Alliance Finance wins Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship’s ‘Green Leadership Award’

Wednesday, 7 May 2014 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Accolade for company’s innovative three-wheeler gas conversion project

In a fitting testimonial to its legendary corporate stewardship, Alliance Finance Company PLC was bestowed with the ‘Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award’ under the category of ‘Green Leadership,’ amidst a distinguished gathering of regional corporates held in New Delhi, India, on 4 March. The former Election Commissioner of India graced the event as the Chief Guest. Alliance Finance received the award for its path-breaking ‘Ezy Drive Gas Taxi Meter Project,’ which is a three-wheeler gas conversion project that seeks to reduce the carbon footprint in Sri Lanka’s transportation sector.

Commenting on the award, Romani de Silva, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Alliance Finance, said: “We are honoured to accept the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award in the ‘Green Leadership’ award’ category. This prestigious award recognises and honours Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship and we are privileged to be included in its hall of fame. “Alliance Finance introduced the Green Taxi concept with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint in the country’s transportation sphere. The benefits of gas powered three-wheelers are a valuable environmentally-friendly initiative in a country such as Sri Lanka in which three-wheelers are a vital source of transportation as well as a livelihood for many. As an ethical, social and environmentally responsible company, we are committed to the triple bottomline – ‘People, Planet and Profit’ – and seek to add value by infusing sustainability to all aspects of our operations. This award has further strengthened our resolve to raise the bar in establishing such far-reaching sustainability projects.” The award-winning Green Taxi project was initiated by the company as a means to mitigate air pollution in the country, thereby having a beneficial impact on the environment. Alliance Finance through its initiative is striving to encourage widespread adoption of this gas conversion initiative using Dutch award-winning technology from a company in Europe and one in India, which use the LPG-LDI (Liquid Direct Injection) system. This project commenced in August 2010 and the company is already running its own 45 gas converted three-wheelers. It also provides loan facilities for three-wheeler owners to purchase gas units from the company. Likeminded citizens who patronise this Ezy Drive Green three-wheeler service will be helping the disadvantaged whilst contributing to saving the environment by reducing harmful emissions. The company plans to extend this product to the Northern and Eastern Provinces to underscore its commitment to enhance living standards up to 100 rehabilitated ex-combatants, who have undergone the rehabilitation programme conducted by Ministry of Rehabilitation. Enterprise Asia’s Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards program (AREA) recognises and honours Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship in the categories of green leadership, investment in people, health promotion, social empowerment and SME CSR and responsible business leadership. The criteria in selecting winners in these categories is for the enterprises to demonstrate their commitment, advocacy, integrity and leadership in incorporating responsible and ethical values in their businesses such as protection of environment, investing in stakeholders, empowering the community, taking care of their well-being and legal compliance into the way they operate their businesses. The Awards are held in four sub-regions of Asia, namely, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Middle East.