The Sri Lankan multinational Haycarb PLC reported revenue of USD 21.6 million and profit before tax of USD 992,000 for the first quarter of 2017/18. The profit after tax stood at USD 792,000.
Haycarb PLC Managing Director Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan said that while the company’s initiatives to increase throughput and the value added portfolio together with the geographical expansion of export markets contributed to the growth in turnover, the challenges faced in Indonesian operations due to the shortages in raw material supply and resultant high prices and the increases in charcoal prices in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand negatively impacted the Group’s profitability.
He further said, “Shortages and price increases in coconut shell based charcoal supplies are expected to continue through the current financial year in all the key coconut producing countries in Asia. The challenge in passing its full cost impact to end customers is a major concern to maintain activated carbon business’ expected margins through the year. The Company is in the process of reviewing its prices to pass on a fair part of this impact to its customers after extensive discussions. Central and country specific management teams are working aggressively to ensure a secure supply chain in the current adverse situation whilst focussing on controlling costs and improving efficiencies through the Lean Manufacturing platform. Haycarb’s reputation to manage difficult supply chain issues effectively, without interruption of deliveries to its valued customers is well demonstrated by example in the past.”
On a separate note, Mr. Kariyawasan said that the growth in the environmental engineering arm Puritas (Pvt.) Ltd. is expected to contribute positively to the profitability of the Group.
In the background of increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability worldwide, Haycarb remains positive in its medium to long term outlook in its activated carbon and water treatment systems businesses.
Haycarb is the pioneer manufacturer of coconut shell activated carbon in any coconut producing country with manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia supported by marketing offices in the USA, UK and Australia. The company contributes net foreign exchange revenues with its value adding processes whilst remaining a leading and technologically superior manufacturer in its chosen segment.
The Board of Directors of Haycarb PLC comprises of Messrs Mohan Pandithage – Chairman, Rajitha Kariyawasan – Managing Director, Dhammika Perera, Arjun Senaratna, Sarath Ganegoda, Ms. Jeevani Abeyratne, Dr. Sarath Abayawardana, Sujeewa Rajapakse, M. S. P. Udaya Kumara, Brahman Balaratnarajah, Ali Asgar Caderbhoy, Ms. Sharmila Ragunathan, James Naylor and M. H. Jamaldeen.
Sath Diyawara reaches a total of 18 villages, providing 33,000 people with 130,000 liters of drinking water, daily.
Continuing to expand to create a positive impact on the nation’s growing CKD concern, the Hayleys Group’s – Puritas Sath Diyawara endeavour has now extended its clean drinking water project with two more Reverse Osmosis plants. One plant was recently installed in Meegassegama, Thalawa, sponsored by Alumex PLC The second plant was installed in Pahala Kedithokkuwa, Nochchiyagama, sponsored by Hayleys Agriculture, where in addition to the RO Plant, a mixed cultivation of fruits and moringa was also initiated with the expertise of Hayleys Agriculture, in the 1 acre land owned by the CBO (Community Based Organization) of Pahala Kedithokkuwa. Both villages were also gifted with a knowledge hub, each consisting of computers with internet access and a library.
These projects are the second villages which both Alumex and Hayleys Agriculture have committed to, thereby further strengthening their long-term pledge to this cause.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Alumex PLC, Mr. Rohan Peris commented, “This is the second Sath Diyawara village which we have adopted. As part of the Hayleys Group, we strongly believe in how Puritas Sathdiyawara has benefitted these marginalized people, and we have seen firsthand, how providing clean drinking water to CKD afflicted areas has resulted in reduction and reversal of the illness. This encourages us to continue investing in this cause to save more affected lives as well as the lives at risk.”
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Jayanthi Dharmasena, Deputy MD of Hayleys Agriculture stated that Hayleys Agriculture is committed to uplifting rural livelihoods of the community, and that this initiative is an extension of their holistic CSR strategy. Mr. Rizvi Zaheed, Managing Director, Hayleys Agriculture commenting on the project, stated, “While this is the 2nd RO plant which we have commissioned, we have also added to the initiative by supporting the livelihood of the villagers by sharing our expertise and knowledge on agricultural best practices to support them with the cultivation of fruits and moringa on an acre of land. We will continue to support Sath Diyawara which is our Group’s flagship CSR project.”
The village of Meegassegama in Thalawa, is home to 2500 people with 76 confirmed CKD patients. While Pahala Kedithokkuwa in Nochchiyagama with a resident population of over 2,097 has 60 CKD patients. Both villages face one common problem – lack of clean drinking water and a growing number of people suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) of which collectively over 200 cases are under investigation for suspected CKD.
Each village was fitted with a Centralized Water Treatment plant, including a Plant house, an RO treatment system with a capacity of 10,000 liters a day and water storage cum distribution tower. And a water distribution and delivery mechanism consisting of two wheeler tractor pulled bowser (of 1, 000 liters) and 10 docking stations of 1, 000 liters each.
Elaborating further, Managing Director, Haycarb and Puritas, Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan added, “Since 2014, Sath Diyawara has grown to become a highly sustainable and long-term endeavour which has reaped very clear results. We now provide over 30,000 people with 130,000 litres of drinking water a day. Our single-minded focus lies in eradicating CKD. But we are also consciously supporting these villagers whose grim conditions are exacerbated not only by this debilitating illness but also by drought, dry arid conditions and harsh weather, including floods, which deny them of basic access to drinking water, for day to day survival.”
Speaking on the initiative the Community Based Organisation (CBO) Secretary of Meegassegama, Thalawa, Wijerathne commented. “This gift of life which we have received today signifies a renewed hope for our future. While CKD is a huge concern with more and more CKD patients being diagnosed in our villages, we have also suffered through the severe lack of quality drinking water. We have to travel miles and miles to collect water, which to most is just a basic amenity, but to us is a luxury which we only dreamed of.” Wijerathne is a disabled soldier who lost his leg in the war. He continues his service to the country even after being disabled, as the Secretary of the CBO, which is done on a voluntary basis without any remuneration. The Hayleys Group is humbled to be able to lighten the burden of this hero and his fellow villagers.
Hayleys installed its first Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant in Maithreepura, Padaviya, one of the villages worst affected by CKD. Since 2014, the Hayleys Group has installed 13 Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plants across four districts covering eighteen villages. Access to clean drinking water has proven to be the only known long term remedy for CKD, with the alternative being an organ transplant.
Commenting on the commitment to clean drinking water, the Chairman of the Hayleys Group, Mr. Mohan Pandithage said, “We have visited a large number of villages in the North and North Central provinces, working at the ground level to identify the most severely affected villages. We have gone above and beyond what we originally set out to achieve, through the Puritas Sath Diyawara program by additionally supporting the communities with livelihood development opportunities. These two villages have suffered through the lack of drinking water and a rise in CKD affliction. When I look around and see the hopeful faces of these beautiful children and their families, I feel blessed that we have been able to transform their lives and give them hope for a better, healthier future.”
To date Puritas Sath Diyawara has provided clean drinking water to over 33,000 men, women and children across eighteen villages in the North and North Central provinces since 2014. Each project is sponsored by a Group Company, and to-date the Hayleys Group has invested more than Rs. 56 million in this initiative. It consists of formalized water distribution network through a bowser and multiple docking stations throughout the village to ensure all villagers have equal access to purified water. Surveys are conducted on a regular basis to monitor the benefits of this initiative.
Flagship CSR initiative of Hayleys Group that provides clean drinking water to villages affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – 'Puritas Sath Diyawara’ was announced by Energy Globe Institute of Austria as the leading social initiative in Sri Lanka. This announcement was made in parallel to the celebration of World Environment Day on 5th June 2017. This recognition has nominated Puritas Sath Diyawara as the Sri Lanka’s representation for Energy Globe World Award, which is selected out of best projects/national winners of 178 countries around the world.
“It is a landmark achievement for Puritas Sath Diyawara to be recognized in a global scale. This Initiative has already been identified as a leading social initiative in the Asian region for the past few years. With this recognition Puritas Sath Diyawara has shown its impact on society as a prominent CSR initiative internationally. Our Group efforts through the funding and participation of all key sectors have reached 16 villages across Sri Lanka serving over 25,000 people in CKD affected areas. We are looking forward to expand this initiative with added scope on addressing other socio-economic needs of the people”, Mr. Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys Group stated.
Energy Globe Award is awarded under patronage of UNESCO and done in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and is presented to successful sustainable projects with feasible solutions to address environmental problems and which conserve and protect our resources or that employ renewable energy.
Flagship CSR initiative of Hayleys Group that provides clean drinking water to villages affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – Puritas Sath Diyawara’s “Going Beyond” initiative was recognized by Enterprise Asia as a leading social initiative in the Asian Region. In the recently concluded award ceremony held in Bangkok, Thailand, Puritas (Private) Limited of Haycarb Plc which is under the Hayleys Group umbrella was applauded for its efforts of currently operating 13 Projects in North and North Central Provinces in Sri Lanka. All these projects are funded by the key sectors of the Hayley’s Group as its flagship CSR initiative.
“We are privileged to have won three AREA awards in a row for the past three years. This depicts the impact of Puritas Sath Diyawara and its sister program – ‘Going Beyond’ to the Sri Lankan society at large, catering over 25,000 people in the country. Recognition at a global platform gives initiative of this nature the confidence to sustain in the future and expand its reach to provide clean drinking water to CKD affected areas’, Mr. Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys Group stated.
Further, Haycarb PLC’s Haritha Angara- an initiative aiming to promote green charcoaling and assist charcoal manufacturers in Sri Lanka was awarded with renowned Green Leadership award at the AREA awards. The project has expanded to 13 districts around Sri Lanka creating 84 environmentally friendly charcoal pits at an investment of Rs. 70 million.
Commenting on the award Mr. Rajitha Kariyawasan, Managing Director of Haycarb Group stated, “It is a great occasion for Haycarb to win the Green Leadership award for this initiative and showcase our best practices on a global platform. Haritha Angara has identified the need for sustainability and crafts solutions in an earth – friendly manner. So far we have created positive impact on over 20,000 lives protecting their source of income as well as preserving the natural environment. We hope to magnify these positive impacts Haritha Angara creates in years to come’.
AREA Awards organized by Enterprise Asia recognizes and honours Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship emphasizing leadership, on-going commitment, and involvement in communities and in protection of the environment into the way they run their businesses.
Director - Hayleys PLC /Managing Director - Haycarb PLC, Rajitha Kariyawasan & Director - Haycarb PLC / Puritas Pvt Ltd, Sharmila Ragunathan receiving the award
Managing Director - Haycarb PLC, Rajitha Kariyawasan & Deputy General Manager - Haycarb PLC, Sanjaya Perera receiving the award
Haycarb PLC is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of coconut shell based activated carbon solutions. We have over 35 years of experience...
View on YoutubeHayleys is one of Sri Lanka's largest multinational business conglomerates with a history spanning 134 years. We drive a globally competitive busin...
View on YoutubeHayleys is one of Sri Lanka's largest multinational business conglomerates with a history spanning 134 years. We drive a globally competitive busin...
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