9 September 2016 12:00 am
The project involved upgrading various facilities in the Kitulgala village in order to improve the lives of the communities living in the area. Under the first part of the project, the aluminium tiles on the pedestrian bridge across the Kelani River were replaced with brand-new ones. This floor of the bridge was in a state of disrepair and posed a risk to the hundreds of villagers who used it on a daily basis. Secondly, a large number of dustbins were placed at various key locations on the banks of the Kelani River in order to encourage people to dispose of garbage responsibly without tossing into the river. Additionally, the children’s playground in the area was upgraded with new items such as a swing set and a slide, giving it a much-needed facelift.
Sisira, a resident of the area, during his speech stated, “We genuinely appreciate these acts of charity done by 361 Degrees to uplift our community here in Kitulgala. We also realize how much effort they have put into this project and understand their inclination to help the people in the area in this manner.”
361 Degrees Head of Operations Gihan de Silva stated, “Having used Kitulgala as a base camp since 2011, we have been able to build a close rapport with the people of the area. Through their feedback, as well as our observations, we came to the conclusion that there were numerous shortcomings that we, as a responsible corporate citizen, should help rectify. We care about the safety of the people in the local areas as much as we do about our clients/participants. As a result, we initiated this project to give back to the community and address some of these needs and in order to enhance their well-being.”