Lankan annual reports gain world recognition

Smart Media competed in Traditional Annual Report categories and won the Silver for the Cover Design of the Commercial Bank Annual Report in the keenly contested Local Banks category. Commercial Bank’s Annual Report also won for Smart Media Honours for the Overall Annual Report in the same category. Smart Media’s third award was a Bronze for the National Savings Bank Annual Report for the interior design in the Banks: Savings and Loan category.

Sri Lanka won four Annual Report Awards at the coveted 2007 International ARC Awards Competition created to honour overall excellence in annual reports, held for the 21st year in New York.

On Thursday evening the ceremony held at the Ritz Carlton amidst a large and distinguished gathering of top Annual Report executives from around the world saw Smart Media garnering three of the four awards won by Sri Lankan entities whilst the State giant - Bank of Ceylon won the fourth.

The ARC Awards Competition which is free from advertising or membership dues and is widely recognised by the Annual Report Industry for its fairness and impartiality attracted nearly 2000 Annual Reports from around the world, which were judged in a wide range of distinct categories. Bank of Ceylon won the Gold for the Overall Annual Report in the “National Commercial Banks” sub category, which came within the wider category for “Non Traditional Annual Reports”.

Smart Media competed in Traditional Annual Report categories and won the Silver for the Cover Design of the Commercial Bank Annual Report in the keenly contested Local Banks category. Commercial Bank’s Annual Report also won for Smart Media Honours for the Overall Annual Report in the same category. Smart Media’s third award was a Bronze for the National Savings Bank Annual Report for the interior design in the Banks: Savings and Loan category.

Dr. Frank Luntz – one of the most honoured communication professionals in America addressing the gathering of Annual Report professionals said, ‘You can influence people to have greater faith in the future through your creativity’. Austrian Annual Report Company Mensalia Enterprises received the Platinum Achievement Award for the company with the greatest absolute amount of wins on behalf of their clients.

The ARC Awards jury was truly international in composition and comprised of 37 experts in the areas of investor relations, media, creative services, writing, design and photography.