Award-winning CSR program ‘Kelani Saviya’ extended for further 5 years

The Cooperate Agreement being exchanged by University of Peradeniya Vice Chancellor Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, and Kelani Cables Director/CEO Mahinda Saranapala. University of Peradeniya Acting Registrar M.G.J. Dharmasiri, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Head Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake, Marketing GM Dr. Anil Munasinghe, and Kelani Cables Marketing Manager Channa Jayasinghe also in the picture

‘Kelani Saviya’, the award winning CSR programme of Kelani Cables PLC, Sri Lanka’s number one brand in secure electrical and communication cables, was extended for a further period of five years due to high demand from the corporate sector. It was scheduled to end in this year (2022).

The Cooperate Agreement to extend the programme was signed between Kelani Cables Director/CEO Mahinda Saranapala and University of Peradeniya Vice Chancellor Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, at the Senate Building. Kelani Cables, Sri Lanka’s number one brand in secure electrical and communication cables has been conducting ‘Kelani Saviya’ in association with the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University since 2007.

The brainchild of Prof. J. B. Ekanayake of Peradeniya University, ‘Kelani Saviya’ stands tall as the first ever CSR public private partnership programme in Sri Lanka a local university has initiated in association with a private organisation. 

The programme enhances skills of self-employed electrical technicians to be professionals and grooms school leavers to be skilled electricians. The programme is open to budding electricians with no barrier criterions for enrollment. 

In the last 15 years over 500 students have participated in ‘Kelani Saviya’ one-year training programme and most of them are now employed here and abroad as skilled electricians.

‘Kelani Saviya’ was commissioned in 2007 following a MoU between University of Peradeniya former Vice Chancellor Prof. S.B.S. Abeykoon and Kelani Cables former Managing Director Hemantha Perera. According to the stipulated terms and conditions of the MoU, the CSR programme was to end in 2012. The programme was further extended Kelani Cables Director/CEO Mahinda Saranapala for a further period of 10 years till 2022.

Kelani Cables Director/CEO Mahinda Saranapala said although there were financial difficulties in the current year they have decided to move forward with the Kelani Saviya CSR program which is one of the longest public private partnerships (PPPs) in Sri Lanka and he would give that assurance on behalf of Kelani Cables.

Kelani Cables GM Marketing Dr. Anil Munasinghe said at the event: “We pay our gratitude to the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University for conducting this fully fledged training programme. ‘Kelani Saviya’ is the only training programme in the country which offers internationally recognised University certificates to the successful candidates who have only GCE ordinary level education’. 

Peradeniya University Vice Chancellor Prof. M D Lamawansa said one of the functions of the university was to contribute to the development of the society and this programme added value to their attempts to serve the community.

The selected 11th batch of 55 applications was also present at the ceremony at the University of Peradeniya. The total cost of the program is to be borne by Kelani Cables. The occasion was also graced by, University of Peradeniya Electrical & Electronic Engineering Workshop Director, Dr. Maheshi Dissanayake, Kelani Saviya programme Course Director Prabath Binduhewa and ‘Kelani Saviya’ Course Coordinator Jayantha Wijesinghe.

Kelani Cables has been conducting the CSR programme ‘Kelani Saviya’ in association with the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University for six years. This is the first time ever a local university has joined hands with a private entity to conduct a training programme of this nature.