‘Samaposha Vasantha Udanaya’ organised to bring joy to the farming community

The fore-frontier of ensuring farmer welfare within its business model, Plenty Foods (Pvt.) Ltd., a subsidiary of Ceylon Biscuits Limited organised its 06th consecutive ‘Samaposha Vasantha Udanaya’ which was held in Bulnewa, Thoranegama Viharamahadevi Grounds recently. This traditional Avurudu Festival was organised under the concept ‘Govi Sathuta’ a community engagement initiative for their agri-business partners.

This year’s Vasantha Udanaya Avurudu Festival had around 42 games inclusive of all traditional avurudu games. The substantial sponsorship extended by Plenty Foods through its flagship brand Samaposha covered all event elements and requirements that included hospitality, gifts and entertainment, and was a testimonial for the Company’s commitment to give back to its partners in a generous manner.  Event was jointly organised with the Thoranegama Young Stars Sports Club, Galnewa Divisional Secretariat, Galneva Police and Galneva Pradeshiya Sabha.

The most eagerly contested events at this festival were bicycle race, volleyball and raban competition, whilst the most colourful events were the crowning of ‘Avurudu Kumari’ and selecting the most handsome boy as ‘Govi Kumara’. In addition, the most attractive little girl and the boy were crowed as ‘Sigithi Avurudu Kumariya’ and ‘Singithi Avurudu Kumaraya’. In previous years this event was held in locations such as Kiriibbanwewa, Eppawela, Mahiyanganaya, Galenbindunuwewa and Tissamaharamaya.

Commenting about this annual event, organised with the sole purpose of engaging and entertaining the farmers, Plenty Foods Director/Chief Executive Officer Shammi Karunaratne said, “It was our pleasure to witness the farmers, whom we consider as our business partners, enjoying this event together with their families. All our raw material are sourced from the local farmer community and we consider it our responsibility to organise such events for them”. He noted that the company has developed a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility project under the theme of Govi Pawula with the view of uplifting the lives of farmers and to keep them happy and motivated.

Samaposha is the most popular brand in the Plenty Foods portfolio whilst the company manufactures energy boosting products such as 4GB, On the Go and Nutri cereals. The main raw material used in these products, namely, Rice, Soya, Corn and Green Gram are sourced from the local farmers registered with the backward integration project.

The Company’s CSR initiative under the theme ‘Govi Pawula’ has four projects in order to uplift the social-economical conditions by educating farmers and providing assistance to them in moments of difficulties. Accordingly, ‘Govi Denuma’ enhances the agricultural know-how of the farmer, ‘Govi Sarana’ provides assistance to them in the hour of need, ‘Govi Sathuta’ provides social bonding and integration to the farmer community and ‘Govi Arana’ looks after the support services, religious and spiritual needs of the farmer community.

With the above purposes in mind, ‘Vasantha Udanaya’ is annually organised under the Govi Sathuta initiative by Plenty Foods (Pvt.) Ltd., through its flagship brand Samposha to bring joy to the farming community in the country during Avurudu festival.