Sustainability, ESG & Corporate Responsibility
View all(44)MAS Femography and Selyn Foundation Expand #BleedGood Initiative for 2026 📈
• Strategic Partnership: MAS Femography (FemTech) and the Selyn Foundation have renewed their collaboration to combat period poverty in Sri Lanka through the #BleedGood movement, focusing on women’s well-being and climate-conscious menstrual dignity. • Core Objectives: The 2026 initiative utilizes a four-part model involving the distribution of medical-grade reusable apparel solutions, hygiene education by health practitioners, male advocacy sessions, and climate impact awareness. • Economic & Social Impact: • Focused on reducing long-term costs for women and girls, addressing "unmet needs" exacerbated by Sri Lanka’s recent economic challenges. • Promotes sustainability by transitioning to reusable products, reducing environmental harm compared to disposable alternatives. • Features a robust monitoring framework to inform national policymaking on menstrual equity. • Sector Leadership: Leveraging MAS’s expertise in manufacturing science-backed solutions for menstruation and menopause, the program has evolved from a 2020 crisis response into a multi-stakeholder movement. • Global Footprint: Beyond Sri Lanka, the initiative is piloting programs in Afghanistan and Bangladesh, aiming to set global standards for the apparel & textiles sector in humanitarian contexts.
Global Expert Calls for Transformation of Sri Lankan Capitalism Through Impact Investing 📈
The first-ever Lanka Impact Investment Summit 2026 highlighted a shift toward "activating the invisible heart of the market," urging Sri Lanka to evolve its financial ecosystem beyond traditional models. • Investment Growth: Japan’s impact investment assets surged from US$ 200 Mn in 2016 to US$ 115 Bn in 2024, providing a blueprint for rapid scale-up in emerging markets. • Ecosystem Development: Success depends on coordination between government, finance, and civil society. Japan successfully unlocked US$ 1 Bn annually from dormant bank accounts for social investment via legislative reform. • Strategic Focus: The summit emphasized that impact investing is vital for addressing social challenges—such as aging populations and fiscal deficits—that government funding alone cannot solve. • Opportunities for Sri Lanka: Experts urged the local financial services sector and ICT/BPM social innovators to collaborate with the global GSG network (spanning 50+ countries) to mobilize private capital for development. • Global Alignment: Recent regulatory shifts, including those in JICA, are now enabling greater private capital mobilization, offering Sri Lanka a pathway to integrate into the global impact economy.
Illegal Construction of Jaffna Cricket Stadium on Mandaitivu Island Halted by WNPS Demands 📉
The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) has issued a strong condemnation against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for commencing construction of the proposed Jaffna International Cricket Stadium without mandatory legal approvals. • Legal Violations: Construction began without an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), violating the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980. • Environmental Sensitivity: The site on Mandaitivu Island comprises critical ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coastal wetlands near the Mandaitivu Mangrove Reserved Forest. • Economic & Climate Risks: • The area is a natural flood-retention zone (flooded in 2012, 2017, and 2025); the project is flagged as a potentially "wasteful investment" due to high maintenance and flood risks. • Threatens the livelihoods of local families dependent on small-scale fisheries sustained by these habitats. • Current Status: Despite formal notifications to regulatory authorities regarding earth-moving machinery on-site, no decisive action has been taken to halt the "unlawful" activities. WNPS emphasizes that large-scale development in this region weakens natural coastal defenses and sets a dangerous precedent for institutional transparency and environmental law adherence.
Abans Environmental Services Achieves Industry-First Ethical Benchmark 📈
Abans Environmental Services Ltd. has become the first company in Sri Lanka’s facility services sector to achieve SEDEX membership and align with the SMETA audit framework. This milestone, verified by Control Union, establishes a new national standard for ethical and sustainable operations. • Key Achievement: First Sri Lankan facility services provider to meet global SMETA standards for labor, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. • Company Profile: Part of the diversified Abans Group (est. 1985), providing janitorial, pest control, and facility management across commercial and public sectors. • Workforce Impact: Strengthens governance and workplace safety for the sector’s largest technology-enabled workforce, promoting fair labor practices and employee welfare. • Strategic Value: Enhances transparency and ESG compliance, aligning Sri Lankan services with global supply chain expectations for international partners.
Marks and Spencer Donates Rs. 4.7 Mn to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund 📈
Global retailer Marks and Spencer has contributed to national recovery efforts through a significant financial donation to the Government’s dedicated fund. • Contribution Details: A total of nearly Rs. 4.7 million was donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund. • Key Representatives: The donation was formalized at the Presidential Secretariat by Marks and Spencer General Manager Rifat Arman and Regional Manager Shabry Aher. • Official Handover: The cheque was received by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, in the presence of senior company officials. • Context: This move underscores the involvement of the apparel & retail sector in supporting national stabilization and development initiatives during the recovery phase.
Policy Focus: "Clean Sri Lanka" vs. Street Economy 📈
The Clean Sri Lanka initiative, launched in early 2025 with an allocated budget of Rs. 6,500 Mn for 2026, faces a critical junction between environmental goals and the survival of the informal retail sector. Recent enforcement in Nuwara Eliya and Kandy highlights the tension between urban "beautification" and the livelihoods of low-income vendors. • Overall Economic Context • The program aims for a holistic transformation of social, environmental, and ethical standards across all sectors. • Budget 2026 emphasizes "Clean Sri Lanka" as a pillar for boosting tourism and "green jobs." • Despite a 5% GDP growth and stabilized inflation, essential costs remain high for daily wage earners. • Sectoral Impact: Street Trading & Retail • Pavement vendors in Nuwara Eliya report being cleared ahead of high-profile visits and the upcoming "April Season." • In Kandy, a total ban on street vending was implemented on Jan 1, 2026, to ensure "public convenience." • Vendors offer essential goods (apparel, electronics, vegetables) at fractions of mall prices (e.g., torches at Rs. 2,000 vs Rs. 8,000), serving as a vital "poverty buffer." • Key Concerns & Observations • Informal economy: Risk of excluding small-time traders in favor of large Colombo-based businesses during peak tourist seasons. • Livelihoods: Sellers note that the "cleanliness" drive often equates their presence with "litter," despite the lack of alternative trading infrastructure. • Diversification: Critics urge linking poverty eradication to the initiative to ensure "Clean Sri Lanka" does not marginalize the working class.
## 📈 Atlas SipSavi Initiative Combats School Dropout Rates
The Atlas SipSavi Christmas Promise has successfully concluded a nationwide intervention to support education, addressing the critical issue of approximately 22,000 children dropping out of school annually in Sri Lanka due to economic hardships. • Core Impact: The initiative operated on a "1-for-1" model where Atlas matched every book donated by the public with a new book, effectively doubling the total educational aid distributed to underfunded schools. • Strategic Intervention: The project targeted schools in regions facing severe economic challenges to provide essential learning materials, which often act as a primary barrier to education for low-income families. • Socio-Economic Goal: Beyond material aid, the program serves as a direct effort to reduce the national dropout rate and support the education sector, ensuring that financial constraints do not impede a child's right to schooling. • Community Engagement: The initiative leveraged a collective social model, mobilizing individuals and families to contribute to the long-term resilience of the country's future workforce through the stationery and educational supplies industry. _Summary based on official project report and provisional impact data._ ---
IFAC President Commends CA Sri Lanka’s Leadership in Sustainable Finance 📈
• Overall Leadership: The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) President, Jean Bouquot, lauded the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) for its proactive role in adopting global standards, positioning the nation as a model for corporate accountability. • Sustainability Reporting: Key focus was placed on the implementation of SLFRS S1 and S2 (adapted from IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards). This move is aimed at reducing regulatory fragmentation and enhancing Sri Lanka’s sustainable finance ecosystem. • Strategic Standards: A call to action was issued for the local profession to adopt the ISSA 5000 assurance standard to ensure high-quality, consistent sustainability disclosures and maintain market competitiveness against non-professionals. • Digital Transformation: The shift from "scorekeeping to strategy" via AI was highlighted. Professionals were urged to enhance digital literacy and address risks such as cybersecurity and bias to redefine the role of the accountancy sector in the digital age. • Partnerships: The 50-year partnership between CA Sri Lanka and IFAC remains a pillar for economic growth and ethical integrity, supported by collaborations with government and donor agencies to build expertise in both public and private sectors.
New Anthoney’s Farms Partners with University for Antibiotic-Free Verification 📈
• New Anthoney’s Farms Ltd has signed a landmark 5-year MoU with the University of Peradeniya to establish independent third-party testing for its poultry production. • This makes New Anthoney's the first and only poultry producer in Sri Lanka to submit its entire production cycle to scientific verification by an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited university laboratory. • The partnership aims to provide laboratory-proven evidence of the company’s "100% antibiotic-free" claims, addressing global concerns over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which is projected to cause US$ 100 Tn in economic losses by 2050. • Key operational highlights: Production Standards: Uses probiotics, essential oils, and superior biosecurity instead of antibiotics (since 2018). Sustainability: First in South Asia to adopt the Sustainable U.S. Soy label; features 100% compostable packaging via its HarithaHari brand. Compliance: Holds FSSC 22000 and ISO 14064-1:2018 greenhouse gas verification. • While the transition to antibiotic-free farming involves higher production costs and more rigorous health management, the move strengthens consumer trust and positions Sri Lanka’s livestock sector toward higher international safety standards.
## Sustainable Agriculture: Sri Lanka Urged to Adopt EIQ for Pesticide Safety 📈
A new framework for pesticide evaluation is being proposed to safeguard Sri Lanka's agricultural sector, moving beyond mere effectiveness and cost to prioritize environmental and human safety. • The Shift to EIQ The Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), developed by Cornell University, offers a scientific score to assess risks to farmers, consumers, and ecosystems. It targets a "triple-bottom-line" for farming: effectiveness, economics, and environmental safety. • Why it Matters for Sri Lanka • Tropical climate risks: High temperatures and heavy rain in the dry zone increase the risk of chemical runoff into irrigation canals and rivers. • Biodiversity protection: Aims to protect bees (pollination), fish, and soil health (earthworms) from chemical exposure. • Worker & Consumer safety: Reduces long-term health risks for rural farmers and ensures safer food for consumers by minimizing residues. • Field Application (EIQ-FUR) The Field Use Rating (EIQ-FUR) provides a practical measure by considering the actual application rate and active ingredient percentage. A score below 25 is generally considered a lower environmental burden. • Policy Recommendations The Department of Agriculture (DOA) is urged to integrate EIQ alongside existing WHO classifications to move toward sustainable food security and meet international food safety standards.
📈 Tess Agro Expands Renewable Footprint with Rs. 60M Solar Project
Tess Agro PLC has officially commissioned a 380 kWp rooftop solar PV project at its Kerawalapitiya warehouse, marking a significant step in the company's transition toward sustainable energy. • Project Details • Investment: Rs. 60 Million. • Capacity: 380 kWp (New) / 460 kWp (Total Aggregate). • Timeline: Connected to the national grid on 15 Jan 2026; load balancing completed 16 Feb 2026. • Operational Impact • Focuses on reducing high operational energy costs within the cold chain & seafood export sector. • Aims to lower carbon emissions in line with national renewable energy targets. • Supports long-term shareholder value through cost optimization and sustainability. • Economic Context • This expansion aligns with Sri Lanka’s broader push for renewable energy, contributing to the national grid’s stability and reducing industrial reliance on fossil fuels.
Shift from Production to Resilience: Sri Lanka’s New Food Security Priority 📈
Recent analysis by leading academics highlights that increasing agriculture output alone is insufficient for food security. Despite stable harvests, volatile prices and shortages persist due to systemic inefficiencies. • Key Systemic Gaps Climate Uncertainty: Unpredictable rainfall and floods are forcing farmers to prioritize short-term risk reduction over long-term productivity. Post-Harvest Losses: A significant portion of rice, fruits, and vegetables never reaches consumers due to poor handling, storage, and transport. Market Disconnect: Regional price spikes occur even during peak harvests due to weak rural-urban connectivity and disrupted supply chains. • Strategic Recommendations Infrastructure: Urgent need for cold-chain logistics and improved storage to reduce spoilage and maintain nutritional value. Value Addition: Scaling the food processing sector and ICT integration to improve market information flow. Systemic Resilience: Moving beyond "more food" to ensure food reaches people safely and consistently, mirroring models in Japan and the Netherlands. The shift toward a resilient food system is viewed as a national priority for economic stability and public health, moving beyond traditional short-term production targets.