Light crackers with care, says AIA

AIA Insurance, is continuing to maintain the company’s long tradition of warning the public to take due care when lighting firecrackers to celebrate Avurudu festivities. Such timely caution over the years has undoubtedly helped to reduce firework-related accidents during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season to near zero.  

Drawing attention to the need to intelligently heed safety precautions, the company is using television as well as newspapers to communicate this important message just before the New Year celebrations, when it is customary to mark auspicious times with a burst of firecrackers.    

Before the company took on the task of warning festive revellers, careless use of crackers resulted in accidents often leaving both children and adults maimed for life. However with regular communications warning people of the danger, the number of accidents has reduced significantly over the years.  Lighting crackers during Avurudu celebrations is very much a part of the festivities although negligence can cause tragic results. AIA has focused on firecracker safety since 1992 as its CSR endeavour. Safety is a primary CSR platform for AIA Insurance not only during Avurudu celebrations but also during Christmas and other festive occasions.    “Our corporate responsibility activities are relevant to the needs of the nation and are designed to add value to this country as the real-life company that understands the real needs of people. We are encouraged and heartened by the fact that our communications have reduced the number of injuries over the years. That in itself is a meaningful contribution to uplifting our community,” said AIA General Manager Marketing & Bancassurance Amal Perera.