DLB implements impactful CSR initiatives for the people

Development Lotteries Board (DLB) is enhancing the positive impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on the country’s youth following higher education, undergraduates, underprivileged and the people with special needs as well as lottery sellers.

It has already laid the tracks to build the 21st century digital infrastructure to sell lottery tickets via mobile phones – just like the way it has revolutionised the trade for the first time by introducing instant lottery for Sri Lankans in 1983.

The DLB has incorporated CSR initiatives more strategically towards improving the living standard of lottery sellers while helping the needy and uplifting people out of poverty, Chairman of the Board S.A.P. Suriyapperuma revealed. The Board also focuses all of their enterprise actions to align with the bigger and broader picture of society’s long-term interests.

DLB is an important contributor to the President’s Fund, which provides a range of welfare measures for the people with financial difficulties in obtaining medical facilities. It also provides financial assistance for the treatment of serious non communicable diseases such as heart ailments and kidney transplant, he said.

50% of the contributions to the fund are credited to the Mahapola Trust Fund established in 1981, with the objective of providing financial assistance for the studies of students who engage in higher education. DLB has contributed a sum of Rs. 1,767 million to the Mahapola Trust Fund up to August this year comparing to Rs. 2,132 million in 2018 and Rs. 437 million in 2017. Those who require medical and surgical treatment are assisted by the President’s Fund and it also provides housing and other necessary facilities for lottery sellers as a part of its CSR endeavour. 

The main aim of the DLB is to become the foremost lottery organisation in the country that works towards developing and enriching the Sri Lankan economy, he claimed.

It extends helping hand to sales agents, sales assistants and customers fulfilling its social responsibility.

“Soft Heart Foundation was established with the support of donors to assist the needy with a view of improving their living standards even in small way,” Suriyapperuma said. He added that several houses were built and handed over to needy sweep sellers without shelter facilities.

“With a view to promote self-employment opportunities, DLB provides new sales outlets to agents on recovery of 50% of its cost of Rs. 43,000 from them. As a relief for rural street vendors, garden umbrellas were distributed among them under another CSR project,” he said.

Another phase of the program ‘Let’s stand together for the country’ has been implemented by distributing 110 tricycles among sales assistants with special needs.

Five medical camps were conducted in Colombo, Galle, Kurunegala, Kandy and Badulla areas under the ‘DLB Sathkara Initiative’ for the benefit of lottery agents and assistants. Three more such camps will be organised in Hambantota, Nuwara Eliya and Ampara areas shortly, he disclosed. 

Under the new business development plan, the modernisation of lottery booths of development lottery agents is being carried out countrywide to give it a new outlook for the convenience of sellers attracting buyers, he said. 

With sales of millions of tickets, rising business volumes and a vast sales network, DLB is towering to new heights, he said adding that they have distributed over Rs. 7 billion to price winners last year.

DLB posted an upturn in the turnover of Rs. 12.96 billion during the first nine months of 2019 compared to Rs. 12.92 billion in 2018 despite a fall in sales revenue in April/May 2019 due to Easter terror attack, he disclosed. Following the Easter terror, lottery booths countrywide were closed down and no lottery tickets were sold for several weeks in the aftermath of the attack.

A successful sales promotion and performance after the restoration of normalcy in the country, the DLB posted a considerable growth in turnover in the first nine months of 2019 over the same period in 2017 in spite of challenging business environment, Suriyapperuma said.

“DLB aspires to become the catalyst in upgrading living standards by contributing to the national economy for reaching its potential. In achieving our strategic goals, we are also looking forward to nurturing the future of our country,” he said.