John Keells Foundation celebrates 20 years

John Keells Group Chairperson Krishan Balendra	John Keells Group Head of CSR Carmeline Jayasuriy

John Keells Foundation (JKF), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) entity of the John Keells group, marked its 20th anniversary with a special event recently for its key stakeholders representing the government, non-government, private and academia sectors, UN and INGO/NGO agencies and community-based organisations. 

Since its establishment on March 28, 2005, JKF has been a driving force in fostering sustainable growth and empowering communities across Sri Lanka. 

“As one of the first corporate CSR entities in Sri Lanka, JKF has led the way in championing impactful, sustainable initiatives under our vision of ‘Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’, aligned with national priorities, the Sustainable Development Goals and Principles of the United Nations Global Compact,” said John Keells Group Chairperson Krishan Balendra.

JKF drives its vision through four strategic focus areas — education, community and livelihoods, social health and cohesion and biodiversity — that guide the transformative social empowerment initiatives within the group’s overall ESG framework. 

Group’s Head of CSR Carmeline Jayasuriya said, “Our success can be widely attributed to two strong support bases, the passionate volunteers across the group and the wide array of partner organisations and individuals who have collaborated with us over the years.” 

University of Moratuwa Transport Management and Logistics Engineering Department Head Prof. Niles Perera shared that the department has enjoyed a 19-year partnership with the John Keells group and was grateful for that collaboration. 

Dr. Priyantha Udagedara spoke on the foundation’s focus on livelihoods, reflecting on his personal experience as an artist who began his journey at Kala Pola and how the sustained support of JKF and the George Keyt Foundation had powered his professional career as a senior artist as well as a faculty member of the University of Visual and Performing Arts and a trustee of the George Keyt Foundation. 

The Asia Foundation Director Gender and Justice Dr. Ramani Jayasundere shared valuable insights on Project WAVE – JKF’s 10-year project combatting gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse as one of Sri Lanka’s first such corporate initiatives, commending John Keells for taking on and sustaining commitment to complex issues such as GBV and child protection.  

Architect Channa Daswatte emphasised the significance of creative industries and JKF’s valuable role in fostering its growth through pioneering initiatives such as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Sri Lanka which not only support Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage but are also essential for social dialogue and cohesion in our nation. 

Cinnamon Hotel Management Head of Quality Assurance/Sustainability, Health and Safety and Data Privacy Shanez Wijesinghe spoke of JKF’s impactful biodiversity collaborations with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts such as Project Leopard, Elephant Research and Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project as well as sustained community empowerment and crisis response initiatives through John Keells Praja Shakthi.