Kelani Cables’ successful CSR programme extended for another 5 years
View(s):
Mahinda Saranapala, Director/CEO, Kelani Cables PLC (centre-right) with Prof. Upul B Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya and officials from both organisations
‘Kelani Saviya’, said to be an award winning CSR programme of Kelani Cables PLC, that was scheduled to conclude in 2017 has been extended for another five years due to popular demand.
An MOU with regard to the extension was signed between Mahinda Saranapala, Director/CEO, Kelani Cables PLC and Prof. Upul B Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya University at the Peradeniya University Vice Chancellor’s office in Kandy.
Kelani Cables PLC, Sri Lanka’s number one brand in secure electrical and communication cables, has been conducting this programme in association with the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University since 2007.
Its brainchild, Prof. J.B. Ekanayake of the Peradeniya University, says that ‘Kelani Saviya’ is the first-ever CSR programme in Sri Lanka initiated by a local university in association with a private organization.
The programme enhances skills of self employed electrical technicians to be professionals and grooms school leavers to be skilled electricians. The only criteria for enrolment is to have GCE ordinary level qualifications.
‘Kelani Saviya’ was commissioned in 2007 following a MOU between Prof. S B S Abeykoon, former Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya and Hemantha Perera, former Managing Director of Kelani Cables PLC .
The programme was to end in 2012 but was extended till 2017.
Present at the latest extension event were Anil Munasinghe, General Manager – Sales, Kelani Cables PLC; Upul Mahanama, General Manager – Operations; Channa Jayasinghe, Brand Development Manager, Asitha Sumanesekera; Manager – Human Resources, Chaminda Waidyatilleke; Sales Manager, Devinda Lorensuhewa; Sales Manager (Exports) and Suranga Pathirana, Business Manager (Projects).
In the past 10 years over 500 students have participated in this one-year training programme and most of them are now employed here and abroad as skilled electricians. Some have become successful businessmen.
In a media release, Mahinda Saranapala, PLC Director/CEO, Kelani Cables PLC said; “We pay our gratitude to the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University for conducting this fully fledged training program. ‘Kelani Saviya’ is the only training programme in the country which offers internationally recognized university certificates to the successful candidates who have only GCE ordinary level education”.
The company has also extended this progamme to the Northeast of the country in collaboration with the University of Jaffna and now intends extending it to other local universities as well.
Prof. Upul B Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya University said, “I see the extension of the programme for another five years as a noble service rendered towards building the nation”.