Coca-Cola and Round Table open rebuilt school

Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd opened the Mahamaya Girls' School in Hikkaduwa, reconstructed completely by Coca-Cola with an investment of Rs. 50 million together with Round Table Sri Lanka at the school premises. The Southern Province's Chief Minister and Minister of Education, Shan Wijayalal De Silva was the Chief Guest.

Local dignitaries, clergy and officials from the Education Ministry as well as key management of Coca-Cola's local and Indian offices were present. Basil Gadzios, Country Manager Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd., Manish Chathurvedi, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Coca-Cola Far East Ltd, Sandeep Gupta, Vice President South West Asia Operation, together with the Chief Minister, Principal, Ms D. W. Kamala and representatives of the Round Table unveiled the plaque.

Gadzios said the project was very close to their hearts, one which reflects the importance of education and youth in Coca-Cola's corporate social responsibility operations and activities.

"This is one of Coca-Cola's largest CSR projects and underpins our priority of education among all our CSR activities. We are happy to play a pivotal role in promoting socio-economic development through education and hope the infrastructure that we have put in place will help generations of students who pass through these classrooms", said Gadzios. The new school, built on a new site, not far from the earlier one which was destroyed completely by the tsunami has 600 students enrolled, with classes from grades one to twelve including Advanced Level classes in the arts and commerce streams.

"Coca-Cola in Sri Lanka is committed towards supporting education initiatives which makes a difference. Such initiatives not only promote socio-economic development but also help in creation of social wealth within communities - after all businesses can only thrive in sustainable communities" said Coca-Cola's Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Manish Chaturvedi.

Among Coca-Cola's CSR portfolio of value added education, water, sanitation and stewardship, environment and community based projects, value added education and community development have got top priority in Sri Lanka and together rank as No. one among the Company's values. The Mahamaya Girls' School project embodies those two CSR themes.