Dialog Wins National Award for DEI Leadership in Corporate Sector

Photographed from left to right: Asith De Silva, Senior Manager - Social Innovation, Group Sustainability, Dialog Axiata PLC; Kusalitha Devruwan, Head - HR Business Partnering and Culture, Dialog Axiata PLC; Waruni Algama, Vice President, Customer Experience Performance & Talent Development, Dialog Axiata PLC; Dumidu Dassanayake, Assistant Vice President - Group Rewards and Organization Design, Dialog Axiata PLC; Samanmalee Pathirana, Specialist, Social Innovation for Sustainability, Group Sustainability, Dialog Axiata PLC; Shantha Kumar, Assistant Manager, Employer Branding, Employee Engagement and Culture, Dialog Axiata PLC; Rekha Weerasooriya, Group Chief People Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC.

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, won the national award for ‘Best DEI Initiative’ at the DEI Champions Awards 2025, recognising the company’s long-standing commitment to building a workplace where every individual is valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce through the SCOPE Programme and co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, the DEI Champions Awards celebrate organisations leading the way in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in Sri Lanka. Dialog’s recognition highlights its continued efforts to embed inclusive practices into every layer of its operations — not as a checkbox, but as a strategic driver of innovation, resilience, and people-led growth.

DEI is a cornerstone of Dialog’s organisational ethos, supported by a comprehensive set of group-wide policies that include Recruitment, Learning and Development, Performance Management, Talent Development and the Code of Conduct. These policies incorporate principles of gender equality, youth and inclusive hiring, disability inclusion and a respectful workplace culture across all processes. From inclusive leadership development programmes like the Change Catalyst Programme, to cultural engagement initiatives and the celebration of multi-religious and multi-ethnic events, Dialog has cultivated a workplace that actively embraces diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

The company also supports working parents through extended maternity and paternity leave and childcare assistance, while driving inclusion for persons with disabilities (PWDs) through the Dialog-MAS Enabler Programme. As a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles, the GSMA Connected Women Initiative and the GSMA Principles for Driving Digital Inclusion, Dialog aligns its internal culture with global best practices. These commitments are backed by strong accountability mechanisms, including quarterly DEI reviews, employee engagement surveys and an independently governed whistleblowing system, benchmarked against global standards such as GRI, SASB and GSMA frameworks.

“This recognition reaffirms our belief that a truly inclusive workplace is foundational to sustainable growth. At Dialog, we foster a culture of belonging — where every voice is heard and every individual is empowered to reach their full potential. Our team is at the heart of our transformation journey, and we remain committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive,” said Rekha Weerasooriya, Group Chief People Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC.

In addition to internal DEI initiatives, Dialog supports broader community inclusion through projects like DeafTawk, a mobile app that connects deaf users with qualified interpreters for real-time communication. Dialog has also enhanced its website, dialog.lk, to be more accessible for persons with disabilities, reflecting its commitment to digital inclusivity.

Sharing his thoughts, Asanga Priyadarshana, Group Chief Corporate Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “At Dialog, we see diversity, equity and inclusion as fundamental to building a more inclusive Sri Lanka. Our initiatives are designed to ensure the benefits of connectivity reach every community, so that no one is left behind. We believe that lasting progress is built on opportunities that empower everyone to participate fully in the digital future.”

Dialog’s achievement reinforces its role as a progressive corporate leader in Sri Lanka — one that champions equity not only within its organisation but across the broader national movement toward responsible, inclusive business.