The National Agribusiness Council (NAC), the apex organization for national agribusiness formally inaugurated the Society for Corporate Social Responsibility - Sri Lanka (SCSR – SL), on the 18th May 2004 at the Galle Face Hotel, promoting Sri Lanka’s prospects to be a Founder Member of the Corporate Social Responsibility Centre – Asia Pacific, joining Australia, Hongkong (China), Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, when it is formally launched in July this year in Singapore. This Society will be the national focal point, for Social Venture Network Asia, based in Bangkok and the Asia – Pacific CSR Centre to be based in Singapore.
The NAC, a conduit between the local agribusiness enterprises and the rural communities, established this Society for Corporate Social Responsibility – Sri Lanka to create an opportunity for corporates to access and assist the regional communities. The newly set up SCSR-SL will drive social and economic empowerment of the rural community by harnessing the strength and expertise of the corporate sector which is expected to provide technical know-how and equity for upliftment of the standard of living of the rural masses.
Further, this society will work as the coordinator to promote CSR between urban-based corporate sector and the rural based communities. The newly appointed Office Bearers of the SCSR – SL for the year 2004 – 2005 are as follows.
President - Mr. Mahendra Amarasuriya
Chairman, Joint Business Forum, Chairman, NAC
Vice President - Ms. Mano Alles
Director, Pan Asia Bank, Director, M/s.Vanik Incorporation Ltd.
Secretary - Mr. Kingsley Bernard
President, National Chamber of Exporters in Sri Lanka
Assistant Secretary - Mr. Mario de Alwis
Managing Director, M/s. MA’s Tropical Food Processing (Pvt) Ltd.
Treasurer - Mr. Aruna Weerakoon
Chairman / Managing Director, M/s. Agro Culture Trends (Pvt) Ltd.
Assistant Treasurer - Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne
Managing Director, M/s. Green Agro (Pvt) Ltd.
Council Members
Mr. Suresh Tissaratchy - Corporate Brand Manager
M/s. Ceylon Tobacco Company Ltd.
Mr. Lasantha Abeywickrama - Director / Senior Consultant
M/s. MIT Consulting
Mr. Nalin Attygalle - Marketing & Management Consultant
Management Committee Member
Federation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka
Mr. Laksiri Wickramage - Director
M/s.Ceylon Cold Stores (Distributors) Ltd.
Mr. S. Muthusammy - Managing Director
M/s. Lanka Organics Ltd.
Mr. Upali Gangoda - Chief Executive Officer
Hayleys Agro Products Ltd.
Ms. Yvette de Silva - Director
M/s. Kahawita de Silva & Associates (Pvt) Ltd.
Board Member, Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Ms. Neela Marrikar - Managing Director
M/s. Grant McCann Erickson
The inaugural meeting was well attended over 60 top executives from the corporate sector. The participants also resolved to promote all corporates to form the Society for Corporate Social Responsibility – Sri Lanka.
