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MAS
Champions Sustainable Development Education for Sri Lanka
Youth
MAS Holdings felicitated the ECO Go beyond Schools Sustainability
Awards for the 2nd consecutive year on October 7, 2008 at
the MAS Institute of Management Technology, Thulhiriya. Schools
were recognised and rewarded for their outstanding contribution
towards developing a sustainable future.
MAS Eco Go Beyond, a strategic Sustainability initiative of
MAS Holdings commenced in August 2006. The Schools Sustainable
Development Education Project is a flagship initiative of
this programme, which is aimed at introducing the concept
of Sustainable Development and creating understanding of its
applicability to youth as tomorrow’s leaders. In the
first year of commencement, in-school workshops were conducted
in 20 schools in the communities of Horana, Agalawatte, Pannala,
Kuliyapitiya and Hanwella followed by a project activation
phase, which enabled the morphing of ‘Sustainable development’
from an abstract concept to a ground reality that impacted
the everyday life of the audience of 15-18 year old youth.
The total target group comprised 8080 youth. In 2008, the
programme worked across additional three business units (Thulhiriya,
Kandy and Avissawella) and to date has impacted 11,260 youth
in 30 rural schools in Sri Lanka. This initiative is endorsed
and supported by the Ministry of Education.
Tore Hattrem, Ambassador for Norway and Michel Lummaux, Ambassador
for France were the Guests of Honour and Joel Bacha, ESD Project
Coordinator of UNESCO Asia Pacific Regional Office Bangkok
was also present. The audience comprised additional secretaries
of the Ministry of Education, 29 school principals, 29 teachers
and 280 students.
Pallekanugala Maha Vidyalaya, Walagedara Maha Vidyalaya, St.
Mary’s (Tamil) Maha Vidyalaya Yatiyantota and Ms.
Achini Pearl Ratnayake of Pallekanugala Maha Vidyalaya were
the 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place and the Most Committed
Teacher winners, respectively.
Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean, Chairman MAS Holdings presented
the 1st place award to the students of Pallekanugala Maha
Vidyalaya for their winning project on Student Personality
Development. The project was a systematic and effective approach
to develop the personalities of students by understanding
the problems at hand and developing solutions to overcome
them.
Commenting on the honour, Michel Lummaux, Ambassador for France
stated, “For the first time in Sri Lankan history we
see a training dedicated to the students in sustainable development.
In the future, employment related to sustainability will be
more valuable compared to the rest.”
Tore Hattrem, Ambassador for Norway provided us with some
insight on the world’s contribution to sustainability
by stating, “The fact that the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
was awarded to Al Gore, former vice-president of the US, and
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a
dramatic statement about the need to tackle climate change
and underlines the gravity of the situation facing our planet.”
Joel Bacha, ESD Project Coordinator of UNESCO Asia Pacific
Regional Office Bangkok stated in his keynote address, “Today,
we experienced what the youth of Sri Lanka have done to demonstrate
the sustainable change needed in the world and their impeccable
contribution towards learning it. You have to be the change
you want to see in the world and these students have certainly
shown us that.”
Ravi Fernando, Director, Corporate Branding and Strategic
Sustainability, MAS Holdings added, “We are born to this
world to ensure that we protect our mother earth. This programme
has set a benchmark in teaching sustainability across the
region.”
Today, MAS is the lead strategic partner for Victoria’s
Secret (VS) servicing numerous global brands including Nike,
Speedo, Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Triumph International.
Our global operations include design studios and 30 world
class manufacturing facilities spearheaded by our skilled
international team of over 44,000 people. We continue to be
committed to ethical and sustainable practices that complement
the balance in social and environmental spheres, alongside
our operational excellence.
The opening of the MAS Fabric Park in Thulhiriya re-confirmed
our commitment to sustainable opportunities. Sri Lanka’s
first privately owned eco-friendly industrial park was launched
at the end of 2007, offering investors the opportunity to
focus on their core business activities, whilst the park managers
the complete solution of water, electricity, effluent treatment,
human resources, training and lifestyle. The first ever green
power supply agreement to be signed in Sri Lanka affirmed
our commitment to eco- sustainability.
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