Keells deepens commitment to building stronger communities

For Keells supermarkets, purpose extends far beyond retail shelves, it’s about building healthier, safer, and more empowered communities.

Through its flagship Preschool Meal Programme, targeted child protection initiatives, and the SKIP Youth Development Programme, Keells continues to deliver tangible impact across Sri Lanka’s social landscape.

Preschool Meal Programme

Launched in partnership with Sarvodaya in 2023, ‘A Nutritious Tomorrow for Our Little Ones’ has become a working model for how the private sector can meaningfully tackle early-years malnutrition. 

The programme provides nutritious daily meals for preschool children aged 2.5 to 5 years, operating through community kitchens established in selected preschools. Parents, supported by Sarvodaya, prepare meals according to weekly plans aligned with national nutrition guidelines, while Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and midwives monitor child growth and wellbeing.

Each kitchen is funded for up to six months and then handed over to the community, fostering ownership and long-term sustainability. Gardens established at preschools further reinforce the link between nutrition and the environment.

Funding is driven through the Keells Meal Card, priced at Rs. 850, which provides five meals. For every five meals purchased, Keells contributes one more. As of September 2025, the initiative has provided over 450,000 meals to 3,700 children across 100 schools in 15 districts, with a goal of reaching 200,000 additional meals within the current financial year. 

According to feedback from teachers and principals, school attendance and classroom engagement have shown visible improvement since the introduction of the programme.

Protecting Childhood Beyond Nutrition

Recognising that nourishment must extend beyond the plate, Keells has also prioritised child safety and awareness. Working with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), the company has conducted a series of workshops for parents and teachers focused on child protection.  

Since its launch, the child protection workshops have reached over 583 parents and 32 teachers across 18 locations, with sessions conducted in partnership with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). 

The initial phase focused on Moratuwa, Negombo, and Ratnapura, with the programme now expanding to additional districts to strengthen community-level awareness and response.. The goal is simple but profound, to build confidence among adults to recognise, prevent, and respond to potential risks affecting children’s safety and wellbeing. 

The SKIP Programme

Building on its commitment to inclusive development, Keells, in collaboration with the John Keells Foundation and the Rainbow Institute of Communication, launched the Skill Into Progress (SKIP) programme. This initiative focuses on English language proficiency and confidence-building for youth aged 18 to 24, helping bridge the gap between education and employability.

Delivered through interactive 36-hour courses conducted island-wide, SKIP combines grammar, conversational English, presentation skills, CV writing, and interview techniques with innovative engagement activities. Currently the programme operates in over 9 locations, enrolling 750 active students, with plans to reach 1,000 youth by the end of 2025.

Trainer Ruwani Fonseka from Wattala shared, “It’s been incredible to watch the students open up and gain confidence with each class. They’ve begun to speak without fear, support one another, and truly enjoy learning. The transformation in just a few sessions has been remarkable.”

Adding her own experience, Hazna, a student from SKIP Wattala said, “This class has been such a great opportunity for me, I’m really hoping to get valuable knowledge from it. I feel lucky to have the best teacher and the best team/friends in the class, supporting me!”

From classroom meals to workplace readiness, Keells’ community initiatives represent a long-term investment in Sri Lanka’s human capital. By aligning business capability with social need, Keells supermarkets continue to feed potential, not just mouths, and shape a future where every child and young adult can learn, grow, and thrive.