Coca-Cola Sri Lanka unveils first-of-its-kind ‘Adopt A Beach’ in partnership with Clean Ocean Force 

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka Ltd., has set the benchmark for beach cleanups in Sri Lanka by launching the country’s first ever sustainability initiative that will ensure that the Crow Island beach will be cleaned on a daily basis for one year.

This first-of-its-kind daily cleanup is a groundbreaking mechanism done in partnership with Clean Ocean Force (COF) and its Public Private Partnership with the relevant Government stakeholders. This marks the very first time that a corporate entity in Sri Lanka is taking steps to clean a beach daily for a prolonged period of time.

A simple ceremony to kick off the beach cleanup was held recently and was attended by Coca-Cola Sri Lanka and Maldives Managing Director Pankaj Sinha, Regional Lead – Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Lakshan Madurasinghe, Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Thamari Senanayake, Coordinating Secretary to the Governor of the Western Province Ashrauf Dole, Director Planning Tishani Ramanayake and Ministry of Local Government Deputy Director Planning Sujeewa Wanniaarachchi, Western Province Waste Management Authority District Manager Samudrika Divithuragama, Dept. of Manpower and Employment Director Planning and Research Sumith Perera, OIC Colombo Range of Environmental Police Chief Inspector Daminda Hettiarachchi, Director Planning Education Ministry WP Janaka Lakmal and representatives from the Marine Environment Protection Authority.

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka Managing Director Pankaj Sinha noted his gratitude towards Clean Ocean Force and the Government bodies that were able to make this initiative come to life. “This is the first time a corporate has taken responsibility to maintain a public beach for an entire year with daily clean-ups and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and initiative put in by Jerome Fernando and the Clean Ocean Force team, and the Government authorities that have supported them throughout. With this ‘Adopt A Beach’ initiative we at Coca-Cola have stepped forward to raise the bar in terms of beach clean-ups in the country with Clean Ocean Force. This initiative will Give Back Life to the Crow Island Beach and further our commitment to a World Without Waste which is The Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment to collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one we sell by 2030.”

Although Sri Lanka is blessed with vast stretches of golden sandy beaches, most of them are victims of pollution with plastic being one of the main culprits. Maintaining a clean beach all year round is a considerable challenge that requires a significant amount of manpower on a regular basis.

Accordingly, Coca-Cola is sponsoring the efforts of COF who have teamed up with Government authorities including the Ministry of Local Government, Economic Promotion, Power and Energy, Environmental Affairs, Water Supply and Drainage and Tourism Western Province – Sri Lanka, Waste Management Authority Western Province, Sri Lanka Police Environmental Division and Presidential Environment Unit, Marine Environment Protection Authority, Colombo Municipal Council, Samurdhi Authority, Crow Island Management, and the Beach Society Management of Crow Island to ensure that the project involves all key stakeholders and will be a resounding success.

Clean Ocean Force (COF) Chairman and Founder Jerome Fernando said: “We’re really happy to have brought the private and public sectors together with Coca-Cola partnering with us recently. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative for our island nation and a partnership with great responsibility taken up by Coca-Cola in Sri Lanka.”

The beach cleanup witnessed the enthusiastic participation of a large number of individuals from Coca-Cola and COF, the Environmental Protection Division as well as Youth Volunteers representing AIESEC. Coca-Cola has also deployed plastic collection points at the beach to ensure that visitors dispose of their plastic waste responsibly. During the event, the COF waste collectors who participated in the cleanup were recognised and rewarded for their efforts.

COF will deploy its waste collection team and work closely with local authorities to ensure that daily beach cleanups are carried out promptly and effectively. COF is a non-profit based in Sri Lanka working towards eliminating plastic, manmade pollutants, and debris from the beaches of Sri Lanka. The COF team collaborates with organisations to clean the beaches of Sri Lanka by involving local communities, drawing both volunteers and a task force to tackle the issue of plastic waste.