Kandetiya Agro Products (Pvt) Ltd. (KAP), Sri Lanka’s leading exporter of UHT Organic Coconut Milk, has completed two [02] of their latest local community development projects under the Fair for Life programme, in partnership with Biogroupe SAS, France – a long-term importer of Fair for Life-certified organic coconut milk from KAP.
Since joining the Fair for Life certification in 2021 – a rigorous certification programme that promotes fair trade, responsible supply chains, and sustainable production – KAP has used the programme’s income to support social and environmental projects in rural communities around Sri Lanka. This has directly created a national impact on Sri Lanka’s local communities to improve the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans.
The first project, valued at LKR 5 million, saw the refurbishment and branding of the Marawila ambulance of 1990 Suwa Seriya under their “Adopt an Ambulance” initiative. The upgraded emergency vehicle now services thousands of residents in the area, providing faster access to urgent medical care and strengthening the pre-hospital emergency care and public health infrastructure in a critical region.
The second project involved the renovation of the clinical building at the Divisional Hospital in Makandura, valued at LKR 2.2 million. Improvements included upgraded access paths, lighting, signage, hand wash facilities, and a redesigned eco-friendly waiting area aimed at improving patient comfort and wellbeing. The hospital services approximately 600 patients a day and caters to over 1,200 families, five [05] schools, and multiple industrial facilities in the Makandura zone.
The initiative is spearheaded by KAP’s leadership – Chairman, Upali Liyanage, Managing Director, Lalitha Rathnayake; CEO, Shimzar Ajeez, Manager – QA, Compliance & Customer Service, Lahiru Lakmina; and Senior Manager – International Business & Sustainability, Dilusha Karunarathne; and Biogroupe representatives – Director of Operations, Thibault Bernard; and VP of Sales, Laurent Coulloumme-Labarthe.
KAP is Sri Lanka’s first coconut products manufacturer to receive the BRCGS AA+ rating for food safety and holds certifications from Fairtrade, Naturland, Fair for Life, and Global GAP. The company also invests in long-term CSR programmes, including a reforestation initiative to plant 50,000 trees by 2027 and a scholarship fund supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Coconut Triangle.
Photo captions:
Image 1 (L-R): Dilusha Karunarathne: Senior Manager – International Business & Sustainability, Shimzar Ajeez, CEO of Kandetiya Agro Products (Pvt) Ltd, Thibault Bernard, Director of Operations, Laurent Coulloumme-Labarthe: VP of Sales of Biogroupe, I.M.D.M. Subasignhe, Pilot- 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, Lalitha Rathnayake, Managing Director- Kandetiya Agro Products (Pvt) Ltd, W.E. Prasanna Ekanayaka, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)- 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, Shirantha Arnolda, Acting Operation Manager -1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation
