A social welfare project initiated during the tenure of former Finance Minister Hon. Ravi Karunanayake and former Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Hon. Mahinda Samarasinghe on the invitation of Mr. Yasendra Amerasinghe, CEO of Carmart, along with their principals, Automobiles Peugeot, saw the handing over of two brand new Peugeot 508 diesel cars to Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Minister of Skills Development & Vocational Training recently.

The vehicles will be provided by the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training to the Ceylon German Technical Institute, Moratuwa and Automobile Engineering Training Institute, Wellampitiya. This marks the first time that brand new, high-technology, European vehicles have been donated to these institutes.

Valued at approximately Rs. 40 million, these two cars are to be used as technical learning platforms by students who can be familiarised in a practical environment to understand the underlying engineering. The vehicles were imported on special approval from Exchange Control to be used for technical training only and hence cannot be registered or used on the road, but used only as test cars in their respective automobile engineering schools.

Chairman of Carmart Senake Amerasinghe and CEO Yasendra Amerasinghe handed over the keys to Hon. Chandima Weerakkody at the Ministry of Skills Development & Vocational Training.

Also present were Thilak Kariyawasam Private Secretary to the Hon. Minister, the two Principals of the Institutes, Mrs. Rukmani Amerasinghe of Carmart and DGM-Marketing, Carmart, Uditha Obeysekere.

Carmart Pvt Ltd is the sole agent, authorised repairer, and spare parts distributor for Mazda and Peugeot in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1953 by late Mr. Clarence Amerasinghe, Carmart is one of the longest running automobile importers in Sri Lanka, and also one of the oldest continuously operating distributors for its franchises in the Asian region. Carmart CSR priorities include education, social welfare, and natural disasters. This campaign aims to improve educational standards by providing reputed automobile institutes with the tools required to effectively teach modern technology to students.

Photo caption: The two brand new Peugeot 508 diesel cars which will be used by the students of the Ceylon German Technical Institute, Moratuwa and Automobile Engineering Training Institute, Wellampitiya

[caption id="attachment_37618" align="alignnone" width="750"] Chairman of Carmart Senake Amerasinghe hands over the keys to Hon. Chandima Weerakkody at the Ministry of Skills Development & Vocational Training. Also present are (from left) DGM Marketing of Carmart Uditha Obeysekere, Director of Carmart Mrs. Rukmani Amerasinghe, CEO Carmart Yasendra Amerasinghe and others[/caption]