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| Tuesday, 13 January 2004 |
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Ceylon Tobacco highest contributor to Govt's Tax Revenue - Director by Sarath Malalasekera Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) is the highest single contributor to the Governments' Tax Revenue said CTC Legal Director Vijaya Malalasekera at the launching of CTC Second Social Report recently in Colombo. CTC has taken steps to take IT to the rural areas such as Rambukkana, Homagama and Mahiyangana. 'We have created direct and indirect employment for several thousands,' he said. Maintenance of the National Remembrance Park, health camps, eye clinics, donation of spectacles, house for the blind farmer and annual shramadana at the Lunawa Hospital, Moratuwa are some value addition to CTC Community Development Services, the CTC Legal Director said. Value addition includes Art and Culture, Nawakalakaruwo Exhibition, Almanac, preserving the rich Sri Lankan culture of Hela Gami Sirith, Environment - Forestry Week, Internal-Ruk Reka Ganno. Farmers have been encouraged to plant 100 trees of indigenous varieties annually and use Eco friendly farming practices, he said. CTC Managing Director and CEO Paul Hiltermann said "while being the first Company in Sri Lanka to publish a Social Report strengthening our corporate governance process, we are also pioneering a new chapter in engaging an extended group of stakeholders. No doubt other companies in Sri Lanka will progressively commence similar practices, building closer bonds between business entities and the wider community they serve." CTC MD/CEO said "overall we are encouraged by the experience of engaging in a formal dialogue for the purpose of Social Reporting. However, this year too we have not had a favourable response from the anti smoking groups to our invitation to engage in dialogue. We remain hopeful that they will join the process in the future." Social Reporting Manager Senaka de Fonseka said that operating in a controversial industry makes it even more challenging to demonstrate to our stakeholders that we are working in a manner consistent with reasonable public expectations of a responsible Tobacco Company in the 21st Century. The Company which embraced the rigorous process of listening and responding to stakeholder expectations met over 250 stakeholder during the second cycle of the process in 2002/2003. CTC's first Social Reporting process enabled the Company to have dialogue sessions with 54 stakeholders and over 200 issues were raised. There were 18 deliverables which emanated from these issues and CTC has delivered all during the timeliness promised. These ranged from the removal of the brand name "Buddy" to producing a corporate video of " Seed to Smoke". In its endeavour "To be the most progressive world class company in Sri Lanka" CTC formalised the process of dialogue with stakeholders and also extended its scope during 2003. This process as done in 2002 was independently verified by Bureau Vertitas, following the AA 1000 standard. |
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