Vesak 2013

“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”

                                                                                                            Lord Buddha



Vesak Festival is celebrated with great fervour and reverence by the buddhists throughout the world.So our company organized various vesak related events during the vesak holidays to mark the occasion.One of the events was  watawala kahata dansala   which provided ginger tea to the public in  the poya day night.The people enjoyed the cup of tea a lot.

We have organized another event to improve our labour relations and to appreciate our associates creative skills.Therfore we carried out with Inter regional vesak lanterns competitions among Watawala/Hatton,Lindula and Udugama regions.

The vesak lanterns which made by them were really beautiful and great work.It showed us the team effort of our people and their talents.The Udugama region was won the first place and second place was acheived by Abbotsleigh estate in Hatton/Watawala region.To appreciate their creativity our company organized awarding ceremoney with valuable prizes and certificates.There was a special appreciation for our vocal training centre run by walawala plantations their vesak lantern.

Ethical Tea partnership

We are an active member of Ethical Tea Partnership.All our tea gardens except for one-Thalangaha have gained membership in the Ethical Tea Partnership.The Ethical Tea Partnership is a not for profit organization that has been working with tea producers and tea companies to improve the sustainability of the tea industry since 1997.
This organization is dedicated to  improving the social and environmental conditions of tea supply chains.
The Ethical Tea Partnership supports a better work environment to improve the lives of tea workers by:

• Implementing health & safety programs and procedures
• Providing training on safety issues including better protective clothing for workers
• Improving water treatment and availability of clean drinking water
• Training supervisors and managers on equal and fair treatment of workers
• Continually supporting equal employment opportunities for men and women
• Introducing good practice farming to secure livelihoods from tea
• Improving labour relations

We got this membership because of that the tea we produce has been manufactured in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.

Let's celebrate the "World Environment Day"

"Don't let your character change color with your environment. Find out who you are and let it stay its true color. "
                               Rachell Scott


                                                                                                                                             

There was a time when people thought of the environment, they thought of its beauty; but now as the natural beauty of the earth that disappears, many people around the world have awoken to the realities of just how fragile our earth actually is. Central to this issue is pollution, which involves the introduction of harmful substances into the air, land, and water. Although pollution has been occurring throughout the earth’s history, the rate by which the human species have contributed to the amount of pollution that has entered our environment over the past several hundred years far exceeds the earth’s inherent ability to heal itself.

Therefore to solve those problems the United Nations conference on the Human Environment nominated World Environment Day.World Environment Day is celebrated each year on 5^th June.This Day is a day for us to inspect the state of our environment. It calls for us to stop in our tracks one day in the year and examine our surroundings. It asks us to pledge, in a small way at least, to do something for the environment.

So as a responsible corporate giant in plantations sector we are planning to do some beneficial thing to our enviornment while celebrating world enviornment day.Therefore we are organizing sour sap tree planting campaign in collaboration with TATA Global Beverage aline with their world environment day programme under the theme of "Think Eat Drink Save".

Sour sap is a fruit which is used as a treat to some infections.This fruit contains significant amounts of Vitamin C,Vitamin B1,Vitamin B2.So this tree planting campaign will help our people to live healthy and enjoy the life.Because always  environment impacts on human beings lives .So our company plans to bleed green.

We are a company which is engaged in lot of activities in the field of sustainability-Water,energy,fuel,waste management,climate mitigation and community work.So we believe this is going to have a huge success in 5th of June as previous  our CSR activities.

Commitment To Fairtrade

Tea is one of the healthiest,most versatile drinks on the planet whether hot or iced,black or green,it's an herbal shot of antioxidants and cancer-fighters that you can enjoy all year with nothing but water.
Make sure your daily cup comes from reliable sources,where the workers are paid and the conditions are safe,by choosing one of these Fair Trade blends for your next brew.We are proud to say seven of our group's plantations are Fairtrade certified and they are Abbotsleigh(Florence),Dickoya (Adisham),Waltrim,Henfold,Kenilworth,Vellaioya and Homadola.
Fair trade is based on social movement that aims to help producers in developing countries to make better trading conditions and promote sustainability.The certification is awarded by FLO international and certification body FLO-CERT after an independent auditing of producers to verify that following standards are met.

• A Joint Body, including workers and management, must be formed to decide on the use of the Fairtrade Premium,
• The premium cannot be used to cover operating expenses, but rather to improve living and working conditions,
• Forced labour and labour by children 15 years and under is prohibited. Work for children over 15 cannot interfere with their education. They cannot do work that could pose a health risk,
• Workers have the right to establish or join an independent union,
• Salaries must be equal to or higher than the regional average or than the minimum wage,
• Health and safety measures must be established in order to avoid work-related injuries.

Therefore it is reflecting our efforts to extend the focus beyond profits.

Providing Nutrition to children

Hatton/Watawala region in collaboration with the women's development section of the Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat initiated a project to provide a glass of milk to each child in the region.
The project as the slogan indicates a glass of milk daily,to every child in the development centres,with the aim of preventing malnutrition amongst these children.The milk provided is purchased from the cattle farms that are located on our estates thus providing an additional inome benefit to the communities.

Watawala Plantations ensures to uphold the rights of the children living in our communities.The children in the seven estates benefited through this program during the past year.The programme,which initially began with the children in the Carolina,Kenilworth and Stathdon Estates' Child Development centres,was later introduced to the children on Lonach,vellai oya,Abbotsleigh estates and the children of the Binnaoya division from Wigton estate.

This same programme will be resumed this year.

In addition to that our company carried out the practical awareness programme on"Good Food Habits and Preparation of  Low Cost,Nutritious Food" in Abbotsleigh Estate.

On the direction of the Management,the health officers of Abbotsleigh Estate conducted a demonstration on "Good Food Habits and at the Abbotsleigh Estate Child Development Center on the 22nd of December,2012.The officials of NCM Lanka organization also participated in the program.

The programme,which was conducted for the mothers,stressed on the importance of following a balanced diet,the importance of the home gardening,the negative impact of junk food,and many more areas related to food habits were discussed.

There was a scarecrow made out vegetables to emphasize on the importnce of eating healthy.

Money was given from the creche fund to purchase bottles and lunch boxes which were gifted to the children who attended the programme.

Fostering Creativity Amongst Children

Our company organized many events during the year to provide an opportunity for the children on our estates to display their talents,and these included performances as well as exhibitions of Arts& Crafts.
In 28th of November 2012 our management has organized annual prize giving and concert with the collaboration in Berdiana Development for the children in child development centers in  Abbotsleigh Estate.

Each of the children leaving the centers was provided with a school bag,excercise books,pens,pencils and erasers.

In addition to that we organized the Annual concert of the Carolina Estate Child Development Centres was held on the 22nd of December,2012 in the Main Hall of the Carolina Tamil School.The event,which was held to celebrate children's Day,was jointly organized by the Estate's Welfare team and the Officers in charge of the Child Development centres.
The parents in the audience applauded and cheered in appreciation as the children participated in the entertaining song and dance items. 

The participants were presented with school bags and a gift parcel from Beredina Development Services.

Furthermore,Universal Children's day was also celebrated on all of our estates.

Enviornmental Sustainability

Environment Compliance

We are proud to say that we continue to maintain the utmost standards in respect to the environment in which we operate.We have not faced any monetary fines or non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with environmental laws or regulations during the year under review.


Tree Planting  Campaign

He who plants a tree,Plants a hope.~Lucky Larcom

In 15th November in 2012,We planted 800 Jack trees in Homadola estate in Carbeal division.The main objective is to promote Jack tree among the school age of children.Each children has given responsibilty to look after their plants which are specially dedicated to them by displaying a name tag of the children near the plant.

Children who looked after their plants well will be selected and rewarded with school items such as school bags,school books..etc

Community Development

During the year our company has carried out several community development projects for the betterment of the community.This post includes some of our projects within the year.

Unveiling of a Buddha Statue – Palm Oil Mill

A statue of the Buddha was constructed in front of the Palm Oil Mill and unveiled on the 9^th July, 2012. The unveiling was preceded by an overnight Pirith ceremony and a morning almsgiving for twenty-four Buddhist priests. This project was initiated and executed by the Associates, Staff and Executives of the Palm Oil Mill.
A collection of approximately Rs. 500,000/= went into the construction of the statue. This unique event would not have been possible if not for the support and contributions –both in cash and kind – of the Watawala family, community, and temples in the region.
The main objectives for the construction of this image were to provide a place of worship for Estate Associates and the neighboring community and to give a good first impression to those who entered the Mill. The statue is being praised by local and foreign visitors alike.

BABY COTS TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS – TANGAKELLE ESTATE

On the request of the Tangakelle Estate Management, Berandina Development Services, Ginigathhena provided 35 light-weight baby cots to the Estate’s Child Development Centers.

Mr. B. Raheem (Senior Manager of Plantation sector operations of Berandina Development Services) visited the five Child Development Centers and ceremoniously presented the baby cots, which were joyously accepted by the members of the staff.

Renovation and maintenance of Child Care Unit of Udugama Base Hospital

        

 

Health and Medical Camps

Health and Wellbeing for communities which have limited access to medical assistance has been a priority area for our company. As a responsible corporate member we have done lot of Health and Medical programs with the valuable support of a few non profit organizations.

We have organized Dengue prevention program, shramadana campaign to clean surroundings of lime rooms, demonstration program to educate the parents about underweight of children and awareness program done in Menopause for Health staff and volunteers in octorber in 2012 in Kenilworth estate.

In addition to that we carried out Health Screening programs and provide consultation and free medicine in Lippakelle,Vellaioya ,Lonach  and Tangakelle by covering all the regions under our arms.

We have undertaken the sponsorship of 4 patients for contract surgeries in support of the Berdiana Development services to prevent blindness .Free Dental Clinic organized in collaboration with PHDT and Ministry of Health was a significant Health related community initiative during February.

Amongst the other health related initiatives during the year were programs to increase awareness on prevention of HIV/AIDS. The company also organized First Aid Training in collaboration with WUSC in 15^th of March in all the divisions. Additionally, we also refurbished the child unit in Udagama Base Hospital.

The company’s Shannon estate in collaboration with N.C.M Lanka began a project to distribute Samaposha for low weight children in K.M division.Watawala Plantations ensures to uphold the rights of the children living in our communities. There have been no incidents of child labour reported within our operations during the year under review.





International Women's Day celebration

As a giant corporate member in Sri Lankan plantation industry we are proud to say we are engaging lot of corporate social responsibility activities. Through these activities our objective is to develop the livelihoods of our associates and contribute for the betterment of the society. Basically we are carried out our CSR activities under Health and Nutrition, Environmental sustainability, women Empowerment and community Development.

As a result of women play a vital role in the plantation sector and the economy in Sri Lanka, our estates have begun many Women Empowerment Programs during the last couple of months and they were achieved huge success.

A program was conducted by the Talangaha estate has facilitated women to train on income generation and educate them how to do it in a economically manner  with the collaboration of Padem.It was held in “Talangaha Training center “ in 6^th,7^th February in 2013.In addition to that we have carried out awareness program for pregnant mothers in Tangakelle estate with the partnership of IIDT organization not only that but also we conducted  women clinic in Lippkelle Estate to improve the health and nutrition of women.

The other remarkable projects in our programs were the celebration of the world’s women’s Day. They were held in Hatton and Lindula region. The first program was held in Lippakellle estate in 17^th of March in 2013 for elgin women associates to improve abilities of women associates. The other program was held in 21^st of March in Talangaha training center with the participation of the reputed resource people in Sri Lanka. The objectives of this program were to improve the earnings and the development of family. Our expected outcome through this program was to feel them that they were looked after and empowered them. We were not a company only limited our women’s Day celebration  to our estates associates ,therefore we proudly celebrated with our women associates in our watawala plantation head office too .Those programs were contributed positively and successfully to long term sustainability ,motivate our associates and development of community.