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| Tuesday, 27 April 2004 |
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Emphasis on corporate social responsibility vital By Shirajiv Sirimane Global recognition for the environment and social awareness is increasing and Sri Lankan products for the export market will soon need to have the ISO 14000 certification. Addressing a breakfast meeting on corporate social responsibility organised by the Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) as a part of their centenary celebrations, Senior Environmental Engineer, Environment and social Development Unit South Asia Region World Bank, Sumith Pilapitiya said that since Sri Lanka is an export oriented economy the future emphasis must be on corporate social responsibility. The election manifestoes of both political parties have stated that it is the corporate sector, which would play a major role in economic development. "The alliance partner JVP, will expect the corporate sector to have greater accountability, give a voice to stakeholders and ensure good governance. He said that when the corporate community gets actively involved investing back in the community the productivity and even the image of the company would improve. "A socially responsible corporate sector would reduce the perceived 'anti' private sector emotions," he said. Integration of environmental and social are very important. He said that he was recently responsible in constructing a 1,350 megawatt power plant in Pakistan and there were no major protests unlike in Sri Lanka for the Kotmale plant which would generate 150 megawatts. The reason was that the best location was selected and the community was educated in advance and proper compensation was paid to resettle those affected elsewhere. He said that Sri Lankans should be more responsible and an attitudinal change is needed, individually and collectively. The concepts of making profits at any cost and the pollute now and clean up later attitude must change. The downfall of the Prawn farms industry in the North Eastern Province and human elephant conflicts in the Sugarcane growing areas have been created as a result of unplanned and unsustainable development. "This problem could have been avoided if people were socially more responsible," he said. |
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