Guided by its corporate philosophy of improving people's lives A. Baur & Co. (Pvt) Ltd. (Baurs) is marking 125 years of business in Sri Lanka, with a series of initiatives focused on inspiring youth education and protecting the environment.

Fostering youth education, especially among individuals who face numerous challenges, Baurs is donating 25 laptops under its Alfred Baur Beneficiary programme, to university students across the country. The first phase was held recently, and five laptops were presented to students attending the University of Ruhuna, Matara. Professor Saman Chandana Ediriweera, Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ruhuna, Anoja Basnayake, Director Information Technology, and Ken Vijayakumara, Deputy General Manager Human Resources, of A. Baur & Co. (Pvt) Ltd graced the occasion.

During the ensuing months, students in another six universities will benefit from gifted laptops to empower and enhance their educational and career prospects. The selection of the students has been based on several criteria agreed by both the relevant university and Baurs.

As a responsible corporate citizen that places importance on giving back to society, the laptop initiative is part of Baurs broader agenda to make an impact in students’ education and growth in the years to come. A Baurs signature initiative has been its school furniture project, gifting furniture to schools for several years. Even during the pandemic Baurs donated 100 used desktop computers, in good working condition, to selected schools across the country.

Continuing its rich tradition of unmatched integrity and community service, Baurs organised a beach clean-up campaign and planting of native saplings as an environmental initiative to celebrate its 125th anniversary and contribute in a meaningful manner to protect the environment.

The beach clean-up and tree planting organised at the Rumassala Beach, Unawatuna aims to preserve the environment for future generations. Over 200 volunteers including Baurs employees, dealers and distributors joined in the clean-up as collective action, encouraging everyone to live sustainably. Other organisations that were involved in the programme were the Wildlife Department, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Habaraduwa Pradeshiya Sabha and the Sri Lanka Police Department.

The Rumassala Beach, Unawatuna is the first phase of beach clean-ups organised by Baurs. Generating messaging to educate visitors who visit the location on keeping the area clean, placards and awareness boards were also installed. Similar events targeting other precious beachside locations in Sri Lanka will also be organised throughout the year.

As a participant of the UN Global Compact, Baurs is committed to furthering the Organization’s commitment to Sustainability with the focus on environmental, economic and social aspects and to align our strategies and operations in order to work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The beach clean-up campaign emphasizes our commitment to the environment and raises awareness on the importance of protecting our oceans and beaches.

Commenting on the initiatives, Rolf Blaser, Managing Director/CEO said, “Contributing to society has been our Company’s mission from the very beginning. As we celebrate a milestone 125 years we aim to continue to invest in our communities, supporting education, striving to fortify the environment, furthering our commitment to inspire generations through measurable impactful initiatives.”