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Sunlight Saubhagya scholarship awards

"Sunlight Saubhagya", empowers women by providing an opportunity to generate a sustainable income and thereby enhances the quality of life for their families.

This project has over 3,000 participants. Whilst enhancing the lives of the participants and their families, this project also aims to extend the benefits to the community.

Recognizing that children are the future, Unilever Sri Lanka's "Sunlight Saubhagya Scholarship Awards", focuses on highlighting and nurturing talents of children of entrepreneurs. The Saubhagya scholarship program awards children who excelled academically, as well as in arts, drama and sports, at district or regional level.

This CSR project took place yesterday as another step towards celebrating Sunlight's 125-year- long aspiration of illuminating the future of Sri Lanka.

Over its 125-year history Sunlight has gone beyond the functional space of providing homes and communities fresh clean clothes. The brand which has grown to become a household name has reached out and touched communities.

Apart from Sunlight Saubhagya project, Sunlight is also known for its other CSR activities such as recognizing unsung heroes in the society and rewarding them.

Many wells have been constructed in remote villages, giving those communities and schools an opportunity to experience the freshness of clean water and sunlight in their lives. Not only have these projects helped to improve the overall standard of lives of people but also become a source of strength and encouragement to all people since early 1900. Sunlight has been voted as the 'FMCG Brand of the Year'. Sunlight also won the award for the 'Youth Brand of the Year'. Always deriving its strength through a strong emotional equity with the consumer through trust and heritage, adding vitality and a ray of sunshine to life.

The trust and confidence of its consumers have played a key role in the success of the brand. For the Sri Lankan consumer, Sunlight is much more than laundry soap and is inextricably linked to their life in many ways.

SLT enlightens Kandy schools

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) in collaboration with the Asia Foundation conducted book distribution program at the Mahamaya Girls' School, Kandy recently. Under the program 1,295 books were distributed to 37 schools in the Kandy district.

Minister of Public Administration Sarath Amunugama, Chairperson - Sri Lanka Telecom Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Deputy Chief Corporate Officer-Sri Lanka Telecom Mrs. Vijitha Ratnayake, Director - Books for Asia Program Anton Nallathamby, Chairman, National Book Development Council Gunasena Withana and the Principals of the schools were also present.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Sri Lanka Telecom in collaboration with the Asia Foundation has persisted in its efforts to enhance child, adult and professional education in the island, having embarked on this program in 2004.

The "Spreading the wealth of knowledge" initiative falls under one of Sri Lanka Telecom's major corporate social responsibility (CSR) themes, Sri Lanka Telecom has been committed to fostering education and this program allowed the Company to play a catalytic role in addressing the needs of primary, secondary, tertiary and professional education sectors in the country.

Around 120,000 books are distributed each year, on a wide variety of subjects ranging from Science, Geography, Engineering and English language to Arts and Culture. This year, 130,000 books are planned to be distributed of which 73,000 books have already been distributed upto July.

HNB donates water tanks to IDPs

Following the visit of the Senior Corporate Management team led by R. Theagarajah, Managing Director, to the IDP camps in Vavuniya, it was identified that providing water tanks with adequate capacity and in numbers was an essential need for those living in the camps in the Wanni District.

Although the Bank had taken many previous initiatives to supply food, clothes and medicine and provide mobile banking services for the IDPs, it was strongly felt the Bank should support the efforts of the Government and the Water Board to provide more outlets in the IDP camps, the basic need of water.

Under Phase I of the project, 50 tanks with stands were provided to the IDPs through the Government Agent, Vavuniya and the Water Board - twenty tanks of 5,000 litres each and the others 2,000 litres each.

The ceremonial handing over of the tanks took place recently at the Government Agent's Office, Vavuniya. The Chief Financial Officer of Hatton National Bank, Nihal Kekulawela presented the first tank to the GA of Vavuniya Senior officials of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board were also present.

The Water Board assured that all 50 tanks would be placed in the IDP camps during the ensuing month.

The CFO of the bank said this is yet another initiative coming under the CSR project of the bank and he felt that this donation is very crucial taking into consideration the current scenario. He said depending on the need, the bank would provide more water tanks and would continue to provide other means of assistance.

The Government Agent, Mrs Charles, thanked the HNB for the timely assistance and acknowledged the support the bank has been rendering over the past few weeks. The senior officials of the NWSDB also thanked the HNB for the initiative taken in providing the IDPs with the water tanks.

Arpico helps IDPs

Richard Pieris and Company (Arpico) has been helping to build Sri Lankan lives and communities for over 75 years.

During its illustrious history, Arpico has proudly borne witness to the many achievements and successes of our island.

The country's recent victory over the LTTE resulted in a spontaneous outpouring of joy that reflected the nation's relief over the end of 25 years of terrorism.

This elation has, however, been tempered by a sobering account of the rebuilding that lies ahead.

When the government requested assistance for the IDPs, Chairman Dr. Sena Yaddehige promptly responded by identifying the most pressing needs of the thousands of displaced persons and providing custom-made solutions. Towards that end, the company has donated a large number of essential items, such as specially-made 500-litre dustbins, Arpico mattresses, plastic chairs, plastic buckets, water tanks, household durables, clothing and many more, worth a total of over Rs. 5 million.

A convoy consisting of 10 trucks set out to Vavuniya with these supplies, making stops at Arpico's Kurunegala, Dambulla, and Anuradhapura showrooms, where they were welcomed by employees as well as the general public and partook in religious ceremonies to bless their journey.

Upon reaching Menik Farm in Vavuniya, where the majority of IDPs are housed, the Arpico team was received by the Competent Authority, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri and his staff.

Sampath 'VISA Shop & Cash'

Sampath Bank, constantly strives to provide the best for their loyal customers. In this regard, Sampath Bank now introduces an innovative new service to the Sri Lankan public, which is nothing short of a revolution in the sphere of banking. Called, VISA Shop & Cash, the new service is revolutionary in its very nature, as it allows the customer to shop and obtain cash at the same location. Undoubtedly, 'Shop & Cash' from Sampath Bank will enhance not only your banking convenience, but your shopping experience, as well.

The 'Shop & Cash' facility is available at any of the 120 Cargills Food City branches spread throughout the island, and all you must have is a Sampath VISA Debit Card or for that matter, any valid VISA Card. Funds can be thus obtained from Cargills Food City outlets during operational hours, on any day of the week. Industry watchers contend that the 'Shop & Cash' facility initiated by Sampath Bank will no doubt resonate well with the Sri Lankan public, and be a preferred service by many.

If you are a participating VISA cardholder all you have to do is purchase goods to the value of Rs. 500 from any Cargills Food City outlet and you can obtain up to Rs. 5,000 in cash per day from that very outlet. If you are a VISA debit cardholder the goods purchase value and the cash obtained would be directly debited to your Savings of Current Account.

If you are a Visa credit cardholder the goods purchase value and the cash obtained would be directly charged to your Visa credit card.

Accordingly, the 'VISA Shop & Cash' service is set to add unprecedented value to the lives of ordinary Sri Lankans, while 'a waste of time' will be a phrase of the past, especially when it comes to day-to-day banking, and especially considering that your banking and super-marketing needs can now be easily accommodated under one roof. And all you have to have to avail yourself of this fantastic service is to simply have a VISA Card.