The Siddhalepa Group’s green initiatives reached a new dimension recently when the company issued 100,000th waste bin donation to a temple in a remote part of the country.
The waste bin donation programme launched with a view to managing waste more cleanly and effectively in public places began way back in 1979, and has been steadily gaining in its reach across the country over the decades.
Siddhalepa Group’s commitment to the environment has placed them among the top tier of Sri Lanka’s companies who have won accolades at national environment awards consistently.
The free donation and maintenance of waste bins begun in 1979 at a time when environment was not a priority for the nation as it is now, was a far sighted vision from the founder and chairman of the Group Deshabandu, Dr. Victor Hettigoda.
The waste management programme commenced at Sri Pada where the company also has their own pilgrim’s rest and Vedagedara and also runs a medical camp during the season.
Launched as a Corporate Social Responsibility activity, the program continued growing in its proportions over the years to reach temples, kovils, churches, public places, police stations and schools.
Among the key religious places of worship where the waste bin management program has been functioning over almost three decades are the Shri Maha Bodiya and Atamasthanaya in Anuradhapura in the south the Kirivehera and Kataragama, Sithulpahuwa Temple, Getabaruwa, Samandevalaya, Mahiyangamaya and sacred Dalada Maligawa in Kandy to name a few. The Madhu Chruch, Nallur temple in Jaffna, Munneswaram in Chilaw, Thewatta Church in Ragama are some of the other religious places where dustbins are provided. The garbage bins also are lined up in the city’s main promenade, the Galle Face Green and in Urban councils.