Multilac kicks off Lead Safe Week in Dehiattakandiya

Multilac, the flagship paint brand of Macksons Holdings, participated in the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) held worldwide from 21 to 27 October. Lead Safe Week provided an opportunity for organisations and institutions around the world to focus their attention towards making the world free of lead poisoning.

This was the third consecutive year that Multilac has participated in the annually held event. The theme of this year’s ILPPW focused on the need for individuals, civil society organisations, industry and governments to work together to Ban Lead Paint. 

“We’re proud to note that many multinationals in the country are now following our pioneering stance to achieve lead safe certification. Multilac is the first paint company in Sri Lanka to be certified lead safe, and is the first in South Asia to receive the certificate of conformity as a safe paint from IPEN America. This was an outstanding achievement, as we were among only two other companies globally to receive this prestigious certification. We take pride in being the trailblazer in South Asia, and we hope more companies follow suit,” said Macksons Paints Chief Operating Officer Ismail Hussain.  

Multilac’s commemoration of this year’s Lead Safe Week kicked off in Dehiattakandiya where the Centre for Environmental Justice, a national level organisation, had identified through research that the area had high lead content.  Multilac provided paint for 15 pre-schools in the area and this significantly helped to create awareness about the vital need to use lead-safe paint to make the environment safe for children. 

Centre for Environmental Justice Senior Environmental Officer Chalani Rubesinghe said: “Macksons has made an outstanding contribution towards making people aware of the need to use lead-safe paint, especially in areas used by children. Their efforts are praiseworthy because they are practical and farsighted.”Macksons Paints signed an MOU with the Base Hospital of Dehiattakandiya to provide Multilac lead-safe paint for the maternity ward and children’s ward. The company added greater value to the effort to create awareness by making Mulltilac lead-safe paint available at a discounted rate to villagers in the area.  

Multilac is among the first three global paint companies to receive the prestigious certificate for conformity as a safe paint from IPEN America. This global recognition strengthens Multilac’s ability to seek export markets, proving that the company’s product range adheres to the international standard for lead safety. Multilac was invited to participate in the Master Builders’ Association Trade Night 2017 held in Australia where they were able to introduce its lead safe products to Australian Master Builders.

Starting in 2013, government institutions, health service providers, civil society organisations and international organisations have carried out a wide range of activities and events to inform the public, health professionals and policy makers about the health hazards of lead, and to urge action to prevent lead exposure. Last year, 67 events in 44 countries from regions across the globe were registered on the WHO website advocating lead free products.

Multilac is a Sri Lankan Heritage Brand and has a dealer network of over 4,000 in Sri Lanka, and has been at the helm of the paint and surface coatings industry for over 35 years. Currently, it is the only 100% Sri Lankan owned and operated paint company.  It is the first paint brand in Sri Lanka to obtain the Green Label, CIOB Green Mark Certifications in addition to the Lead Safe Certification from IPEN America. Multilac’s aim is to make Sri Lanka completely lead safe for all future generations.