Business
Outreach Projects empowers 87,000+ beneficiaries island wide
33,000+ beneficiaries supported through organic home gardening initiative, SADP
27,000 rural residents provided access to clean drinking water through 09 RO plants
1,000 budding entrepreneurs empowered through skills-based vocational training
26,000+ beneficiaries across other community initiatives
Outreach Projects (Guarantee) Limited, an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering local communities through purpose-led initiatives, continued its commitments and positively impacted over 87,000 beneficiaries island wide as at year-end 2022.
The calendar year saw Outreach Projects roll out a total of 170 projects in line with its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) roadmap. The company’s flagship CSI initiative, Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP), aimed at supporting economically vulnerable families achieve food security through organic home gardening and animal husbandry, impacted a total of 33,000 beneficiaries up to 2022. The programme was extended across Gampola, Walasmulla, Weligepola, Pilana, Bibile, Weligama, Thalawa, Agunukolapelessa, Dambulla, Hambantota, Matara and Kundasale, providing sustainable livelihoods to communities in these areas.
Outreach Projects also continued to support the nation’s combat against Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) through the ‘Suwa Jeewana’ initiative, by commissioning 9 Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification systems in remote communities. As a result, 27,000 residents across 6,750 families in Diyawinna, Welipathayaya, Aukana, Attanakadawela, Nikapitiya, Bakamuna, Kottapitiya, Baduluoya, and Meegellawa areas were facilitated access to clean drinking water during the year.
Senaka De Fonseka, Chief Operating Officer of Outreach Projects (Guarantee) Limited stated, “Since 2006, we have been on a mission to empower vulnerable communities achieve self-sustainability on many fronts. From aligning our projects with social issues that are identified as national priorities, to engaging with communities at the ground level to provide sustainable solutions, we are mindful of the critical role we play in uplifting lives and livelihoods of the socioeconomically challenged in Sri Lanka.”
He added, “With the recent addition of ‘Viyawasayakaya’, an initiative to provide skills-based vocational training scholarships in partnership with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) of Sri Lanka, we are empowering 1,000 budding entrepreneurs pursue high demand vocations with a qualification. We believe this will also contribute towards alleviating the burden on the national economy and bring in much-needed revenue to Sri Lanka at this critical juncture.”
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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