Stressing the importance of the private sector in the economic development of the country, Prof S B S Abayakoon, Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya Universtity says Nestle acts as a bridge between two oganisations (Peradeniya University and the Ministry of Education) that will benefit the children.
He was speaking at the signing of the MOU between Peradeniya University and Nestle Lanka Plc last week in Colombo which would facilitate the joint implementation of the 'Nutrition Awareness Programme' primarily for rural school children, in grades 7 to 11 (13 to 17 years).
Following the company's philosophy of ‘Creating Shared Value’ this awareness programme is non-commercial and non-branded. The MOU was signed by Prof Abayakoon and David Saudan, Managing Director, Nestle Lanka Plc.
Prof Abayakoon said that in like manner bridges are needed between government departments and between these departments and the people and the private sector should be called in to bridge these gaps.
He said that only three percent of the student population is selected to University annually but the entire nation irrespective of whether any member of their families benefited by the educational services in the country are paying for that three percent. Therefore, he said that they are duty bound to do some service to this larger section of the population and the present programme is one such programme that benefits the people of this country.
Mr Saudan said that they look after the interests of the shareholders of the company and the society at large on the principle of shared value maintained at sustainable levels. They are involved in areas such as rural people development, providing clean water and nutrition. As their commitment to rural development they now collect 40 million litres of fresh milk from 13,000 farmers, everyday and have drawn up a programme to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in milk production.
Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education who was the Chief Guest at the occasion endorsed the view of Prof Abayakoon that they should get the private sector more and more involved in bridging gaps. He said that the government has launched a nutrition programme for the primary school children at a cost of Rs 1250 million where children are provided with food such as green gram, rice and curry, eggs, etc and this programme has increased the attendance of the primary students from 75 % to 95 %.
This nutrition programme that will be first be initiated in selected schools in Pannala, Kandy and Seruwawila would then eventually be enlarged to cover the entire country. |
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