CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Being an integral part of the communities where we operate, we at Hambantota International Port believe that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should meaningfully enhance and enrich the lives of those around us. This is clearly spelled out in our CSR Vision: “Our vision is to inspire positive change and empower our people and communities while protecting the environment and all life forms to create a sustainably powered future”.
Hence, we consider the social, ethical, environmental, legal and economic aspects of being a model corporate citizen. We also make sure that these initiatives are sustainable in the long-run.
Our medium and long-term CSR projects combine a selection of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into six main areas. These areas have been chosen on the basis of their relevance to HIP and the surrounding community, as well as sustainability over time.
Our staff members are enthusiastic volunteers in carrying out these CSR initiatives, as it helps them to contribute towards the community and environment. Such initiatives foster strong bonds between the HIP family and the communities among whom they operate. While allowing employees to develop a sense of pride in their company, it also provides them with a sense of personal fulfillment. Staff members have the added benefit of being able to sharpen their soft skills such as confidence, communication, leadership and teamwork. Since these initiatives are carried out across people of varying ethnic, religious and socio-economic segments, they also contribute towards reconciliation and coexistence in these areas.
Caring for People
- Education & Employability
- Health & Safety
- Community Development & Engagement
Caring for Planet
- Climate, Environment & Wild Life
The 4 main areas are:
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Education & Employability
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Health & Safety
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Community Development & Engagement
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Climate, Environment & Wild Life
Tissapura School Development Project
Tissapura Kanishta Vidyala is an elementary school which was found lacking in classroom space and many other basic facilities. HIP constructing a block of classrooms and furnished them, so that they could be used to conduct regular classes as well as extra-curricular activities for the students. The completed Tissapura Junior School Project, consisting of a new two-story building, as well as fully restored outer buildings, was ceremonially handed over to the School Management in October 2019. These facilities serve the needs of 300 students and a teaching staff of twenty-four.
Vocational Training in Collaboration with NAITA
The National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) was set up by the Government of Sri Lanka with the Mission of ‘Providing vocational and Technical Training for youth, to acquire employable skills through well-formulated skills programs with highest professional standards to meet the skilled manpower requirement in the industry’. Our partnership with NAITA is focused on providing port-related vocational training and career guidance to the youth in the region. While addressing the region’s imbalance in terms of the availability of suitable employment, these programs enable such youth to acquire relevant vocational and technical training. Participants also improve their ability in the English language, in addition to developing soft skills, which are essential for improving their employability. 14 trainees who had successfully completed the 6-month ‘Basic Fire Fighting’ training programme were awarded their certification at a ceremony in October 2019. This partnership with NAITA is an integral part of HIP’s participation at the “Yowun Puraya”, National Leadership and Outward Bound Development Camp for Youth, which was held over a period of 4 days in April 2019.
Refreshments for Daham School (Sunday school) Students
Daham Schools are an integral aspect of our surrounding area, providing education in the Dhamma, while also inculcating proper morals, ethics and values in children. We provide free refreshments during the meal interval for students of several Daham Schools, which are held at temples in the vicinity of HIP. This project improves the nutritional needs and health of students, as well as their interest in spiritual and cultural education.
‘C-Blue Training Program’
C-Blue is a programme which sends selected groups of employees or undergraduate students from local universities to China for a 3-week training period to study its industrial culture. HIP sponsors this programme each year, with the aim of promoting greater friendship and cultural awareness between Chinese and Sri Lankan nationals. This also helps trainees to improve their soft skills.
University Partnerships
Recognising the need to create awareness and interest in the ports and logistics field, HIP has formed partnerships with several Universities across Sri Lanka. During ‘Open Days’, students can visit the port and gain first-hand experience of port operations.
Career Fairs
HIPG also collaborates with both the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce and Local Universities to hold career fairs where they educate students on the Maritime Industry and the available employment opportunities for these students.
Chinese Language Classes for the Hambantota District
The Hambantota International Port has joined hands with the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) and the Colombo University China Language Center to provide Chinese language lessons to Hambantota district residents. The Chamber began the language learning programme 4 years ago, with the goal of educating the Hambantota business community, especially the tourism sector, on Chinese language and culture. They believe that locals learning Chinese, would ensure ease of doing business, considering the number of China based projects in the district. HIPG provides the physical needs such as accommodation, food and transport, while Colombo University supplies them with Chinese teachers.
Nutrition for new mothers
Soon after the birth of the child, proper nutrition is important for both mother and the infant. In partnership with the Hambantota District Hospital, we have provided gift hampers consisting of nutritional foods and necessities for 120 new mothers at the Maternity & Pediatric wards of the Hambantota District General Hospital.
Cataract Surgeries Project
Addressing the issue of eye-related problems in Hambantota, we have sponsored several cataract surgeries for area residents. This is part of our initiative in addressing general health-related issues in the area.
Covid 19 Donations
The Hambantota International Port provided several government institutions and hospitals located in the Hambantota District with Covid 19 PPE. These institutions varied from district hospitals, Army Hospital to the Board of Investment.
Human-Elephant Conflict Project
Hambantota has seen a steady increase in cases of Human-Elephant Conflict, resulting in the heavy loss of lives among humans and elephants, along with damage to crops and property. HIP, together with China Merchant Foundation, has funded and assisted in conducting a research paper to study the Human-Elephant Conflict in the region, and provide feasible, sustainable solutions. This was carried out in partnership with the University of Peradeniya. It is hoped that this report would form a viable input in solving this issue which has been rampant across most regions in Sri Lanka.
Reforestation Program
According to the Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the UN, Sri Lanka lost over 20.9% of its forest cover between 1990 and 2010. In order to arrest this alarming trend, HIP has commenced funding and encouraging reforestation programmes in the surrounding community.
HIPG also donated specific flora to the Educational Zonal Office as part of their reforestation program
Beach Clean-ups
Though Hambantota used to be blessed with relatively clean beaches, pollution has become an issue over the years. HIP organizes at least one beach clean-up each year, with the participation of the management and staff. Part of this programme includes the separation of recyclable waste from other pollutants, and the provision of separate recycle bins for segregating the waste material.
Event partnership with Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya, Annual Festival
HIP was a sponsor of ‘Surinduni Kataragama 2019’, a grand multicultural festival that attracts people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as tourists.
Annual Contributions for Katina Festivals
As a part of our Community Engagement Projects, we provided financial assistance to 7 neighboring temples for their Katina Festivals – the largest alms-giving ceremony of the Buddhist calendar.
"Siththam Sayura 2019" Art Competition
Under the theme, ‘The future of the Hambantota Port and its development - as seen through my eyes’. Thisevent was organized by HIP in collaboration with the Hambantota Zonal Education Office. The objective of this initiative was to uplift the creativity and thinking abilities of schoolchildren, while creating awareness of how the port could uplift and change the lives of future generations in the area. 220 colorful, impactful and meaningful works of art from 16 schools of the Hambantota Educational Zone were received. The best of these images were chosen for the company annual calendar 2020.
