Lanka among finalists at World Challenge

Maximus (Pvt) Limited, the first Sri Lankan Company to have made it to the 12 finalists at the World Challenge 2006 will be featured on BBC World and the Newsweek magazine on October 14 and 23. Organized by BBC World and Newsweek in association with Shell, the competition aims to find individuals or groups from around the world who have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level.

Maximus (Pvt) Ltd, established in 1997 by Managing Director Thusitha Ranasinghe manufactures paper and products that promotes environmental protection. Produced by using 75% elephant dung Maximus aims to use the "Elephant Dung" paper to create and further raise awareness to the tragic circumstances that surround the Sri Lankan Elephant.

"We are also developing strategies aimed at improving the socio - economic situation that currently restricts under-privileged people living in rural areas. Conflict between man and wild elephants over land are severely detrimental to both, said Thusitha Ranasinghe.

"Our vision is to bring these two together by implementing the Project "Peace Paper". We hope to create autonomous and self-sustaining re-cycling plants in the conflict areas that make Elephant dung paper using elephant dung.

This we hope will create a mutual and beneficial relationship between man and beast eliminating the conflicts that currently exist." Happy of the fact that Maximus is among the twelve finalists out of over 800 applicants Ranasinghe says his project will be featured on BBC World and Newsweek.

On BBC World; Elephant Paper: 14 October at 0930 and 15 October at 0230 GMT Newsweek: Elephant Paper: Issue 23 October (on sale 16 October) A proud moment for Maximus as well as for Sri Lanka to have made it to the Finalists list in the World Challenge 2006, which is all about global involvement, casting a net for ideas from individuals or groups deserving recognition.

Maximus is the pioneer inventor of the elephant dung paper production for commercial use in the world and has several registered patents as well as national and international awards to its credit.

- Encourage the population to go on line and vote for us if they think we deserve it!