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	Environmental commitment, protecting employees’ health and safety and improving community welfare are ingrained in our corporate ethos.

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The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is a voluntary strategic policy initiative launched by the UN in order to encourage businesses to align their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environment and anti-corruption. Aitken Spence PLC has been a signatory of the Global Compact since 28th May 2002 and a privileged member of the UNGC steering committee of the Sri Lanka Network. We have also been appointed to the Board of Directors of the UNGC Network Ceylon which is currently chaired by Dr. Rohan Fernando who is a Director of Aitken Spence PLC.

The UNGC Local Network's role is to root the Global Compact within Sri Lanka and to facilitate the progress of companies engaged in the Global Compact with respect to implementation of the ten principles, create opportunities for multi-stakeholder engagement, collective action and to deepen the learning experience of all participants through their own activities and promote action in support of broader UN goals.

Category	UNGC Principle	Relevant GRI Indicators	General practices at Aitken Spence
Human Rights	Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights	LA7, LA8, LA14, HR3, HR4, HR8, PR8	It is general practice at Aitken Spence to uphold the internationally accepted human rights of all stakeholders. We practice an open door policy for grievance handling where all employees are encouraged to go to the highest authority figure for any complaints The Integrated Sustainability Policy of Aitken Spence PLC formalises this practice by including a written clause on the same The first steps towards formulating a human rights protection framework were set in motion when we conducted a training programme for the Security Personnel who are employed at Aitken Spence Towers. This programme was then extended to the sustainability subcommittee members of all the Subsidiaries as well. As per clause P of the Integrated Sustainability Policy we hope to take further action towards protecting human rights. (Page 87 in the Annual Report) Clause P of the Integrated Sustainability Policy is entirely on the protection and support of internationally accepted human rights (Page 87 in the Annual Report)
Human Rights	Principles 2: Businesses should make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses	HR3, HR4, HR8
Labour Standards	Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining	LA5, HR3	Freedom of association is generally practiced although there is no specific written policy on this
	Principle 4: Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour	HR3	The Group rigidly complies with the ILO Conventions on the employment of persons. In order to create greater awareness on human rights among all staff members we initiated a training programme with the sustainability sub committees of all subsidiaries. The purpose of this training was to use the sub committees as champions and cascade the knowledge down to all employees through them. The Company strictly ensures that no employees below the legal minimum age is offered employment
	Principle 5: Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labour	HR3
	Principle 6: Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation	LA14, HR3, HR4, HR8	The Group affords equal opportunities to existing and potential employees irrespective of gender, race, or religion. All eligible persons are given the opportunity to secure employment and thereafter continue in an appropriate career path. This topic was also addressed during the human rights training programme for the subcommittee members.
Environment	Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges	EN18 (Partially repoted, see GRI index)	The Board of Directors to the best of its ability has applied very high standards to protect and nurture the environment. EMS manages aspects which have significant environmental impacts proactively
	Principle 8: Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility	EN5, EN6, EN8, EN11, EN12, EN23, EN28 EN3, EN4, EN10, EN16, EN18 (Partially repoted, see GRI index)	EMS and certification of the EMS where environmental conservation plays significant importance Awareness programmes conducted by the Corporate Sustainability Team and the Sub Committees and other subsidiaries
	Principle 9: Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies	EN5, EN6, EN10, EN18 (Partially repoted, see GRI index)	The BMS Energy efficiency improvements developed by Aitken Spence Power Generation - Horana and Matara Herb Garden and model farm at the Embilipitiya Power Plant Environmental conservation efforts and reforestation at Elpitiya Plantations Renewable energy projects and energy efficiency improvements at Elpitiya Plantations Measurement of Carbon Footprint at Heritance Kandalama
Anti - Corruption	Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery	SO2, SO3	Company Code of Ethics has stringent instructions on anti-corruption Internal audits