`Gunadamin’ Elephant House initiates 600 Daily Meals to School children for 1 Year as Part of the “Pasal Diriya” Initiative of the John Keells Group

“Gunadamin” Elephant House, the CSR brand of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, has taken steps to immediately facilitate a daily meal programme for children at the Ranala Adarsha Kanishta Vidyalaya, located in proximity to the Elephant House factories, providing 600 nutritious meals daily to schoolchildren. The programme commenced in August 2022 and will continue for a period of 1 year, with the menu specifications being in line with the Government School Meal Programme under the Ministry of Education. This initiative by “Gunadamin” Elephant House supports the efforts of John Keells Foundation’s “Pasal Diriya” school meals programme.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr Daminda Gamlath, President – Consumer Foods Sector at John Keells Holdings said, “At Ceylon Cold Stores and indeed across the John Keells Group, we are very concerned about the ongoing food security  concerns. Thus, we have pledged our support to the Group-wide “Pasal Diriya” initiative to provide meals to schoolchildren. We have taken a crucial initial step by making 600 nutritious meals available each day for the children and, in line with the “Pasal Diriya” model, we are also working to develop school kitchens for the purpose of supplying meals, so this can be accomplished onsite. Elephant House,  a trusted local brand, with a heritage dating as far back as 1866, has a strong connection with Sri Lankans, and we take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards doing our part to help the nation at this challenging juncture.”

In view of the present economic crisis in Sri Lanka, which is negatively impacting food security, the John Keells Group’s response is designed to address immediate needs in the short term and offer viable solutions over the long term, whilst addressing critical educational needs of children and youth. In this endeavour, John Keells Foundation – the Group’s CSR entity – recently partnered with the Ministry of Education, to support and expand on the Government’s School Meal Programme in identified locations. The ‘Pasal Diriya’ programme is modelled to include the provision of funds for the preparation and distribution of meals for students not covered under the existing government school meal programme, to construct or equip a kitchen facility within the school premises where possible, and to strengthen the network of the respective schools involved in the preparation and distribution of meals under the Government’s School Meal Programme.

Elephant House is a legendary brand with strong brand recognition and nostalgia synonymous with over 150 years of heritage and trust. Elephant house is a trusted household staple brand, loved and embraced by consumers, enabling the brand to widen its product portfolio and offerings. The organisation has engaged in several initiatives to improve their business practices and encourage protection and preservation of the environment and community wellness.   

Ceylon Cold Stores Ltd (Elephant House) is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), Sri Lanka’s premier diversified company in the Colombo Stock Exchange operating over 70 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. IJKH provides employment to over 14,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected Entity’ for the last 17 Years by LMD Magazine. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a Participant of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its CSR vision of “Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow” through John Keells Foundation and through the social entrepreneurship initiative, ‘Plasticcycle’, which is a catalyst in significantly reducing plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.