Expolanka partnership with UNDP to mark World Water Day

Expolanka Holdings PLC worked in partnership with the UNDP, Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy and other volunteers to mark the World Water Day 2013, the “Every Drop Matters” (EDM) Sri Lanka Project by organizing events keeping to this year’s WWD theme “Every Drop Matters”.

A series of events were held at the Kelani River Basin in Biyagama. Every Drop Matters is an ongoing UN project that focuses on ‘empowering communities through water’ by creating awareness and educating people on widespread water and sanitation related problems faced by our era.

They also provide a platform for communities and organizations to facilitate technologies and best practices to find sustainable solutions on multitude of environmental issues related to water through participatory means.

The events included a corporate sector workshop to improve the understanding of water quantity and quality issues; foundation laying for the bio gas facility as a way to process solid waste, wastewater and toilet waste that otherwise harm the quality of water; and the awareness and advocacy campaign with the volunteers to spread awareness on waste, water and health and collection of CFL bulbs, plastic, e-waste and unused medicine.

“When we talk about waste we focus our attention on municipal waste.

We do not pay adequate attention on the potential threat to us and the environment that are caused by the metals inside CFL bulbs and e-waste; gases released by burning plastic openly; and biological actions in the environment by unused medicine.

It is timely that the Every Drop Matters project together with the private sector has highlighted these potentially serious health hazards as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on its way to making it a better tomorrow” said Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Head of the UNDP Sri Lanka Environment and Disaster Management Programme.

Among the awareness activities, a street drama organized by the volunteers from Youth for Greener Sri Lanka on uses of water, poor water quality and health impact was a hit. Speaking about the project, Paddy Weerasekera Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications and CSR Expolanka Holdings PLC said “We go to great lengths to support and protect the environment in whichever way we can, and such projects as these are proof to our pledge towards creating a better tomorrow.

The commitment shown by everyone who was a part of this great project should be commended for their tireless efforts and the outcome was indeed a success”.

UN-Water declared the year 2013 as the year of “Water Co-operation”. EDM Sri Lanka’s initiative complimented the theme with its established partnerships by bringing together volunteers from government institutions, local authorities, private sector and the local community in Biyagamaarea which is one of the local authorities that nourishes from the Kelani River and home to many industries.

Weerasekera further added that “Expolanka Holdings PLC strives to be a leader in enhancing the long-term sustainability of the communities it operates. The CSR practices are integrated throughout the business operations delivering social, economic and environmental benefits to employees, communities and other stakeholders. Over the years the company has initiated several long term and short term CSR initiatives and we will continue to do so in the future”.

Expolanka Holdings has been responsible for a number of CSR initiatives and noteworthy mentions are: Expo Medix, a low cost medical clinic, free health camps & awareness programmes on health and diseases, degree scholarship programmes, disaster relief, infrastructure development, food programs and environmental initiatives, including Earth Hour and Environment Day activities.