COLOMBO (News 1st); The Hambantota International Port (HIP) completed yet another event on its CSR calendar yesterday (7), with the distribution of essential household items and food to Samurdhi recipients in the Hambantota district. 

The port reached out to its surrounding underprivileged communities with
US$ 100,000/- worth of essential items under this initiative.

The CEO of the Hambantota International Port Group Johnson Liu says that programs are usually geared towards a more sustainable approach where we are working with these communities to help them develop livelihoods so that they can be an active part of the supply chain.

Further, he said that they also know that under the current conditions we need to be helping directly with daily essentials.

This initiative was carried out through the “Sammawayama,” Social Welfare Foundation of the Galwila Temple. 

9 major temples belonging to the foundation participated in HIP's initiative and the distribution was carried out in 7 divisions via 6 centers connected to the respective temples, also 1250 underprivileged families amongst these communities received packs of essential food items while 700 children attended Dhahampasal received stationery items for school. 

This is a follow-on to the support HIPG provides the Buddhist temples in the districts in the form of supplying a meal to children attending the Sunday schools from 2018. 

The project is sponsored by the China Merchant Foundation (CMF), the CSR arm of the China Merchant Group, and coordinated by the HIP.

The initiative had the participation of the entire company, with each department taking responsibility for a center.

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