 nov. 30, 2014 lbt the lanka star 2014 awards ceremony which commended and recognised excellence and innovation in the field of packaging was held on november 21 at the cinnamon lakeside hotel. the event was organised by the sri lanka institute of packaging and the packaging development centre.lanka star awards was the grand finale of the world packaging organisation events, which included the board meeting, committee meetings, judging of the world star competition and the international packaging congress. the ceremony, which commenced amidst much glamour culminated with the awarding of gold, silver and bronze awards to winners of lanka star as well as student star competitions.accordingly, 13 contestants who presented creative conceptual packs that also scored in the aspects of ease of use and enhanced value addition, won lanka star gold awards and six student star contestants won student star gold awards. silver awards were won by 19 lanka star contestants and two student star contestants. and 11 innovative packaging solutions were selected for the bronze awards.the winners were selected adhering to a strict judging criteria, which included the aspects of innovation, functionality and convenience, graphic appeal, appropriateness and efficiency, environmental performance and overall impression. those who succeeded in securing a lanka star awards are now qualified to participate in asia star and world star contests.the lanka star 2014 awards competition was established by the sri lanka institute of packaging and the packaging development centre, with the aim of stimulating interest towards improving packaging standards in sri lanka. the first lanka star competition was conducted in 1987.the sri lanka institute of packaging slip, established in 1975, is an industry association representing manufacturers, users and traders of packaging material as well as service providers to the packaging industry. the slip is also an active member of the asian packaging federation and the world packaging organisation wpo, and two of its past presidents have been elected as presidents and vice presidents of these prestigious regional and global organisations in the past.the institute has played a pivotal role in creating nationwide awareness on the importance of packaging, both for exports as well as in everyday life. it has brought members of the packaging community, including consumers, together to share and promote common interests and has helped to keep its members abreast of rapidly changing trends in the packaging world. 
