Sustainability, ESG & Corporate Responsibility
View all(37)📊 TikTok Moderation: Sri Lanka & Global Q1 2026 Metrics
TikTok's Q1 2026 Transparency Report reveals strict enforcement trends, highlighting a heavily automated approach to digital safety and platform integrity that directly impacts local user engagement. • Sri Lanka Enforcement: A total of 441,089 videos were removed in Sri Lanka (accounting for ~0.5% of local uploads). Highlighting rapid moderation, 99.1% were caught proactively before any user report, and 95% of those were deleted within 24 hours. A total of 20,051 videos were restored upon review. • Global Content Moderation: Globally, 184.01 Mn videos were removed (~0.5% of all global uploads). Automated detection tech spearheaded this, wiping out 178.01 Mn videos. Conversely, global comment removals spiked to 237.51 Mn (up from 218.79 Mn in Q4 2025). • Account & Policy Breakdowns: TikTok purged 86.28 Mn fake accounts and 25.76 Mn suspected underage accounts worldwide. Major global policy violation triggers for video takedowns included: - Sensitive/mature themes: 18.6% - Dangerous activities: 16.5% - Body exposure/sexualized behavior: 12.9% - Safety & civility standards: 12.6% - Edited media & AI-generated content (AIGC): 2.1%
🌾 Climate-Agri Advisory Boosts Sri Lankan Rice Yields
A five-year collaboration between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Sri Lanka’s Department of Agrarian Development has successfully scaled an Agro-Climate Advisory Lab in Nagollagama, Kurunegala, significantly boosting agriculture productivity. • Key Impact & Yield Figures: Supported farmers harvested 226 kg more rice per acre, securing an extra Rs. 27,100 (~US$ 82) in income per acre. An intensive cohort utilizing climate-resilient paddy seeds from CIC Holdings saw an increase of 390 kg per acre, yielding Rs. 46,800 (~US$ 141) in additional income against just Rs. 6,000 (~US$ 18) in input costs. • Massive Scale-up: The program expanded 100-fold in a single year, moving from a small pilot to disseminating over 125,000 localized, twice-weekly SMS advisories to nearly 10,000 farmers during the 2026 Maha season. • Institutionalization & Regional Potential: Backed by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and CGIAR, the model transitioned from a pilot into a permanent institutional structure under the Department of Agrarian Development. Due to its success, neighboring service centers in Mahawa and Polpithigama have requested replication, and IWMI is now positioning Nagollagama as a model for South-South learning in Zambia and Pakistan.
📈 Beira Lake Restoration: Short & Long-Term Cleanup Plan Launched
A high-level joint meeting between State and non-State stakeholders at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple has established an immediate and sustainable action plan to clean and beautify Colombo's historic Beira Lake. Immediate Mechanism: Prominent businessman and engineer Nahil Wijesuriya has agreed to sponsor an immediate short-term intervention focused on flushing the lake utilizing sea water to refresh its critical condition without delay. Long-Term Strategy: Lasting environmental restoration and development projects will be financed through current Government Budget allocations. Execution will be synchronised across key State bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Urban Development Authority (UDA), and Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC). Economic Context: Situated at the heart of the capital, the ongoing pollution of Beira Lake directly impacts the tourism sector, public health, the urban environment, and overall social wellbeing. This collective initiative aims to restore the ecological, aesthetic, and economic value of this central landmark.
From Discarded Fish Waste to Dollar Earnings 📈
A BOI-approved venture, Yesol Lanka in Puttalam, is transforming local environmental waste into an export success story, turning discarded fish-processing by-products into premium animal feed ingredients. • Investment & Operations: Backed by a US$ 3 million investment on a 50-acre site in Madurankuliya, processing up to 100 metric tons of fish waste daily. It pays local fishermen and waste collectors Rs. 20–30 per kg for raw materials. • Export Earnings: Generates US$ 2 million to US$ 2.5 million annually by exporting 30,000 to 35,000 metric tons of fishmeal, fish oil, and fish paste. A key buyer includes CP Company of Vietnam, a global leader in shrimp farming. • Employment & Environment: Directly employs 45 people alongside extensive indirect jobs. The factory has achieved 100% Green Project status by using recyclable IBC boxes and plastic pallets. • Market Potential: The venture capitalizes on the global fishmeal and fish oil market, valued at US$ 9.9 billion in 2026. While Sri Lanka lands 480,000 to 530,000 metric tons of fish annually, it currently exports less than 3% as processed marine ingredients, signaling massive room for sector growth and economic diversification.
Sri Lanka’s EcoBonus Proposal: Turning Plastic Waste into Economic Value 📈
• The Concept: A proposed EcoBonus-Driven PET Bottle Recycling Ecosystem aims to transform Sri Lanka's plastic pollution crisis into a circular economy model. Citizens depositing PET bottles at designated hubs receive digital wallet credits redeemable for utilities, retail discounts, or transport benefits. • Infrastructure & Scaling: Inspired by a practical 800 kg/hour semi-automated PET facility model in Tajikistan, the framework advocates for a decentralized network of regional aggregation centers rather than massive centralized plants. This model lowers transportation costs and boosts efficiency. • Three-Stage Value Chain: 1. Community collection and digital reward issuance. 2. Regional aggregation centers for sorting and cleaning. 3. Processing facilities converting bottles into high-quality PET flakes for packaging materials, apparel & textiles, and industrial products. • Economic Impacts: The initiative aims to drive job creation across collection and technology platforms, reduce dependence on imported raw materials to conserve foreign exchange reserves, and position Sri Lanka as a regional exporter of certified recycled PET products to build green economy credentials. • Social & Environmental Goals: Promotes behavioral change via digital reward gamification for youth and schools, provides supplementary income for low-income households, and reduces plastic leakage into rivers and marine ecosystems to protect fisheries and tourism.
Workplace Inclusion Gap: Presence vs. Power in Sri Lankan Corporations 📈
A new UN Women and MAS Holdings study highlights that while Sri Lanka’s female political and board representation is rising, a severe gap remains in transforming this presence into leadership authority within the national workforce. • Overall Labor Dynamics: Women constitute over 50% of Sri Lanka's population but represent only 31.3% of the active labor force. This stagnation persists despite the country's high female literacy and strong human development indicators. • The Seniority Squeeze: Workforce representation drops drastically along the corporate ladder. While women comprise roughly 40% of entry-level positions, they account for only 20% of senior management roles. • Institutional & Board Breakdown: • Listed company board seats held by women surged from 8.4% in 2024 to ~30% in 2025. • Local government female representation rose from 2% to 22%. • Parliamentary seats held by women stand at just 9.8%. • Sector & Structural Barriers: Despite massive female employment in key drivers like the apparel & textiles sector, progression into ultimate decision-making remains restricted. Leadership in high-authority domains like finance, infrastructure, and civil engineering continues to be heavily male-dominated, influenced by deep-seated regional gender norms. _Note: Data based on the Country Gender Equality Profile: Sri Lanka (2026)._
📈 Biodigesters: A Local Solution to Sri Lanka’s Food, Energy & Climate Challenges
A pilot model by Solidaridad and Nucleus Foundation highlights how farm-gate biodigesters can tackle import dependence and climate risks by turning waste into valuable energy and nutrients. • Overall Impact & Savings A single rural dairy household (5-6 people, 3-4 cows, 2 acres) can save approximately Rs. 252,000 annually by replacing LPG and chemical fertilisers. If scaled to 50,000 households, Rs. 10 Bn to Rs. 12.5 Bn could be retained annually within rural economies. • Sector Breakdown & Resource Shift Energy: Over 78% of national households (84% in rural areas) still rely on firewood for cooking. Biodigesters pipe local biogas directly to stoves, reducing expensive LPG imports. Agriculture & Fertiliser: Bio-slurry from digesters can replace 70% to 80% of chemical fertiliser use under specific conditions, improving soil organic matter without a forced organic-only mandate. Dairy: Harnesses existing livestock resources, with average pilot farm dung production estimated at 80 to 100 kg daily. • National Context & Economic Pressures Based on Central Bank data, total merchandise imports reached US$ 21.5 Bn in 2025, with fuel remaining the largest component at US$ 4 Bn. Heavy foreign exchange leakage persists across imported dairy products, chemical fertilisers, and agricultural inputs. • Carbon Financing & Policy Recommendations Carbon finance can offset upfront equipment costs, potentially making systems free for farmers. Sri Lanka can leverage its October 2022 Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) with Japan to secure carbon credits. Experts recommend bringing customs duties on biodigester components to zero and adopting an 80:20 carbon benefit-sharing split to attract private investors. _Note: Financial and substitution figures are indicative estimates based on 2025-2026 provisional pilot data._
UN Global Compact Hosts CATALYZE 2026 for Sustainable Business Transformation 📈
The UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka hosted CATALYZE 2026 over two days to drive environmental and social sustainability across corporate strategies and accelerate national economic competitiveness. Key Highlights: • Focus Pillars: Aligned with the UN Global Compact’s 2026–2030 Strategy to equip and advance corporate action in net-zero strategies, science-based targets, circularity, and energy security. • Climate Action: Industry experts focused on unlocking finance for industrial decarbonisation, shifting to low-carbon systems, and mapping risks using Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) guidelines. • Resilience & Communication: Plenaries covered business continuity under climate risks and strategic storytelling to enhance stakeholder trust. • Strategic Backing: Partnered with Deloitte, Anvarta PTY Ltd, and Sampath Bank PLC. Key national sectors like tea and apparel & textiles were heavily represented via patrons including Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Hirdaramani Group, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, and Teejay Lanka PLC.
🌱 Hayleys Solar Powers Colombo Med Faculty with 90 kW Rooftop System
Hayleys Solar, the renewable energy arm of Hayleys Fentons Ltd., has officially handed over a 90 kW rooftop solar power system to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, to boost clean energy integration in higher education. • Project Scope: A 90 kW rooftop solar PV installation initiated by the faculty's Old Boys’ Association, highlighting the impact of alumni-driven institutional development. • Economic & Environmental Impact: The system will supply a substantial portion of the faculty's daily energy needs, lowering operational energy costs, reducing reliance on the conventional grid, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. • National Context: Aligns with Sri Lanka's broader transition toward sustainability and renewable energy adoption across key public sectors. • Market Position: Hayleys Solar has completed over 500 MWp of solar installations island-wide by the end of 2025, maintaining its position in the domestic solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) segment.
📢 UN Global Compact Mobilizes Sri Lankan Private Sector at CATALYZE 2026
The UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka convened "CATALYZE 2026: Social" to drive social sustainability, workforce transformation, and ethical governance across local industries. • Core Objective: Move corporate Sri Lanka beyond sustainability commitments toward active implementation. The event emphasized that global market competitiveness relies on being the "most trusted" producer rather than the cheapest. • Sector & Industry Focus: Major players from Sri Lanka's critical apparel & textiles sector (including Brandix Apparel, MAS Holdings, and Hirdaramani Apparel) alongside top banking institutions (Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, HNB) backed the initiative, reflecting a unified push to integrate human rights, workforce resilience, and inclusive workplaces into national supply chains. • Key Themes: Discussions focused on anti-corruption, neurodiversity, artificial intelligence's impact on jobs, and the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to bolster long-term corporate resilience. • Structure: The event was part of a two-day twin edition; CATALYZE Social (held June 24) addressed the human dimension of business, while CATALYZE Environment (held June 25) tackled climate action and resource stewardship.
📈 Ceylon Chamber Hosts Vital Dialogue on Sri Lanka’s Energy Transition
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce convened public and private sector leaders, academics, and industry experts for a strategic discussion titled “Energy Transition in Sri Lanka: Strategic Insights from Global Markets,” framing renewable energy as a critical pillar for national energy security and economic competitiveness. • Strategic Focus: The dialogue centered on shifting toward cleaner, technology-driven energy systems to drive industrial growth, enhance national resilience, and meet the high-power demands of digital transformation (including AI, data centers, and electric mobility). • Key Priorities Discussed: Regulatory frameworks, electricity sector reforms, grid modernization, and financing models. • Standards & Safety: Experts emphasized that establishing clear technical and safety standards is essential to protect consumers and businesses as national solar and energy storage adoption scales up. • Next Steps: Moving forward, the Ceylon Chamber will collaborate with government and industry stakeholders to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to boost investor confidence and support long-term economic progress.
Agronomic Realities vs. Myths: Evaluating Oil Palm Cultivation in Sri Lanka 📈
• Land Use & Context: _Oil palm_ occupies ~10,400 hectares in the wet zone low country. Cultivation is confined to degraded or marginal lands previously used for tea or rubber, causing zero natural forest deforestation. • Soil & Erosion Facts: The region's acidic, low-fertility Red Yellow Podzolic soils are inherent to the wet zone, not caused by oil palm. Erosion rates depend on land management rather than the crop. Standard practices like cover cropping, mulching, and contour planting effectively control soil loss. • Nutrient & Fertilizer Efficiency: On a per-unit-area basis, oil palm's macronutrient needs are comparable to coconut and lower than tea. Crucially, oil palm achieves the highest yield per unit of nutrient applied among major plantation crops. Returning biomass (pruned fronds and empty fruit bunches) to the soil enhances organic carbon and minimizes soil acidification. • Biodiversity & Water Consumption: Studies at local estates show understory vegetation diversity and earthworm densities in oil palm fields are comparable to or higher than rubber stands. Per hectare, oil palm consumes ~34,480 liters of water daily, closely matching rubber (~32,760 liters). In recommended areas with >2,500 mm annual rainfall, the crop utilizes under 35% of total annual precipitation. • Sustainability & Waste: Local processing facilities, such as the AEN factory, utilize advanced technologies to achieve zero-waste generation. Experts advocate shifting public discourse toward measurable global sustainability frameworks like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification, which several Sri Lankan plantation companies already maintain.