Business

A plastic intervention in Arugam Bay

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/3

The beach and the ocean are both idyllic escapes for many. It can appeal to one’s senses, from swimming in the sea to exploring sea life or pressing one’s feet against the wet beach sands. However, enjoying such pleasures becomes problematic when the beaches and ocean are polluted due to anthropogenic activities.

A study submitted to the Marine Pollution Bulletin in 2020 stated that factors contributing to Sri Lanka’s pervasive environmental issues stem from fisheries, mismanaged harbour operations, and tourism. There are people and organizations in Sri Lanka involved in mitigating and providing solutions to improper plastic waste management by reversing these misdoings.

Waste Less Arugam Bay (WLAB) is one such entity focused on building a green and sustainable tourist destination in Arugam Bay. Founded in 2018, Hendrik Konzok, founder and director of WLAB, was operating a manufacturing company, Rice and Carry, making bags and fashion accessories from upcycled materials. During this time, businesses and tourists in Arugam Bay suggested that WLAB upcycle discarded plastic bottles.

Henry and his team saw the value in collecting plastic bottles for recycling. WLAB was then established to educate and collect plastic waste disposed of improperly. “Tourism is one of the largest contributors to the waste plastic issue. The increase in plastic pollution in A’bay is due to the rise in the need for bottled water consumption by tourists,” stated Hendrik.

He also noted that before the COVID-19 outbreak, over 5000 tourists traveled to Arugam Bay per day. Henry’s team would find about 5000 – 15,000 PET bottles discarded irresponsibly onto roads and waterways. COVID-19 has drastically reduced the amount of PET waste discarded in Arugam Bay, owning to a drop in tourism and island-wide travel restrictions.

A WLAB truck is deployed every day to collect plastic from all across Arugam Bay. Waste is then brought back to the facility for bailing before sending it to Eco Spindles, Sri Lanka’s largest plastic recycler. Henry and other collectors like him also earn by handing waste plastics for the recycling giant. “WLAB is an intervention. We want to educate tourists on waste management so they know the importance of ensuring that plastic waste is disposed of properly. We are in the business of changing people’s behaviour through awareness,” noted Hendrik.

Tourists are shown how bottles are compressed before transportation. They are also invited to use the machinery at the WLAB facility to make products such as surfboard wax combs and key tags. These are made out of shredded and melted plastic bottle lids, which creates value perception.

Their mission to educate does not stop there. WLAB houses a water filtration system in their facility where tourists can refill their bottles. The bottle is placed on a balance, and when it is refilled to one litre, the balance tips. Then the opposite end of the balance shows that by filling a bottle, they have mitigated using seven litres of water, 200 grams of oil, and other resources needed to manufacture one PET bottle. “We noticed between 2018 and 2019 that businesses offering refills grew from 8 places to 20 places, which is great to see,” remarked Hendrik.

Knowing the value WLAB creates in Arugam Bay, Eco Spindles also provides recycled polyester yarn that WLAB sources to make tote bags out of recycled plastic. “Though we are still in the product development phase, we thank Eco Spindles for sending us polyester yarn to test. This provides opportunities to the cottage and village level industries in craft, to create jobs and build livelihoods,” praised Hendrik. Using discarded plastics, Eco Spindles produces value-added products. This includes polyester yarn for global apparel brands and monofilaments for some of the world’s biggest brush producers.

WLAB also looks at innovatively combatting pollution through a plastic credit system when plastic is collected by working with Pristine Ocean and Empower.eco. “Any company in the world with a plastic footprint who wants to become plastic neutral can measure how many kilos they are releasing to the environment. These companies can then buy the same amount of plastic to be removed from the environment through organizations like mine. This money then enables us to do commercial level beach clean-ups in Arugam Bay,” noted Hendrik.

This is the story of an organization that is educating and offering solutions to waste-related issues. The efforts of Henry’s team will be fruitless if strides are not taken to have stronger legislation. Corporations and people need to be held accountable for the mismanagement of plastic waste. Governments and local authorities must have proper infrastructure and incentives to improve the collection and disposal of plastic. We need to be conscious, and we need your support!

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Business

Asia-Pacific business leaders to accelerate sustainable business action

Published

11 hours ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

More than 200 senior business leaders, policymakers, investors, sustainability practitioners and United Nations representatives convened in Colombo on 11–12 August for Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026: Driving Business Leadership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth—the United Nations Global Compact’s flagship regional forum in Asia-Pacific.

Hosted by UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and organized by the UN Global Compact APAC Hub in collaboration with 14 Global Compact Country Networks, the forum strengthened regional collaboration and demonstrated the growing role of business leadership in advancing sustainable and inclusive growth across Asia-Pacific.

More than 80 high-level speakers from across the region contributed to the two-day programme, bringing together expertise from business, finance, government, the United Nations and civil society. The forum also convened an exceptional audience of CEOs, C-Suite, Board Directors, Heads of UN agencies and senior decision-makers, creating one of the region’s most significant platforms for cross-sector dialogue on sustainable business.

Across plenary dialogues, leadership panels and action-oriented workshops, participants explored the issues shaping the future of business in Asia-Pacific, including climate action, sustainable finance, gender equality, resilient supply chains, water stewardship, governance and integrity, digital innovation, human rights due diligence, circular economy solutions and ESG data for decision-making. Rather than focusing solely on ambition, Forward Faster Now challenged businesses to move from broad sustainability goals to target setting, practical decisions, stronger systems and action that can deliver progress at scale.

A defining milestone of the forum was the visit of Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. Her presence in Sri Lanka underscored the country’s growing role within the regional sustainability agenda and reinforced the importance of private sector leadership in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond the public programme, her visit included a series of bilateral engagements and strategic convenings with business and institutional leaders, deepening relationships and opening new avenues for engagement between the UN Global Compact and stakeholders in Sri Lanka.

The event also marked the launch of three significant initiatives by UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka that will extend the impact of the convening well beyond the event itself. The Responsible Business Coalition was introduced as a new partnership to embed sustainability, and strengthen governance by bringing together Sri Lanka’s leading professional and industry associations to embed the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into their existing convening, training and thought-leadership channels, moving responsible business from a standalone function to a shared C-Suite and Board responsibility.

Business

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General celebrates ‘One Team, One Vision’ sales excellence at Annual Awards 2025

Published

11 hours ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLICGL) team gathered to honour its top-performing sales professionals at the Annual Sales Awards 2025, held under the theme ‘One Team, One Vision’ on 20th August at the Monarch Imperial.

The evening convened sales leaders and high achievers throughout the island to celebrate a year of sustained performance, customer trust, and commitment which has kept SLICGL at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s general insurance sector.

Affirming SLICGL’s appreciation for the people driving success on the ground, the Sales Awards 2025 recognised those who went beyond targets, deepened client relationships, and contributed directly to the company’s continued expansion.

The event drew an unprecedented audience of over 700 participants. This year’s celebrations recognised a record number of winners, more than double the achievements honoured last year covering a diverse range of award categories reflecting excellence at every level of the business.

Nusith Kumaratunga, Chairman, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation graced the event as the Chief Guest together with the Board of Directors and senior management of SLICGL also present as invited guests, encouraging and commending the winners for their outstanding achievements.

The award winners at this year’s ceremony included Insurance Advisors, Marketing Executives, Branch Managers, Regional Managers, and members of the Head Office Sales Channels, who were recognised and celebrated for their outstanding achievements in multiple categories.

Business

Sri Lanka to host SEARIC Summit 2026 for the first time, welcoming over 500 youth leaders from across South East Asia

Published

11 hours ago

2026/08/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

(Left to Right: District Rotaract Representative of Sri Lanka and Maldives - PHF Rtn. Rtr. PP Dr. Jude Lucian, Chief Executive Officer of Destination Management Sector at John Keells Holdings PLC – Nalaka Amaratunga, SEARIC Summit Sri Lanka 2026 Chair – PDRR Akhila Wijetunga, Rotary District 3220 Governor of Sri Lanka and Maldives - Rtn. Kumar Sundararaj)

Sri Lanka is set to host the SEARIC Summit 2026 from 11 to 13 September 2026 at the Pegasus Reef Hotel, marking the first time the country will host the flagship regional gathering of the South East Asia Rotaract Information Centre (SEARIC).

Hosted by Rotaract in Rotary International District 3220 (RID 3220) – Sri Lanka & Maldives, the three-day summit is expected to bring together more than 500 delegates from six countries, creating a regional platform for leadership development, knowledge exchange, cultural understanding and collaboration among young leaders. The South-East Asia Rotaract Information Centre (SEARIC) serves as a regional platform connecting Rotaract districts across South East Asia. It facilitates collaboration, information exchange, cultural understanding and joint initiatives among Rotaractors across the region. The annual SEARIC Summit serves as the network’s flagship gathering, bringing together Rotaractors and Rotarians from participating countries for shared learning, fellowship, cultural exchange and collective growth.

Under the theme “The Role of Technology in the Future of Careers and Services,” SEARIC Summit Sri Lanka 2026 will explore the rapidly changing relationship between technology, careers, leadership and community service. As emerging technologies continue to transform industries and the way people work, the summit will provide a platform for young leaders to examine how technology can be used not only to prepare for the future of work, but also to strengthen the way communities are served. Across three days, delegates will participate in leadership and professional development sessions, discussions, cultural experiences, networking opportunities and community-focused programming, with the central theme reflected throughout the summit programme.

Beyond the Rotaract movement, the event also contributes to Sri Lanka’s broader positioning as a destination for international conferences, youth leadership programmes and regional collaboration. With hundreds of international delegates travelling to the country, the summit provides an opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s hospitality, culture and potential as a host destination for future international gatherings. The event further creates a platform for young leaders from across South East Asia to connect with Sri Lankan counterparts, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration.