Convenience Foods helps kick-start careers of Ratmalana Deaf & Blind School students

School for the Deaf and Blind Ratmalana Principal Samanthika Jayasuriya (sixth from right) with the scholarship recipients of the school with Convenience Foods (Lanka) Managing Director Thilanka de Zoysa, (seventh from left) and CFL officials. Also seen is Employers’ Federation of Ceylon Specialised Training and Disability Resource Centre Manager Manique Gunaratne

Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC, a subsidiary of the CBL Group of Companies carried out a scholarship program to empower students of the Ratmalana Deaf and Blind School to equip them with professional qualifications and employment opportunities. These students received scholarships to follow a professional course in graphic design at the Vocational Training Authority (VTA), Narahenpita including costs of transportation, meals and uniforms and continuous support throughout the course duration. 

Upon completion of the course, Convenience Foods PLC together with the Employer’s Federation of Ceylon were able to secure placements and six-month paid internships for these students at leading companies across Sri Lanka. Among the companies that offered paid internships to these gifted students were the Sri Lankan offices of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Intermart Printers, Stafford Motors and Jonathan’s Studio. 

 “Convenience Foods is privileged to be a part of this journey to give these gifted students an opportunity for professional growth. We want to support these students in their career development by giving them a solid foundation and the assistance they need to succeed and break stereotypes,” said Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC Managing Director Thilanka de Zoysa.

De Zoysa also added that Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC hopes to maintain a close relationship with these students even after their internships until they secure full-time employment that suits the skills they have acquired and will continue supporting the Ratmalana Deaf and Blind School in the future.  

Samanthika Jayasuriya, Principal of the School for the Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana stated that this program would be able to change the lives of students and commended Convenience Foods for its continued support through the years. 

Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC is Sri Lanka’s pioneer and largest manufacturer of textured soya under the Lankasoy brand and also manufactures popular brands such as Sera, Nutriline and Tetos.