Unilever Joins ‘Manudam Mehewara’ Initiative Spearheaded by Corporate Sri Lanka

Photographed left to right - Harsha Samaranayake, Senior General Manager – Brand and Media, Group Marketing of Dialog Axiata PLC; Kamal Gamage, Acting Executive Director, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement; Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC; Nilushi Jayatileke, Marketing Director – Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing, Unilever Sri Lanka; Sharmila Bandara, Marketing Director – Home Care & Nutrition, Unilever Sri Lanka; Channa Tennakoon, Head of Media & Activation, Unilever Sri Lanka; and Harini Rajadasa, Head of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs and External Communications, Unilever Sri Lanka

Launched to support over 200,000 vulnerable families and communities across the country amidst the ongoing economic crisis, Unilever has pledged their support to the ‘Manudam Mehewara’ emergency relief programme, initiated by Dialog Axiata PLC, MAS Holdings, Hemas Holdings PLC, execution partner Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement and independent auditor PwC Sri Lanka, together with CBL Group, Citi, Sunshine Holdings PLC and Huawei Technologies Lanka Co Pvt Ltd.

Together with its like-minded corporate partners, the ‘Manudam Mehewara’ initiative aims to provide emergency relief to more than 200,000 vulnerable families across Sri Lanka. Emergency relief is currently being distributed across all 25 districts, where over 100,000 families in-need have been assisted to date. The Manudam Mehewara programme will conduct its relief efforts until a sustainable benefit transfer system is established in the country through an effective economic recovery plan.

Speaking on this occasion, Nilushi Jayatileke, Marketing Director, Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing of Unilever Sri Lanka said, “It moves us deeply to see the economic hardships and unprecedented challenges faced by our fellow Sri Lankans. At Unilever, we believe in making sustainable living commonplace. Many of our purpose-led brands have always considered it a responsibility to help build a sustainable Sri Lanka by facilitating a better quality of life for our people. Whilst all of us have been doing our part as corporates, the national crisis which we are faced with today is of a much greater magnitude than what a single brand or single corporate can do to make an impactful change. This is where the power of the collective plays an important role. I would like to congratulate Dialog and Sarvodaya as well as the other founding partners for launching Manudam Mehewara, to create a platform to bring together the power of the collective, in order to help our fellow Sri Lankans in a way that would make a scalable impact.”

Commenting, Navin Pieris – Group Chief Officer, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC said, "It is incredible to see corporates step up and assist in bringing marginalised communities relief and assistance during this time of dire need. I would like to thank Unilever for joining this initiative to create real and large-scale impact. Along with our like-minded partners, we are on a mission of reaching 200,000 vulnerable families and to date, we have supported over 100,000 families with emergency relief. I humbly invite Corporate Sri Lanka to stand with us in this united effort, for together we can continue to make a difference."

Manudam Mehewara invites all Sri Lankans and corporates to join its shared mission of supporting the most vulnerable families across the country and contribute towards this cause. Individuals can now simply donate to the cause via their credit/debit card on the website - https://dlg.lk/donate or through a bank transfer, Star Points transfer, eZ Cash, genie or via a mobile top-up to 077 642 1421.

More information about the Manudam Mehewara initiative can be accessed via https://dlg.dialog.lk/manudam-mehewara