Singha presents cement to IDPs

The Italcementi Group, one of the largest privately owned cement producers in the world; in fact the 5th largest, commenced operations in Sri Lanka in 1998. The local company recently changed its name to Singha Cement, thus embracing the local culture and donning a local identity.

Colin Nelson, handing over the cement to Hiran De Silva - President of the Rotary Club of Capital City. Also pictured are Jaliya Bodinagoda - Member of Rotary Club of Capital City.

As part of the Company's CSR initiatives, a donation to the Internally Displaced Persons was made last year, where both staff as well as the Company's Dealers donated by way of cash as well as goods, dry rations and clothes. 'In fact the response was so great that we ran out of warehouse space to store everything we collected', said Singha Cement's Managing Director, Colin Nelson.

This year too, Singha Cement came forward once again to present a significant quantity of cement which will be used to commence the construction of the homes of 150 families in the Varikuttu Uru village in Vavuniya.

'These families who were at Menik Farm, have now been resettled in their original village and the cement donated will go a long way towards rebuilding their homes' said Supem D.S. de Silva, Community Service Director, Rotary Club of Capital City. Nelson went on to say that it was the duty of every single Corporate to join hands together with the government and assist in the resettlement of the IDPs.

'It is essential that we all work together to restore normalcy to these people who have suffered for over two decades; it is only then that the country will prosper and the economy thrive'.

The Company markets its own brands of cement, available both in bulk as well as in 50 kilo bags which conform to international and national standards, namely Singha.