Cinnamon Bey Beruwala together with the Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and Plasticcycle – the Social Entrepreneurship project of John Keells Group, partnered under MEPA’s “Beach Caretaker” programme on the 27th of November 2020. The partnership committed to protect and preserve the Beruwala Beach adjoining the resort.
Sri Lanka’s coastline is rich in marine biodiversity, including exotic fish species and marine mammals such as sea turtles, that depend on the beaches and shoreline for breeding. However, these unique environments and habitats have been challenged by the accumulation of plastic waste by tourism activities and holiday goers.
Plasticcycle and Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts launched the first installment of the Beach Caretaker Project in Hikkaduwa in January 2020 at Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon.
The objective of the programme is to educate, create awareness and develop sustainable tourism through a series of long-term activities to preserve the beach. Activities include developing youth programmes such as “guided snorkeling” and community awareness programmes to develop more sustainable and professional business with minimum harm to the environment, while increasing awareness among visitors.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation, stated that with the general public and private sector joining hands with MEPA, the common goal of protecting the coastline and be achieved, which would be a great service to society.
In addition to the beach clean-ups that are conducted by the staff volunteers of Cinnamon Bey on a regular basis, a series of dedicated plastic waste collection bins will also be placed adjacent to the resort to encourage all beach goers to responsibly dispose of their plastic waste.
The General Manager of Cinnamon Bey, Mr. Mike M. Jawad stated, “The John Keells Group’s ambitious and tenacious commitment towards environment and its protection, as well as collaborative support from MEPA, affirms Cinnamon Bey’s audacious goal to protect the coast, shoreline and reefs. We strive to protect the environment and improve the ocean’s ecosystem to aim at ensuring a toxin-free marine-life.”
Plasticcycle is a social entrepreneurship project of John Keells Holdings (PLC), Sri Lanka’s largest listed company in the Colombo Stock Exchange operating over 70 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors and in 2020 John Keells Group celebrates 150 years being in business and contributing to the Sri Lankan economy and development of the country. JKH provides employment to over 14,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected Entity’ for the last 14 Years by LMD Magazine. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a Member of the UN Global Compact, the Group drives its vision of “empowering the nation for tomorrow,” through the John Keells Foundation and through the social entrepreneurship initiative, ‘Plasticcycle’, is a catalyst in scientifically reducing plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.