Ford announces winners of $ 15,000 Ford Environmental Grant in Sri Lanka

The Ford Motor Company today awarded two organisations – The Tree Society of Sri Lanka and the Wanasarana Thurulatha, Swechcha Society – to split US$15,000 as part of its 2012 Conservation and Environmental Grants Program in Sri Lanka.

Marking the program’s 10th year in Southeast Asia and second consecutive year in Sri Lanka, the grant will go toward two projects the IFS-Popham Arboretum in Dambulla to upgrade its educational and research facilities and protecting the Dediyagala Forest Reserve.

The two winning projects and their share of the Ford grant are as follows:

•  The Tree Society of Sri Lanka – recipient of US$ 7,500: To conserve the IFS-Popham Arboretum in Dambulla and upgrade its educational and research facilities
• Wanasarana Thurulatha, Swechcha Society – recipient of US$ 7,500: To conserve the bio-diversity of the Dediyagala Forest Reserve of Sri Lanka by establishing joint forest management with buffer zone communities

“Both of these projects stood out to the Ford program’s panel of judges in Sri Lanka due to their usefulness, originality and potential for wider application across Sri Lanka,” said Sujeeva Premaratne, Chief Operating Officer, Future Automobiles Ltd.

In selecting the winners, the jury panel followed a set of judging protocol based on the following criteria: usefulness and practicality, dedication, financial need, originality and potential for replication.

The panel selected the winners from a shortlist of seven deserving organisations and individuals, whom Ford Motor Company and dealership partner, Future Automobiles, Ltd. culled from a total of 35 submissions.

Their innovative proposals spanned projects in natural environment preservation, environmental education and conservation engineering:

• Sanath Bandara: To develop a solar-powered water supply system for wild animals in Yala National Park during the drought season to ensure the long-term survival of the area’s diverse wildlife.
• B.J.B. Shantha Perera: To establish an environmental education program that raises environmental awareness of underprivileged school children.
• Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum: To set up a rain centre to demonstrate, provide information, create awareness, build capacity, network and provide technical service on rain water harvesting in Sri Lanka as well as to coordinate other water resource management in greater South Asia.
• Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF): Training Institute for Sustainable Energy (TISE ).
• Ranil P. Nanayakkara: To conserve the critically endangered dugong in Sri Lanka.

“All six finalists represent the best of Sri Lanka’s environmentally minded organisations and individuals, committed to the improvement of the natural environment and environmental awareness across Sri Lanka,” said Premaratne.

The panel of judges included: Dr. Priyan Perera, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura; Dyan Seneviratne, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka; Captain Marlon Perera, Senior Captain/Instructor Pilot, SriLankan Airlines.

Last year, Ford Motor Company selected the Fire Prevention in Knuckles Forest Reserve project as the winning entry in its Conservation and Environmental Grants program in Sri Lanka.

The project received US$10,000 for prevention measures to minimise the damage caused by forest fires in the southern border of the Knuckles Forest Reserve in the central highlands of Sri Lanka.

The project is currently underway, with primary field work to begin in the next month – in time for the fast-approaching dry season, when the area is at highest risk of forest fires.

Since launching the global grants program more than 10 years ago, Ford has awarded more than US$ 2 million in grants to hundreds of environmental projects in Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Central America, the Middle East and Puerto Rico.

In Asia Pacific alone, Ford has played a pivotal role in advancing more than 60 environmental initiatives and Ford’s Conservation and Environmental Grants program has become an annual event in select markets within Export and Growth’s Asia Pacific region.

“This program is one of the many ways Ford goes further to preserve the environment and improve its communities’ quality of life,” said David Westerman, Regional Manager, Asia Pacific, Ford Export & Growth Operations, “Environmental conservation, protection and education are integral to what we do, both as product innovators and members of the communities we do business in.”

Ford Motor Company is dedicated to preserving the environment for future generations and providing ingenious environmental solutions that contribute to a sustainable planet. Initiatives such as Ford’s Conservation and Environmental Grants program evidence a commitment to encourage, support and reward the actions of individuals, groups and non-profit organisations in achieving the same goal.