CBL Sahan Sevana moves to spacious new facility taking ‘Hope’ cookies to new levels
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‘Hope’ cookies being packed by staff
CBL Sahan Sevana, a project aimed at empowering the differently-abled to enable them to stand as equals and contribute towards the development of the country, recently moved its ‘Hope’ cookies manufacturing facility to a new location in Ranala, Kaduwela.
The new facility, which is more spacious than the previous factory was declared open by CBL Group Chairman Ramya Wickramasingha. Eighteen differently-abled individuals are employed at the new factory.
The new facility will continue to produce ‘Hope Cookies’ which comes in a variety of flavours; Peanut Cookies, Butter Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sesame Cookies and Coconut Cookies, the company said in a media release.
The employees of Sahan Sevana receive training on the various aspects of Artisan Cookie Manufacturing and cookies are manufactured under the expert guidance and supervision of CBL staff. A special team has been trained specifically to guide and train the differently-abled individuals while the entire manufacturing process is supervised to ensure highest standard of quality.
CBL provides premium standard raw materials for the manufacturing of ‘Hope’ cookies, and are responsible for the marketing and distribution of the product, which is available in all leading super-markets and grocery stores islandwide.
Commenting on the new facility, Samitha Perera, Director/CEO of CBL Foods International Pvt Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Ceylon Biscuits said: “CBL Sahan Sevana project shows that if a person has the right determination, he or she can work for a living under any health condition. The uniqueness of this project is that it is not just a CSR project created to help differently-abled people through sympathy but rather gives them an opportunity to be employed through their own talent. And we really value the happiness and strength this project brings to the employees and their family members.”
He explained that this is the main CSR project of the CBL Group and the company has already invested more than Rs. 30 million in this project and hope to expand it further to help many more differently-abled individuals to build their lives on their own.
Nishanthi Delph, Assistant Divisional Secretary for the Kaduwela divisional secretariat who provided assistance for the development of the new facility said that the efforts taken by the CBL Group to help these individuals to build their lives rather than letting them feel helpless and being put down by society is a very valuable service.
A mother of an employee at Sahan Sevana too remarked that there is a remarkable improvement in the lifestyle and behavior of her child after commencing work.