To celebrate Hemas Hospitals’ recent success on the awards circuit where it claimed 18 national and international accolades within the past six months, the Sri Lankan healthcare provider recently staged ‘Sethkaraya’, a ceremony featuring a host of eminent attendees. The awards include three Healthcare Asia Awards and one Hospital Management Asia Award in the international arena, making it the only hospital group to claim a major foreign award in 2019, bringing international recognition to the Sri Lankan healthcare sector. Locally, the organisation received three awards from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as well as nine gold awards, one silver award, and one bronze award from the National Convention for Quality and Productivity (NCQP). The ceremony saw the participation of several distinguished guests such as Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB) Chairman Prof. Athula Perera, SLAB Director General Chandrika Thilakarathna, Sri Lanka Standards Institution Director General/CEO Dr. Siddhika G. Senaratne, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity President Bannet Gamalath, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Director General Dr. Nirmalie Champika Amarasinghe, ECOVIS RKCA Advisors Ltd. Director Dheeraj Rathi, consultant nephrologist Dr. Chinthana Galahitiyawa, Hemas Holdings Group CEO Steven Enderby, Hemas Hospitals Chairman Murtaza Esufally, Hemas Hospitals Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris, and several top officials from the Ministry of Health including Private Health Sector Director – Development and Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama Director Dr. Wasantha Dissanayaka. Speaking at the occasion, the panel of top dignitaries highlighted the importance of quality, productivity, and safety, especially for a hospital. They commended Hemas Hospitals for pioneering many initiatives to raise the bar of Sri Lankan healthcare. “I was mesmerised by the amount of enthusiasm, which people at all levels have to constantly challenge themselves and want to achieve something beyond normal. When I look at all three associations I’ve had with Hemas in the past, I am not surprised that they have won so many awards, and I’m sure they will win many more,” said Rathi. The presence of all these high-powered representatives from the country’s top industry accreditation bodies spoke on Hemas Hospitals’ reputation on being a name synonymous with high-quality healthcare. “I’m very happy that Hemas maintains a good health service and contribute to the health services sector of Sri Lanka and its people,” said Dr. Dissanayaka. Dr. Peiris, speaking at the ceremony, stated that Hemas Hospitals has always been at the forefront of quality, patient safety, and innovation. Hemas Hospitals’ strategy has included constructing hospitals outside Colombo’s city limits, bringing quality healthcare closer to all citizens and introducing international standards of healthcare by securing Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI), which is considered the gold seal of international accreditation. Photos Pradeep Dambarage