Threads of equity: MAS Holdings’ journey of inclusion and impact

IN the quiet hum of production floors and design studios across continents, inclusion is not just spoken of—it is lived.

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At MAS Holdings, the rhythm of progress beats in unison with purpose, echoing through its 13-country footprint where over 95,000 people come together to create, innovate, and inspire. Seventy percent of them are women—each one a vital thread in a fabric defined not by hierarchy or circumstance, but by shared dignity and opportunity.

In an era when inclusion is too often reduced to aspiration or rhetoric, MAS Holdings has chosen to make it a foundation of how it operates, leads, and grows. Its commitment goes beyond workplace representation or compliance—it is a philosophy that defines every layer of its business, from the boardroom to the production line.

As Patron of the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka (Network Sri Lanka), MAS' role now extends beyond its own factory walls. It stands as a mentor and catalyst—shaping an ecosystem where inclusion is understood not as charity or obligation, but as a cornerstone of sustainable and ethical enterprises.

“Our diversity and inclusion work is embedded in our sustainability strategy, which forms part of our business strategy,” says MAS Holdings Head of Gender Equity and Code of Conduct Thanuja Jayawardena. “Inclusion is not something we do on the side—it’s how we build teams, develop leaders, and contribute to society.”

The company’s Sustainability Strategy anchored in three pillars: Product, Lives, and Planet positions people at the heart of progress. At the organisational level, inclusion is safeguarded through a robust Equal Opportunity and Anti-Harassment Policy, which forms part of the MAS Code of Conduct. It ensures all employees regardless of age, race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or language are treated with equal dignity. Annual awareness sessions and clear consequence management frameworks reinforce that commitment.