Mercantile Investments and Finance PLC – a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s financial services industry – is doing things a little differently. This is evident in the type of initiatives it has undertaken under the banner of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
As many are aware, CSR is the way businesses demonstrate their commitment to give back to society and the environment we live in. One might wonder what Mercantile Investments and Finance has done in this regard. The answer is, quite a lot. However, their work has been behind the scenes, and often with the most harmless and helpless beings.
This year, the company carried out some notable initiatives to help wildlife. One such move was extending their support to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Attidiya, Dehiwala by assisting to develop a nursery unit with the aim of helping injured animals. It was crucial to treat and relieve the suffering of these wild creatures that were in a precarious condition before reintroducing them to the wild.
Another notable initiative by the company was the construction of a permanent wildlife enclosure at the Wilpattu National park. It was undertaken to rehabilitate injured wild animals before releasing them back to their natural habitat. The 50×50 feet enclosure is surrounded by an electric fence to protect it from wild elephants.
Special permission was granted to the company by Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife Gamini Jayawickrama Perera to conduct this project in collaboration with the Centre for Eco-cultural Studies. Mercantile Investments and Finance also erected signboards in the Yala National Park to increase awareness on safety and conservation. This was done by channeling proceeds through its ‘Wildlife Conservation Fund.’ It is a commendable move given the many reported cases of reckless driving, killing and injuring leopards in the vicinity of the park. The signboards are visible at many hotspots in the park, and the move has been welcomed by both officials and tourists.
The company also cared for Namal, a four-year-old elephant calf found injured after being entangled in a hunter’s snare. He was transported to the Udawalawe Transit Home where the company came forward with a unique prosthetic limb. It is now two years since Namal received a new lease of life and he is enjoying his newfound freedom. All these initiatives reveal Mercantile Investments and Finance’s concern for wildlife. The company is dedicated to protecting the natural world for future generations.
[pullquote]Mercantile Investments and Finance erected signboards in Yala National Park to increase awareness on safety and conservation[/pullquote]
It is due to such efforts that the company received the All Island Silver Award in Best Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting at the recent CA Annual Report Awards ceremony held at the BMICH, which was graced by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as chief guest. The unique corporate culture of Mercantile Investments and Finance has not only enriched lives beyond its doors, but also those who work within. For the second time, the company was recognised as a “great place to work” by the Great Place to Work Institute. This highlights its people-centric approach and professional management culture.
The company’s CSR activities have strengthened its standing in the wider community, and deservedly so, for it has proven how the commitment to give back can sustain life and create a gentler world.