Business

INSEE Cement builds the next generation of Sustainability Leaders

Published

4 years ago

2022/12/30

INSEE Cement, Sri Lanka’s largest and leading construction solutions provider has focused on “long-term impact investments” by engaging and uniting schoolchildren behind the common goal of creating change in their communities.

With the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations recognizing children as ‘critical agents of change’, INSEE Cement has nurtured thousands of students in the Southern, North Western and North Central Provinces over the past few years.

“As industry leaders and responsible corporate citizens, it is our duty to support the future generation of this country by laying a strong foundation for them today, in the present, regardless of the challenges that we are facing as a country,” CEO and Chairman of INSEE Cement, Nandana Ekanayake stated.

Ekanayake said by encouraging students through knowledge and awareness on sustainable development, INSEE Cement is equipping them to become positive change agents in their local communities, and is helping them to leverage their knowledge and become the next generation of leaders for a sustainable future.

The company launched a comprehensive, long-term, group-wide strategy titled INSEE Sustainability Ambition 2030 and provided holistic education to students across the fundamental pillars of INSEE’s Sustainability Ambition 2030: i.e. Climate & Energy, Biodiversity & Water, Circular Economy, Community & Stakeholder Engagement, and Occupational Health & Safety.

Balancing environmental, social, and economic impact Under a large-scale tree-planting initiative 6,000 students aged between 5 – 15 from 28 schools in Anuradhapura and Puttalam Districts were educated on environmental best practices. The schools were provided over 10,000 fruit saplings to instill a sense of responsibility and urgency to addressing climate change.

Along with successful reforestation of over 87 hectares of the Aruwakkalu Quarry, the company initiated a monthly environmental mentorship programme in Wanathawilluwa. Each month, 25 young and aspiring environmentalists in six schools gather to understand environmental challenges and opportunities impacting Sri Lanka’s dry zone forests.

To address Municipal Solid Waste Management crisis, INSEE Cement provided several schools in Galle district with solid waste management facilities. Over 3,000 students and 180 teachers were trained on solid waste segregation by waste management experts from INSEE Ecocycle – INSEE Cement’s environmental services and waste management arm. The project was expanded several schools in Puttalam District as well.

For creating awareness on social issues number of sensitive topics and challenges were discussed including drug addiction and abuse among school children. Accordingly, an awareness campaign took place for over 500 school children, teachers and parents from 15 schools in Southern Province. Also, an awareness campaign on preventing child abuses was also held to commemorate Children’s Day, with the participation of 600 female students in 10 schools in Galle District.

INSEE Cement sponsored sports activities in eight Grama Niladhari Divisions in Puttalam District, focusing physical and psychological wellbeing of schoolchildren through sports, helping them develop leadership and social skills, discipline and competitive spirit. Over 400 children in Puttalam District are currently participating in INSEE-sponsored Cricket and Volleyball training activities.

The company partnered with Sri Lanka Police to train and certify 500 school traffic wardens to improve awareness on road safety rules and regulations among students, parents, and the school communities.

INSEE adopts a scientific methodology in conducting community-based sustainability engagements. A plant-level Community Advisory Panels (CAPs) were established to bring together community leaders, District Secretariat authorities, Grama Niladaris and an internal cross-functional INSEE team. CAP identifies and prioritizes projects that can make the most impact “example RO water filtration plant at Eluwankulama Sinhala School. Social Impact Assessments are carried out to measure the success of each project and obtain feedback from the communities.

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Business

ADB approves $100 million loan to boost skills development and jobs for youth in Sri Lanka

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million results-based loan to help Sri Lanka transform its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, equip more young people with industry-relevant skills, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness and inclusive growth.

The Skills Development System Transformation Program will support the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts in improving the quality and relevance of skills training, strengthening links between training providers and industries, and expanding employment opportunities for youth. The program will increase women’s employment opportunities in nontraditional jobs in fields including automotive technology, engineering, information and communications technology, construction, and renewable energy.

“A skilled workforce is essential to Sri Lanka’s long-term economic transformation and competitiveness,” said ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin. “This program will help create stronger pathways from education to employment by making training more responsive to industry needs, expanding opportunities for young people and women, and ensuring that graduates have the skills required by a modern and evolving economy.”

Though Sri Lanka’s economy is recovering, it faces skills shortages in priority sectors, high youth unemployment, and low female labor force participation. Many employers report difficulty finding workers with the skills needed in a changing economy.

Aligned with the Government of Sri Lanka’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training Sector Strategic Framework 2026–2035, the nationwide program will be implemented from 2027 to 2031 and is expected to directly benefit more than 100,000 young people through improved access to quality, employment-oriented training.

Business

USD 40.84m pipeline to secure aviation fuel supplies to BIA

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Ifham Nizam

The government has cleared a USD 40.84 million and Rs. 8,548.75 million contract to build a dedicated aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), alongside a massive new fuel storage facility with a capacity of 92,000 cubic metres.

Energy Minister Anura Karunatilaka said the project represented a major investment in strengthening the infrastructure underpinning Sri Lanka’s aviation fuel supply and ensuring more reliable fuel availability at the country’s main international airport.

‘This project will provide the infrastructure required to strengthen the reliability and continuity of aviation fuel supplies to Bandaranaike International Airport, Karunatilaka said.

The contract has been awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited, following an international competitive procurement process in which three bids were received.

The project will see a new aviation fuel storage tank complex constructed at Muthurajawela, together with the associated infrastructure required for handling and transferring aviation fuel.

Business

CSE activity up, turnover weak at Rs. 1.4 billion

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/2

Thilina Walpola

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Trading activity on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) gathered pace yesterday as global fuel prices began to show signs of easing, according to market analysts.In this context, both indices moved upwards. All Share Price Index up by 67.97 points while S and P SL20 up by 8.30 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 1.4 billion with seven crossings. Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank 1.7 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 238 million and its share price traded at Rs 140, Access Engineering two million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 159 million and its share price traded at Rs 79.50, LOLC one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 129 million and its share price traded at Rs 129, HNB 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 38.4 million and its share price traded at Rs 384, JKH 1.9 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 35 million and its share price traded at Rs 18.60, Hayleys 100,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22.50 million and its share price traded at Rs 225 and Richard Pieris 847,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22 million and its share price traded at Rs 25.50.

In the retail market top seven companies that have mainly contributed to the turnover were Sampath Bank Rs 114 million (813,000 shares traded), JKH Rs 100 million (5.3 million shares traded) LB Finance Rs 49 million (325,000 shares traded), HNB Finance Rs 30 million (27 million shares traded), HNB Rs 27 million (70000 shares traded), NTB Rs 25 million (82000 shares traded ) and Lanka IOC Rs 21 million (666,000 shares traded). During the day 65 million shares volumes changed hands in 10433 transactions.

The Banking and manufacturing sector counters performed well. In the banking sector Sampath Bank let the market while manufacturing sector especially JKH also significantly performed well. With the fuel revision Land IOC also a significant stock at the floor.

Meanwhile, First Capital Treasuries said that Ramesh Schaffter resigned as a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from October 1, to facilitate the restructuring of the company’s board.

Yesterday the Central Bank announced the US Dollar rate as against rupee. The rupee was quoted flat at Rs 330.65/80 to the US dollar in the spot market , while bond yields dropped, dealers said.