ASSIST and Geocycle, Holcim (Lanka) Ltd. inaugurated the DEG-supported Project “PROper Management of MunIcipal Solid WastE to create a Waste Free Sri Lanka” (PROMISE) on March 20, 2013 at Hotel Waters Edge, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Asela Iddawela, Geocycle Holcim (Lanka) Group Manager, welcomed the Holcim Group from Asia and Switzerland, the ASSIST representatives, as well as personnel from Sri Lankan ministries, Kutunayake Seeduwa Urban Council and other stakeholders in the city of Colombo. ASSIST Managing Director Sreenivas “Sreeni” Narayanan introduced the organization‘s various Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects being implemented all over Asia & Africa. Geocycle Project Officer, Arosha Hemali then presented the project overview and showcased the work accomplished by Holcim as part of the PROMISE. This was followed by the ground level analysis of K. Jinapala, a sociologist, on Findings of Social Impact Assessment of the project. Lastly, Hon. Minister Susil Premjayantha, Minister for Environment & Renewable Energy, closed the event by expressing his appreciation of the work undertaken and wished for the success of the project.
As part of promoting the project, ASSIST representatives also attended the GEOCYCLE Asia Networking Meeting, attended by top management personnel of Holcim offices in Asia & Switzerland. As a keynote speaker, Sreeni talked about Innovative Sources for Funding & Social Good.
PROMISE is a PPP project which aims at eradication of accumulated waste on the open landfills by facilitating a waste collecting and segregating site at Seeduwa, Sri Lanka. The project looks forward to the mass awareness sessions and series of trainings to start in the upcoming months.