Colombo. Thursday 13 September 2012: Continuing island wide commemorations to mark the 10th anniversary of its operations in Sri Lanka, Lanka IOC recently launched a massive tree planting campaign at the Bio Diversity Park behind the Parliament at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Present on the occasion were Mr. B.M.U.D Basnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Tilak Collure, Chairman, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Subodh Dakwale, Managing Director, Lanka IOC PLC, Mr. Ramesh Chandra, Regional Head, CEO, State Bank of India, Mr. Susantha Silva, Managing Director, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and several others.

Several well wishers including Directors of LIOC Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala, Mr. Jaliya Medagama and Mr. Amitha Gooneratne planted saplings along with the distinguished guests in what will be a year-long activity across the country. A festive air pervaded the verdant Bio Diversity Park behind the Parliament at Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte as a total of 1500 saplings are expected to be planted at this location.

“We take pride in being a socially responsible corporate and hence our series of social service projects under the theme ‘We Care’. In fact our target is to facilitate the planting of 10,000 trees across Sri Lanka before the end of this 10th anniversary year. With this massive tree planting campaign, we’re parallely trying to inspire the general public to do so similarly and thereby give back to nature and the environment”, said Lanka IOC PLC’s Managing Director Mr. Subodh Dakwale.

Activities to celebrate Lanka IOC’s tenth anniversary in Sri Lanka kicked off last month with twin blood donation campaigns in Colombo and Trinco with members of the staff, well wishers, business associates and members of the three armed forces volunteering in large numbers.

Photo caption: Mr. B.M.U.D. Basnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, plants the first sapling at the Bio Diversity Park while Managing Director, Lanka IOC PLC Mr. Subodh Dakwale and other officials look on. (Inset) Mr. Subodh Dakwale, Managing Director addresses the gathering at the launch of the tree planting campaign.