‘TEDxColombo 2016’ delegates visit Hirdaramani green facility in Agalawatta

TED and TEDx representatives with Hirdaramani Director Rakhil Hirdaramani and Hirdaramani Knit Agalawatta GM Chamara de Silva

Sponsored by Hirdaramani for the third consecutive year, TEDxColombo 2016 concluded on a remarkable note with over 900 participants attending the event and a vast number connecting to the sessions via several live streaming events. TEDxColombo has become a highly anticipated event that has gained much prominence in Colombo with a growing following participating 
each year. 

TEDxColombo 2016, now in its sixth edition, saw 40 TEDx organisers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Dubai, Japan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Australia take part in a series of programmes leading up to the TEDxColombo event. TEDx Application Manager Will Davis and Senior TED Fellow Mohamed Tauheed also were part of this 
visiting delegation. 

The TEDxColombo 2016 delegates visited the Hirdaramani flagship green facility – Hirdaramani Knit Mihila as part of the programme. A comprehensive presentation outlining the systems and processes that drive the green factory was followed by a walk-through of the factory premises. This gave the delegates a first-hand experience of how Hirdaramani has successfully adopted sustainable manufacturing within its production process creating a positive impact on the environment whilst urging others in the industry to follow in their footsteps. 
Speaking of this impactful experience Sarah Harkin from TEDxPalmerstown said, “TEDxColombo 2016 gave us the opportunity to tour a factory which has developed practices to help promote human rights and also sustain our environment. Hence, there is a possibility that consumers would be willing to pay a premium to ensure that clothing is made in a way that respects human life and the world around us. Brands such as Patagonia have adopted this and it has made its brands successful. Surely, if we could raise awareness for an ethical manufacturing process, consumers could choose to purchase clothing that is produced with 0 percent harm to the environment.”
Hirdaramani Director Rakhil Hirdaramani expressed his views saying, “There are many synergies between the goals of the TED Platform and what the ‘Mihila’ factory represents. World over TED has proven that an idea can spark change. This factory once only an idea is now the benchmark of our sustainability journey in all avenues of our production process. We are very pleased to play a role in this insightful experience that inspires thought leadership the world over that positively changes the world we live in.” 

Founded in 1984 in California as a conference, TED platforms have paved the way for many change makers, rightly recognizing and valuing innovative ideas and creating space for them to be heard while stirring up discussions and debates that lead people towards positive change. Being true to its mission statement ‘Ideas worth spreading’ TED has a global presence and welcomes people from all disciplines and cultures to make 
an impact.