August 31st, 2022 – Colombo: Coca-Cola was honoured to host the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E Julie J. Chung at the Coca-Cola Beverages factory in Biyagama recently. The Ambassador observed the Coca-Cola operations in Sri Lanka and commended the positive impact the brand has had on the economy and local community for the last 61 years. The Ambassador was taken on a tour of the plant operations and was given a taste of how the beverages that we all know and love are bottled in the island along with Coca-Cola’s journey and the strong presence in the country. Coca-Cola was also given the opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact created by their multiple strategic corporate sustainability initiatives ongoing in Sri Lanka.
Coca-Cola has been refreshing the nation since 1961 and has won the hearts and minds of millions of consumers across the island. Coca-Cola has invested in the future of its business, demonstrating long-term commitment to Sri Lanka by investing as much as US$ 100+ million over the past two decades. The company’s economic value creation has helped to create over thousands of jobs in the local workforce to benefit the economy, in addition to the 80,000+ trade outlet vendors that generates revenue from the sale of beverages.
Further, Coca-Cola has gone beyond providing beverage options by initiating several successful public and private partnerships with a total investment of hundreds of millions of rupees for Sustainability Initiatives in Sri Lanka under their four pillars for A World Without Waste, Water Stewardship, Well-being of Local Communities and Climate Action. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a contribution of Rs. 115 million was made to strengthen the national response of combating the Coronavirus. During the visit, Coca-Cola reassured the US Ambassador that they will continue to fulfil Coca-Cola’s purpose in the country which is to ‘Refresh Sri Lanka and Make a Difference’.
With a vision of “Loved brands, done sustainably, for a better shared future”, Coca-Cola pledges to craft the brands and choices of drinks that people love while creating a more sustainable business and better shared future that makes a difference in people’s lives, communities, and the planet.
