Highlighting the importance of recycling, Coca-Cola donated PET collection bins to 28 schools in Biyagama and began a PET bottle collection competition. The initiative focused on teaching children the importance of recycling waste and protecting the environment. The schools that collected the most amount of PET bottles (in kilograms), over the last year, were awarded the first, second and third prizes accordingly. Additionally, every school that collected over 25 kilograms was given a concessionary prize. The prize giving was attended by Abhishek Jugran – Country Manager, Coca-Cola Far East Limited, Indika Perera – Country Supply Chain Manager and Ruwan Kumara- SHEQ, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Manager. The same competition is currently being held in the Kaduwela district and also focuses on developing a sense of environmental responsibility within children from the area.

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka also championed environmental awareness on World Environment Day by conducting an inter-school debating competition in collaboration with the Biyagama Educational Division. Coca-Cola organized this initiative to generate awareness amongst school students on the importance of environmental conservation and protection. Students from 16 schools in the division participated in the event and the winner of the World Environment Day debate was Visaka Balika Vidyalaya and the runner-up was Daranagama Rajasinghe Prathamika Vidyalaya. In the second category, Siyamabalapewatte Kanishta Vidyalaya emerged as the winning school and Bollegala Maha Vidyalaya was named the runner-up.(KH)