The latest beneficiaries of the programme were the students of Batathota Vidyalaya – Batathota, Mahawatta Kanda Vidyalaya – Batathota and Lassakanda Vidyalaya – Erathna, all in the Kuruwita area of the Ratnapura District, and of Sri Dammathilaka Maha Vidyalaya – Divithura in the Elpitiya area.
A total of 236 children were presented shoes and schools bags at these schools by CEAT Kelani, which manufactures half of Sri Lanka’s pneumatic tyre requirements sourcing 100 per cent of its natural rubber needs from local producers that employ 10,000 cultivator families.
Part of the ‘CEAT Cares’ portfolio of good citizenship initiatives, the programme’s first phase focused on the Matugama Educational Zone, and benefitted 119 children from two schools.
Commenting on the programme, CEAT Kelani Chief Operating Officer Mr Shamal Gunawardene said:
“As one of the biggest users of Sri Lanka’s rubber in the domestic market, CEAT has always considered rubber cultivators a vital part of its value chain, making their wellbeing an important element of our success.
This programme is one community initiative though which we engage and contribute to the quality of life of our rubber farmers and their families.”
In a separate initiative, CEAT Kelani has also started hosting rubber cultivators for conducted tours of the company’s extensive manufacturing complex in Kelaniya, providing them with an insight into the intricacies of producing high-performance tyres for the domestic and export markets.
The largest domestic manufacturer of cross-ply and radial tyres in Sri Lanka, CEAT Kelani’s manufacturing operations encompass pneumatic tyres in the radial (passenger cars, vans and SUVs), commercial (Bias-ply and radial), motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural vehicle segments.
The CEAT brand originated in Italy and is backed by German manufacturing technology and extensive research and testing facilities in India and Europe.
CEAT Kelani Holdings exports about 20 per cent of its production to 16 countries and plays a significant role in helping the national economy conserve foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported tyres.
The joint venture’s cumulative investment in Sri Lanka over the past decade exceeds Rs 8.5 billion.