Kanrich Finance’s Unique CSR Project Targets Reduction of Plastic & Polythene Usage at the Kandy Per

Bandula Sarath Kumara - Project Director (Pilisaru), Central Environmental Authority being handed over a token contribution of recycled garbage collection bags for the Urumaya CSR project by Hiranya Warnakulasooriya – Manager, Savings, Kanrich Finance and Manoj Wariyagoda - CSR Operational Manager, Kanrich Finance

One of Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing finance companies, Kanrich Finance, is launching a unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to promote the minimal use of plastic bottles and polythene bags during the annual perahera in Kandy. Deeply rooted within the community, Kanrich Finance regularly engages itself in sustainable activities that have a beneficial impact on society and environment. The CSR project titled Urumaya will be carried out in partnership with the Central Environmental Authority. As part of this initiative, the company will monitor the visitors to the Kandy perahera and encourage them to hand over their polythenebags and plastic bottles at the venue, so that they do not pollute the heritage city. This project is being carried out in response to the realization that the city of Kandy gets polluted with discarded plastic and polythene bags during the annual event, which is harming the rich bio-diversity of this historical location.

Kanrich Finance will distribute posters and leaflets in the run up to the perahera, to raise awareness amongst the public about the harmful effects of using plastic and polythene. Radio announcements will also be made to educate people about the need to minimize the polythene and plastic they bring with them to the perahera. In turn, the company plans to recycle the plastic and polythene collected at the venue. Kanrich CSR teams will be on hand for all five days at the perahera to collect plastic bags from visitors after the event. On handing over their plastic and polythene bags, people will be given coupons which they should preserve, as a raffle draw will be held each day and winners announced via radio and social media platforms.

Shiran Weerasinghe - CEO of Kanrich Finance commented, “We are proud to spearhead this CSR project in a heritage city like Kandy and that too at such a culturally important event such as the annual peraherawhich attract thousands of visitors from Sri Lanka and abroad. Our UrumayaCSR project is directed at preserving the bio diversity of the city and to protect the environment and the flora and fauna for future generations. As a company, Kanrich Finance is committed to sustainable operations and we are confident this intervention will raise awareness amongst people about the need to reduce use of plastics as they are non-biodegradable and harm the environment. This project is being propelled by the entire company staff and we hope to impact the environment and the community is a positive way with this initiative.”

Kanrich Finance Limited, with an over 45 - year history, is a fully fledged finance company offering deposits, savings, hire purchase, business, personal, education, mortgage and housing loans, micro credit, fixed deposits, welandawarama, leasing and hire purchasing, pawning, gold loans and real estate products. The company follows a triple bottom line sustainability philosophy of protecting people, planet and profits. The company is guided by its core principles and values and is forging ahead on a strategic path to achieve market leadership.