Business
Revive mangroves degraded by shrimp farms
Wildlife and Nature Protection Society team-up with Hemas to
The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) in partnership with Hemas Consumer Brands commemorated World Wetland Day by planting mangrove seedlings in degraded areas within Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary in Puttalam, together with the local community.
“The planted seedlings were carefully nurtured and grown to adapt to conditions within the wetland in Nurseries within the surrounding mangrove habitats prior to being planted in the areas that are now demarcated for regeneration and around abandoned shrimp farms. Hemas Consumer Brands has committed to regeneration a 3.5 hectare area demarcated for regeneration,” a news release in this connection said.
The Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary spans over 1,397 hectares and is an amalgamation of forest wetlands like mangrove and freshwater swamps, coastal saltwater ecosystems and freshwater lakes. It is one of Sri Lanka’s six designated “Ramsar Sites”.
The release explained that mangroves form the foundation of a highly productive and biologically rich ecosystem which provides a home and feeding ground for a wide range of species, many of which are endangered. Although mangroves make up less than one percent of all tropical forests worldwide, they are highly valuable ecosystems, providing an array of essential goods and services which contribute significantly to the livelihoods, well-being and security of coastal communities. Mangroves are also Carbon Sinks and store up to four times the amount of CO2 than a tropical rain forest
In the past, mangrove restoration projects in the area often failed because local communities ended up destroying the mangrove habitats to establish fish and shrimp farms, a common and popular mode of income in the region with short term benefits for local fishing communities, it said.
“Understanding the importance of community participation and to inculcate a sense of stewardship, Professor Sevvandi Jayakody and her team of researchers together with the WNPS and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) have built close ties with members of the local community since the launch of the pilot phase of the project in 2018.
“Men and women from the local regions are actively involved in every stage of the project from maintaining the mangrove nurseries to mangrove replanting and by incorporating silvofisheries, a practice where mangroves are planted alongside shrimp farms, into rehabilitation efforts.”
Whilst restoring the environment, this initiative also provides job opportunities for locals who are impacted by the pandemic. The stakeholders will work closely with local communities in the management of mangroves post-rewilding to ensure the sustainability of the project and the deliverance of the amazing ecosystem services that this restored wetland could offer, it said.
The five-year programme was implemented by the The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) with technical expertise from the University of Wayamba and under the patronage of DWC, with financial support and active participation from Hemas Consumer Brands.
“The three agencies will work in close synergy, drawing on their complementary technical capacities to achieve concrete results in terms of sustainable management, restoration and conservation of the wetland,” the release explained.
Pelwatte Dairy, the leading local dairy brand in Sri Lanka that produces a range of dairy products and saves valuable foreign exchange, recently stepped into promoting a cornerstone in Sri Lanka’s culinary and hospitality sectors, the chefs of Sri Lanka.
The Chef Event held at Amagi Aria Hotel, Negombo, and organized by Pelwatte Dairy in partnership with the Chef’s Guild of Lanka, became a viable networking platform for the culinary experts while also giving a significant boost to their professional and skills development. The other partner of the event was the Amagi Aria Hotel.
SLT-MOBITEL Enterprise, the National ICT Solutions Provider, dedicated in their service to delivering best-in-class technology for the enterprise segment has signed a bilateral agreement with SriLankan Airlines with the support of Millennium IT ESP. The Managed Services Excellence event was held recently at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo.
Under this agreement, SLT-MOBITEL Enterprise will manage Service Solutions for SriLankan Airlines including Data Networking Services, Enterprise Business Internet Services, Wi-Fi Services including equipment and infrastructure, and Voice solutions.
“SLT-MOBITEL is proud to partner with SriLankan Airlines in delivering the best possible communication solutions. This partnership builds upon the strong history of collaboration between our two companies and demonstrates our shared commitment to serving Sri Lanka. By leveraging SLT-MOBITEL’s enterprise-grade services and solutions and Millennium IT ESP’s expertise, SriLankan Airlines will be able to operate more efficiently and better serve our country and its citizens,” said Janaka R. Abeysinghe, CEO of SLT.
Orient Finance PLC, a member of the Janashakthi Group, has received the prestigious Great Place to Work® Certification™ for the 2nd consecutive year reinforcing their position as a great workplace in Sri Lanka, and reflecting the company’s dedication to fostering a positive work culture for their employees who are considered the organization’s most valuable assets.
Great Place to Work® is an independent analyst that conducts anonymous employee surveys and culture audits to evaluate workplace practices and culture. Based on their analysis, they help organizations develop high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures that promote employee well-being and business success. To become certified, companies undergo a thorough vetting process that includes employee feedback, workplace policies, and practices. The Certification™ is based on a rigorous evaluation of company culture, which includes an assessment of trust, fairness, respect, and camaraderie in the workplace.
Orient Finance, as they celebrate this noteworthy achievement, also highlights the organization’s participation rate of 81% in the Great Place to Work® Trust Index© employee perception survey that indicates the commitment of their employees for engagement, and receptiveness to take action in order to build an exceptional workplace culture.
Orient Finance considers a supportive and optimistic work environment to be crucial to the success of the overall organization. Weighing on this, Director / Chief Executive Officer K.M.M. Jabir shared his thoughts: “Receiving the Great Place to Work® Certification™ for a second year has confirmed that our ongoing efforts to cultivate a thriving workplace culture have been successful. We are proud of this achievement, but we understand the importance of leveraging it to further improve employee experiences, engagement, and retention. We remain committed to fostering a positive and supportive work environment that encourages innovation and creativity, as we believe that this is crucial for any organization to succeed.”
Progressively, Orient Finance PLC has established itself as a customer-focused financial service provider that prioritizes innovation and offers exceptional products and customer service. With 31 branches across Sri Lanka, the company provides an array of tailored financial services which includes mobilization of Deposits, Savings Accounts, Leasing, Hire Purchase, Gold Loans, Alternative Finance Solutions, Corporate Financing and more.
The Company is a member of the Janshakthi Group, which operates in the finance, insurance, and investment sectors. The ‘Janashakthi’ brand embodies a strong culture of unity and collaboration, rooted in the Group’s values of ethics, honesty, transparency, performance, respect, and collaboration. The Group also promotes diversity and merit-based decisions as part of its growth culture initiatives, creating a vibrant and rewarding workplace for all employees.
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