Kelani Cables bestows nation with highly-skilled electrical technicians with university certificates

  The occasion of the presentation of certificates. From left: Manager Human Resource Gihan Widanagama, Manager Brand Development Channa Jayasinghe, General Manager Marketing Anil Munasinghe, Kelani Cables Director/CEO Mahinda Saranapala, Peradeniya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Upul S. Dissanayake, Kelani Saviya Course Director Prof. Manjula Fernando, General Manager Operations Upul Mahanama, Chief Finance Officer Hemamala Karunasekera, Dr. Chanaka Senanayake, representing Prof. L.Rajapakse, Dean Faculty of Engineering, UoP.

Twenty-three students of ‘Kelani Saviya’ seventh batch received certificates at a ceremony held at Clarion Hotel in Kelaniya recently. The ‘Kelani Saviya’ is a unique CSR program launched by Kelani Cables PLC, Sri Lanka’s number one brand in secure electrical and communication cables in association with the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University since 2007. 

Kelani Cables PLC Director/CEO Mahinda Saranapala and Peradeniya University Vice Chancellor Prof. Upul S. Dissanayake graced an occasion to hand over certificates to the successful students of yet another batch of ‘Kelani Saviya’. 

Over 250 students have followed the ‘Kelani Saviya’ program and obtained certificates and rendered their services to the country since 2007. ‘Kelani Saviya,’ the brainchild of Prof. Janaka Ekanayake of the University of Peradeniya, was commissioned in 2007 with signing of the MOU between Prof. S.B.S. Abeykoon, former Vice Chancellor of UoP and Mr. Hemantha Perera, former Managing Director, Kelani Cables PLC. 

According to the stipulated terms and conditions, the MOU was to end in 2012. However a fruitful discussion between Mahinda Saranapala, Director/CEO, Kelani Cables PLC and the university authorities made the program to be extended for a further period of five years that is till 2017. 

Saranapala said this was the very first time that a private institution in collaboration with a national university has conducted such a unique CSR for period as long as nine years. This social hospitality done with no commercial motive what so ever has gained high recognition and measures has been taken to extend the program to Jaffna University under ‘Kelani Shakthi’ program. 

Prof. Manjula Fernando, Course Director of ‘Kelani Saviya’ representing Prof. Janaka Ekanayake, Head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Dept. of the UoP delivering a welcome speech, said: “Commencing as a result of a MoU signed in 2007 the ‘Kelani Saviya’ program has become one of the most prominent CSRs in the country today. The concept of ‘Kelani Saviya’ was mooted way back in 2007 by Prof. Janaka Ekanayake and Jayantha Wijesinghe then Assistant Manager Marketing of Kelani Cables.”

Dr. Chanaka Senanayake speaking at the event representing Prof. L. Rajapakse, Dean Faculty of Engineering expressed his gratitude to Kelani Cables for continuously conducting the program for nine long years. Dr. Senanayake also appreciated the perseverance showed by the students in completing the course which consist of three difficult exams.  

Kelani Cables General Manager Marketing Anil Munasinghe said he will take the responsibility of providing employment to all Kelani Saviya pass outs as there was a huge demand for them from the corporate sector. He also said they were in the process of forming alumni of past Kelani Saviya students which will interacted very soon.

Kelani Cables PLC is a 100% Sri Lankan company serving the nation for 46 years manufacturing electrical and communication cables. The company achieved ‘Super Brands’ status in the electrical and telecommunication sector in 2008 for professional supremacy it demonstrated in the electrical and communication cables sphere.

In 2012, Kelani Cables PLC clinched the Bronze award for the excellent business brand category at the SLIM Brand Excellence. It clinched Gold at the SLIM Brand Excellence once again in 2013 for the same category. The company secured Gold at the SLITAD People Development – 2013 award ceremony for the contribution it has made towards training and development of the work-force plus up keeping their welfare.

Kelani Cables PLC is the proud recipient of ISO 9000:2008 certification for quality, ISO 14001:2004 for better environment management, National Standards award and the gold winner of Taiki Akimoto 5S award. 

In 2015 Kelani Cables PLC was conferred with the Asia’s Best Employer Brand award. Kelani Cables was the sole organisation in the electrical and communication cable manufacturing sphere recognized for sustainable development at the National Green Awards in 2015. The company also bagged the SLIM Brand Excellence award in 2015. The company also won the Social Dialog and workplace award.