‘CEAT Cares’ champions road safety around schools for 16th year

CEAT Kelani Holdings, Sri Lanka’s leading manufacturer of pneumatic tyres, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to promoting safer mobility with the completion of its flagship ‘CEAT Cares’ School’s Road Safety Equipment Distribution programme for 2025-26.

Marking the 16th year of the initiative, the company extended its community road safety efforts to 30 more schools across the country, taking the total number of benefitted schools to 350. Each school received five road signboards, 10 traffic cones and five traffic warden jackets – making a total of 600 items presented this financial year – to support the efforts of school traffic management squads to ensure the safety of students and other road users.

The presentations to the selected schools were carried out with the participation of members of the senior management of CEAT Kelani and CEAT dealers in the respective areas.

Commenting on the 2025-26 phase of the project, CEAT Kelani Chief Operating Officer Mr. Shamal Gunawardene said: “Safety is at the heart of everything CEAT stands for. It is a defining factor in every tyre we produce, and through initiatives such as ‘CEAT Cares’ we extend that commitment to the communities we serve. Our purpose – Making Mobility Safer and Smarter Everyday – drives us to keep investing in programmes that build awareness, responsibility and care on our roads.”

“Through this ongoing nationwide effort, CEAT Kelani has demonstrated that making mobility safer is not only a product promise, but also a shared social responsibility,” he added.

Since its inception in 2010, the ‘CEAT Cares’ initiative, formerly known as the ‘Road Safety for School Children’ programme, has engaged with students, parents, school transport providers and local communities to foster responsible road use and strengthen school-level traffic management. By providing practical equipment and guidance, it has supported schools in their role as advocates for safer roads and helped reduce the risk of accidents caused by negligence and non-observance of traffic rules.

The 30 schools that benefitted from the 2025-26 phase of the programme were: Dankotuwa Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Dankotuwa; Ven Sri Rathanajothi Primary School, Yogiyana; Wickramashila Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Giriulla; Sir John Kotelawala College, Kurunegala; Athugalpura Prince College, Kurunegala; Noor Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Ukuwela; Walala A. Rathnayake Central College, Menikhinna; Menikhinna Maha Vidyalaya, Menikhinna; Kotagala Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Kotagala; Ranasinghe Premadasa National School, Hasalaka; Mahiyanganaya National School, Mahiyanganaya; Sewamuktha Kandawura Maha Vidyalaya, Polonnaruwa; Girithalegama Maha Vidyalaya, Girithale; Habarana Maha Vidyalaya, Habarana; Agrabodhi College, Kantale; Perathuveli Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Kantale; Chavakachcheri Hindu College, Chavakachcheri; Holy Family Convent, Jaffna; Meesalai Veerasingam Central College, Meesalai; Muslim Ladies’ College, Colombo 4; St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4; Alexandra College, Maradana; St. Joseph’s College, Nugegoda; St. Francis College, Dalugama; Vidyarathna Pirivena, Horana; Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kalutara; St. Mary’s College, Matugama; Buonavista College, Galle; Aluthwewa Primary School, Angunakolapelessa; and Sumana Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Nivithigala.

Ranked Sri Lanka’s most valuable tyre brand by Brand Finance and as the ‘Most Loved Tyre Brand’ in Sri Lanka in 2025 by LMD, CEAT is Sri Lanka’s highest-selling tyre brand, with over 1.2 million tyres sold annually. CEAT Kelani’s rise to market leadership is underpinned by sustained investments in technology, innovation and capacity. The Company’s manufacturing operations encompass pneumatic tyres for passenger cars, vans, SUVs, commercial vehicles (bias-ply and radial), motorcycles, three-wheelers and agricultural vehicles.

Besides accounting for half of Sri Lanka’s tyre requirements CEAT Kelani exports around 20 per cent of its output to 16 countries. Over the past decade, the joint venture has invested more than Rs. 8.5 billion in Sri Lanka and committed another Rs 4.5 billion over the next 18 months, strengthening its position as a vital contributor to the local economy and a trusted partner to the nation’s transport sector.

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Photo caption:

Presentations to two of the 30 assisted schools.