Lanka IOC ‘Goes Green’ in the north

LANKA IOC PLC launched its ‘Go Green’ initiative in the north with the planting of 301 saplings by school children from the Jaffna Hindu College.

These children were chosen from low income families and received cash rewards for their participation. Pass books from the Peoples Bank were handed over to them by the Chief Guest at the event – Northern Province Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, on behalf of Lanka IOC.

The children will be responsible for taking care of their saplings for three years until the trees are able to survive on their own. Each child will receive Rs. 100 per month for this task which will be deposited in his or her account, Lanka IOC said.

A tree guard made from a half a barrel was also provided by Lanka IOC to protect each plant until it is big enough to withstand normal damage.

The Provincial Ministry of Education collaborated with Lanka IOC on the Northern phase of the ‘Go Green’ programme which was attended by the High Commissioner to India Ashok K. Kantha and Lanka IOC officials.

“The environment and underprivileged children will benefit from this innovative programme which is aimed at inculcating the habit of caring for nature in the younger generation,” said Lanka IOC Managing Director K. R. Suresh Kumar. “Such sustainable initiatives will help counter the stresses that face our environment.”

“We are aware that petroleum products contribute to pollution. We are committed to fulfilling our responsibility towards the environment through projects such as this,” he said.

Lanka IOC’s ‘Go Green’ programme was launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Forests with the intention of planting 1500 trees in schools, ten for each of the 150 company outlets in the country by enlisting the support of school children. The company has already planted trees in Colombo, Piliyandala, Moratuwa, Gampaha and Kurunegala under this programme.

The trees for the various phases of the project were selected by the Forest Department on the basis of the soil and climate of different areas where they were planted.

Twice ranked Sri Lanka’s top corporate entity in the LMD 50 rankings, Lanka IOC PLC is an overseas venture of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., a Fortune 500 company with a ranking of 125 on the magazine’s Global 500 listing (2010). Lanka IOC PLC is a public liability company listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The company imports and distributes standard and branded petrol and diesel, marine fuel, lubricants and bitumen.