Companies should involve more in CSR

John Keells wins Best  Corporate Citizens award

Shirajiv Sirimane

John Keells Holdings won the best Corporate Citizens award at the Ten Best Corporate Citizens award ceremony hosted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at the Cinnamon Grand last night. Nestle Lanka was the first runner up while Sampath Bank emerged the second runner up.

Director John Keells, Sumithra Gunasekera receiving the awad for John Keells at the Ten Best Corporate Citizens award ceremony hosted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at Cinnamon Grand last night from Chief Guest, Minister of Export Development and International Trade, G. L Peries. Director Tata Steel, Jamshed J. Irani, Chairman CCC, Mahen Dayananda and Chairman CSR committe Lakshman Watawala looks on. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

Director, Tata Steel, Jamshed J. Irani who made the keynote address at the event said it is the responsibility of the corporate sector to promote social responsibility programmes. He said that investors who try to invest in companies would also look at the track record as to how much CSR they were involved in. “In addition, down the line employees who seek employment in companies would also look as to how much the company have inverted towards CSR,” Irani said. He also said even customers and marketing representatives look at a company’s track record on CSR and sustainability before starting business with them. He added that in India too more and more companies are engaged in community development and expenses are borne for long-term community development. He said that unlike developed countries private sector companies in developing countries have to play an aggressive role towards sustainability.

“In developed countries they have to think about the high completion and also look at paying taxes while the governments look after the welfare sector.

In Third World countries the Government also cannot look after welfare,” he added. Chief Guest Minister of Export Development and International Trade Professor G. L. Peries said that corporates should particularly focus on environment education. “They must give back what they took from the environment,” he said.

Chairman CCC, Mahen Dayananda said that he was happy in the manner in which local companies are engaged in CSR.