Sri Lanka Business News | Online edition of Daily News

Thirteen fully-equipped computer training centres have been set up by the Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka during the past three months, as the Bank's CSR Trust stepped up the pace of its nationally-significant community to take IT education to schools.

Commercial Bank contributes up to 1% of its post tax profits every year towards its CSR Trust. It has donated IT labs to 22 schools across the island, and hopes to continue the programme in the years ahead.

The latest donation has benefited more than 6,000 schoolchildren, including under privileged children access to IT training. The Bank has donated IT labs complete with computers, chairs, tables, printers and other facilities such as air conditioning.

The recipient schools were Atchuvely Central College, Kamburupitiya Maha Vidyalaya, Karagoda - Uyangoda Navodya School - Kamburupitiya, the Sugathapala Godawaththa Junior School - Kamburupitiya, Kolonvinna Junior School - Moneragala, Ananda Vijaya Vidyalaya - Udugama, St. Mary's Sinhala Mix Vidyalaya - Bambalapitiya, Hiriwadunna M.V. - Kegalle, Hulugalla Kavisena M.V. - Nikaweratiya and Lamamithuru Model School - Ruwanwella.

The school for visual and hearing impairments in Ratmalana, the HBE Children's Home in Jaffna and the SOS Children's Village in Jaffna, also received computer facilities from the Bank.

Commercial Bank Deputy General Manager Marketing Hasrath Munasinghe said. "The donation of IT equipment to support the education of visually and hearing impaired children is most appropriate, as these children face many difficulties in their studies."

Among the schools in rural areas that has previously received donations of IT equipment from Commercial Bank are schools in Tangalle, Badulla, Nawalapitiya and Kataragama areas.

In addition to its commitment to provide IT education facilities, the other initiatives of the Bank's CSR Trust is the grant of annual scholarships to undergraduates, supporting health projects around the country and conducting programmes to upgrade English education.

COCA-COLA 'Say We Care' at Ragama

The 'Say We Care' Team of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd, handed over the newly renovated and refurbished Ward 06, to the Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital last week. The ward was handed over to the hospital.

Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapakse, the Minister of Health, Maithreepala Sirisena and other Ministers, alongside the Country Management Team of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka and the Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, of Coca-Cola Far East Limited, Abhishek Jugran. Pic Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

The fifth successive project by 'Say We Care' of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Ragama cost Rs. 3 million, funds were raised by the employees of the Coca-Cola Beverages Team. An event in particular that was organized as a fundraiser for the project was a Sinhala Classical Musical show "Susara Gee Sara". After consultation with the Hospital Administration, physiotherapists, architects and all recommendations taken into account; Ward 06 opens as an all new state of-the-art ward.

The sanitary systems, the activity areas and indoor therapy recreational activities, are structured and topped up with the 5S system for easy operations. Commenting on the opening, Country HR Manager - Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Limited, Nilanthi Jayatillake, stated: "The 'Say We Care' project is truly unique as it was set up solely on the initiative of our employees who have worked together to gather funds and implement the project.

It's very close to our hearts as we identified it when one of our employees went through residential treatment in this facility.

We have done our utmost in our capacity to ensure that the Ward is better equipped to uplift the lives of those in need of physical and mental rehabilitation."

'Say We Care' was started in 2007 and has completed projects at the Maharagama Cancer hospital, Ranaviru Sevana, Moragahapallama Vidyalaya, Ampara & Yabaraluwa Vidyalaya, Malwana.

The employees of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka has worked tirelessly to give back to society through the 'Say We Care' project by displaying the company's corporate values in the community.

The opening of the Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital being their 5th project is confident that it will pave way to create a positive impact on the lives of people within the Sri Lankan society through their voluntary work.

Mortein wraps up Dengue Awareness Campaign

'STOP Disease' campaign joins hands with Arpico Supercentres with "Help the Needy in the Prevention of Dengue" Project

Reckitt Benckiser's leading Household Insecticides brand, Mortein, joined hands with Arpico Supercentres for a dengue awareness and prevention campaign. Under the theme, "Help the Needy in the Prevention of Dengue", the project educated shoppers through the placement of leaflets, pennants and cut outs at Arpico Supercentres. These communication materials highlighted the dangers of dengue, prevention methods and general advice in the event of contraction, thereby disseminating invaluable information amongst shoppers. The project also gave shoppers the opportunity to donate funds to a dengue prevention campaign that benefited several children's homes in the country.

Surangi Fernando, Product Group Manager, Reckitt Benckiser, hands over a gift pack to the Suhada Lanka Children’s Home in Moratuwa. Devindri Hewabandula, Key Accounts Manager, Reckitt Benckiser, Rasika Abeysinghe, Assistant Key Accounts Manager, Reckitt Benckiser, Indika Nishantha, HR Manager, Richard Pieris Distributors, M. R. Saban, Customer Relationship Manager, Richard Pieris Distributors and Sajani Gunaratne, CRM Executive, Richard Pieris Distributors are also in the picture.

Under this campaign, the funds donated by shoppers were used to purchase Mortein, Dettol, Lysol and Harpic products that promote hygienic living space, thereby helping eradicate dengue as well as harmful germs that cause other diseases. Mortein's objective in joining hands with Arpico Supercentres was to gain maximum mileage out of the dengue awareness and prevention campaign, and reach out to one of the most underprivileged segments of society.

Speaking about the 'Help the Needy in the Prevention of Dengue' project, Reckitt Benckiser Product Group Manager Surangi Fernando stated, "This joint campaign between Mortein and Arpico Supercentres began during the dengue epidemic. This was an extension of interactive awareness programmes, conducted among the general public about the threat of dengue,

Calling the joint project a success, Richard Pieris Distributors Ltd. Customer Relationship Manager M R Saban said, "It pleases us that through this community service programme we were able to create awareness, a clean and hygienic locality and give the children at these homes an environment free of dengue and other diseases. We extend special thanks to our customers, who contributed to facilitate a healthy life for the children, and Mortein, our partner in this operation."

This year Mortein celebrated 25 years of trusted and powerful protection against household pests in Sri Lanka. Launched in 1986, Mortein was the first to locally manufacture coils in Sri Lanka, and pioneered the industry through a variety of products. Globally, the brand maintains leadership in household protection from pests.

SLIA Social Service Project 2011

Archt. Ranjan Nadesapillai, President of SLIA, offers an inmate a meal.

It was a happy day for the 110 inmates of the City Home for Elders and Children, Battaramulla - managed by the Colombo Municipal Council, when the Council and Staff of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects visited this home recently.

The inmates enjoyed a sumptuous lunch and tea with the Council and the staff of the SLIA and enjoyed watching a cartoon and a Sinhala movie.

The visitors mingled freely with the inmates talking and exchanging pleasantries. The SLIA presented 2 commode chairs equipment much needed by the elders of the home.

The visitors left behind lasting happy memories. The Social Service Project 2011 which was funded entirely by the willing contributions of the Council and Members and the Secretariat of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects.

LECS to refurbish Durayappah Stadium

The Minister of traditional industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, the Mayor of Jaffna Yogeshwari Pathgunaraja, together with Managing Director LECS Arjun Dharmadasa and Director LECS Imran Hassen.

Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS), Sri Lanka's premier award winning professional exhibition and conference service provider signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jaffna Municipal council recently.

The MoU provides for the refurbishment and maintenance of the Alfred Durayappah stadium in Jaffna.

The stadium named after the slain Jaffna mayor is located at the heart of Jaffna town and is considered a 'hub' for all events held in the district. The MoU which lasts for a duration of five years provides LECS with the opportunity to hold the region's premier trade festival 'The Jaffna International Trade Fair" at the Durayappah stadium during the period of the MoU.

The trade fair is the region's premier and most sought after exhibition by regional, local and international brands making it a pathway of crossing borders and creating new paradigms of trading within and outside the peninsula.

Watawala Plantation Enabling the differently-abled

The Vocational Training Centre at Kenilworth Estate Ginigathena a CSR project of Watawala Plantations PLC a subsidiary of Sunshine holdings PLC established in the year 1998 and came into operations from 2010 supports, individuals of many varying disabilities such as deafness, downs syndrome, bilateral polio, short stature and leg amputations.

The VTC recently displayed the products of the inmates at the Christmas sale held at the SLECC in December.

These individuals are trained to produce greeting cards, Christmas decorations, wall paintings, bed sheets with pillow cases, rubber bands, note pads, aprons, envelopes, eco-friendly paper bags and tea pouches. This initiative was implemented after the company identified the prevalent need to enhance the competencies of the differently-abled.

The VTC helps identify the hidden talents of the individual and provides them with an opportunity to make use of it creatively under the guidance and supervision of instructors skilled in art and hand crafting. The company also purchases and arranges the sale of these products, thus facilitating an income for the youth as well as the sustainability of this venture.

"This is now gradually becoming a self-sustained venture" says Sunshine Holdings Plc Head of Group HR Mahesh Jayasinghe. He adds, "The main objective of this project is to improve the quality of life of these personal and to make the differently abled, equally abled and to prepare them to live with dignity by sharpening their talents".

LOLC donates storage equipment