John Keells Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Empowering the Nation for tomorrow

John Keells Foundation (JKF), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) entity of the John Keells Group, marked its 20th anniversary with a special event on 25th April 2025 for its key stakeholders representing the Government, non-government, private and academia sectors, UN and INGO/NGO agencies and community-based organisations. Since its establishment on 28th March 2005, JKF has been a driving force in fostering sustainable growth and empowering communities across Sri Lanka. 

“As one of the first corporate CSR entities in Sri Lanka, John Keells Foundation has led the way in championing impactful, sustainable initiatives under our vision of ‘Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’, aligned with national priorities, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Principles of the United Nations Global Compact,” said Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group. “Over the years, the Foundation has remained committed to long-term initiatives that support communities in need, impacting the lives of over 9 million individuals. Within the Foundation’s empowerment culture, the focus has been less about handouts and donations, but more on providing the skills and the motivation to empower our communities to improve their lives. In Ranala, for instance, a women’s society around our Elephant House factory was provided training in producing paper-based products, while in Hikkaduwa, in partnership with Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon, we have upskilled local artisans in batik production. What is most encouraging is how much our own businesses have embraced sustained community empowerment — how it has become part of our DNA over the past couple of decades.”

JKF drives its vision through four strategic focus areas — Education, Community & Livelihoods, Social Health & Cohesion, and Biodiversity - that guide the transformative social empowerment initiatives within the Group’s overall ESG framework. Flagship initiatives such as the John Keells English Language Scholarship Programme, Project WAVE (Working Against Violence through Education), John Keells Vision Project, Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration, Kala Pola, the Village Adoption Project and John Keells Praja Shakthi stand as powerful testaments to JKF’s commitment to inclusive, transformative and sustainable development.

In her welcome address, Carmeline Jayasuriya, the Group’s Head of CSR said, “As the Foundation celebrates this milestone, we cannot do so without reference to all those who have been closely associated with this journey. Our success can be widely attributed to two strong support bases, the passionate volunteers across the Group and the wide array of partner organisations and individuals who have collaborated with us over the years.” She went on to note, “John Keells was visionary in initiating the set up of a dedicated CSR entity as early as 2003. Today, the Foundation hosts a portfolio of over 30 projects – mid-long term – across 4 focus areas, reflecting the diversity of businesses within the Group. The golden thread running through all these projects is our vision of `Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’. Considering the many ebbs and flows Sri Lanka has seen through during this time, including the end of the 30-year conflict as well as crises such as the Tsunami, COVID pandemic and economic downturn, the Group was well placed to strategise, undertake and sustain critical social development endeavours through JKF. I am honoured to have been part of JKF’s journey, seeing it evolve over the years to espouse and meaningfully contribute to national needs and priorities specifically through a culture of empowerment.”