‘Kelani Saviya’, the CSR program of Kelani Cables PLC was extended for a further period of five years due to high demand from the corporate sector. It was due to end this year.
Kelani Cables has been conducting ‘Kelani Saviya’ in association with the Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya University since 2007.
The brainchild of Prof. J. B. Ekanayake of Peradeniya University, ‘Kelani Saviya’ stands tall as one of the first CSR public-private partnership programs in Sri Lanka that a local university has initiated in association with a private organisation.
The program enhances skills of self-employed electrical technicians to be professionals and grooms school leavers to be skilled electricians. The program is open to budding electricians with no barrier criterions for enrollment. In the past 15 years over 500 students have participated in ‘Kelani Saviya’ one-year training program and most of them are now employed here and abroad as skilled electricians, a company spokesman said.
‘Kelani Saviya’ was commissioned in 2007 following a MoU between former Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya, Prof. S. B. S. Abeykoon and former Managing Director of Kelani Cables, Hemantha Perera.
According to the stipulated terms and conditions of the MoU, the CSR program was to end in 2012. The program was extended by current Director and CEO Mahinda Saranapala for a further period of 10 years till 2022.
Saranapala said although there were financial difficulties in the current year they have decided to move forward with the Kelani Saviya CSR program which is one of the longest public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Sri Lanka and he would give that assurance on behalf of Kelani Cables.
GM Marketing, Kelani Cables, Dr. Anil Munasinghe said, “We pay our gratitude to the Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya University for conducting this fully fledged training program. ‘Kelani Saviya’ is the only training program in the country which offers internationally recognised university certificates to the successful candidates who have only GCE Ordinary Level education.”
Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya University, Prof. M. D. Lamawansa, said one of the functions of the university was to contribute to the development of the society and this program added value to their attempts to serve the community.
The 11th batch of 55 people was also present at the ceremony at the University of Peradeniya. The total cost of the program is to be borne by Kelani Cables.
Director, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Workshop, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Maheshi Dissanayake, Course Director, Kelani Saviya Program, Prabath Binduhewa and Course Coordinator, Jayantha Wijesinghe were also present.
– Sunday Observer Sri Lanka
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