recognised as Runner‑up in the Food, Beverage & Distilleries Sector for people strategies which respond effectively to sector‑specific challenges and deliver verifiable outcomes. The achievement builds Lion’s reputation for responsive HR practices in improving employee experience and redefine standards of HR excellence.
Lion’s people strategy is anchored in a holistic approach guided by three strategic HR pillars such as building capacity to fuel organisational growth through future‑ready structures and design, building capability by driving learning agility, innovation, and talent pipeline development and inspiring a culture of excitement, winning, inclusion, and wellbeing grounded in a shared value system.
These pillars are supported by strategic priorities including future‑ready organisational structures, performance management and talent development, a competitive rewards philosophy, a strong employee value proposition, and a commitment to cultivating a learning culture and robust talent pipelines.
People development and performance management sit at the heart of Lion’s HR philosophy. Strategic business objectives are communicated for all levels through platforms such as Lion People Connect, CEO Connect, an open‑door policy, the Great Place to Work survey, monthly divisional meetings, and digital communication channels. Lion’s commitment to people development is supported by a dedicated training budget, with all initiatives aligned to business needs and treated as long‑term investments. Equal opportunities are extended to all employees, with a shared responsibility to nurture a safe, diverse, and inclusive environment to help individuals to reach their full potential.
The Lion Behavioural Competency Framework plays a central role in identifying capability gaps and aligning them with the organisation’s long‑term plan. Mapped to each job grade with defined proficiency levels, the framework offers accurate measurement and evaluation.
Complementing it is the Lion Learning Framework, which provides structured guidance for employees as they navigate their career pathways. Performance is assessed bi‑annually through a rigorous performance philosophy framework, supported by divisional and organisational calibration meetings involving heads of departments and the Executive Committee to ensure fairness and consistency.
Talent review meetings follow each cycle, and the company’s rewards philosophy with recognition directly linked to performance. Integrated employee recognition and engagement initiatives further strengthen a culture of appreciation and belonging.
Lion’s commitment to being a champion in people development is reflected in the continuous investment in mentoring, learning opportunities, and skill development. The company’s training and development policy assures all initiatives are based on business needs and evaluated for relevance and return on investment. Skill upgrades driven by external factors are implemented based on divisional recommendations, the the HR division promoting a learning culture through interactive programmes such as speechcraft, train‑the‑trainer sessions, and regular learning snippets.
As part of its talent pipeline development, Lion introduced the Tharanaya management trainee programme, an 18‑month structured journey combining business orientation and on‑the‑job training. The company also launched an executive development programme in partnership with the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), identifying high‑performing executives for advanced leadership development, supported by a parallel coaching programme. Additional initiatives include the creation of an internal trainer faculty, the establishment of the Lion Readers Club, and programmes designed to build confidence in public speaking.
At Lion Brewery, employees play a central role in driving the company’s growth through their dedication to producing high‑quality brews, maintaining operational excellence, and fostering innovation in brewing techniques. Their commitment to quality control guarantees every product meets the highest standards, strengthening brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.
Embracing teamwork and continuously improving processes, employees help optimise production efficiency, reduce costs, and increase output. Their involvement in sustainability initiatives further enhances the brewery’s reputation and aligns with growing market demand for environmentally responsible practices. Together, these efforts drive sales, strengthen the brand, and contribute to Lion Brewery’s continued success in the competitive alcohol and beverage industry.
These achievements are reinforced by ‘The Lion Way’, a value‑driven culture shaping how the organisation works and wins. The values include employees as trailblazers, leaders with confidence, as those that challenges the status quo, and redefines what comes next. As adventurers, they are empowered to chase bold ideas and explore their limitless potential. In celebrating each other, Lion fosters unity, embraces diversity, and rallies around shared goals. And by brewing good times, the company establishes every experience, internal or external, is as exceptional as its brews.
