Sri Lanka’s Knuckles Forest Conservation Project wins Ford Company Grant
One of Sri Lanka’s environmental conservation project aimed at preventing fire in Knuckles Forest Reserve declared as a ‘World Heritage Sit’e by UNESCO has been selected as the recipient of the US- based Ford Company’s $10,000 Conservation and Environmental Grant this year.
Suranjan Kodituwakku of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka who submitted the project proposal received the Ford grant in Colombo on Tuesday.
Ford Motor Company's Conservation and Environmental Grants program has become an annual event in Asia Pacific. Since its inception over 10 years ago, the Asia Pacific chapter of the grants program has supported multiple organizations with significant fund injections awarded to winning projects.
“Ford implements several programmes aimed at encouraging countries to conserve environment and contribute to a better quality of life,” said Pavinee Pothong, Marketing & Communications Manager, Asia Pacific, E& G, Ford Motor Company in an interview with BT Motoring on the sidelines of a press conference convened to announce the winner of Ford Motor Company's Conservation and Environmental Grants program, She said that “environmental conservation, protection and education are an essential part of their business, both in product development and the execution of community efforts.” She added that her company is highly impressed about the achievements of Future Automobiles – Ford’s authorized dealership in Sri Lanka within a short period of less than one year. She noted that the Future Automobiles has sold 221 Ford units so far.
Sujeeva Premaratne, Chief Operating Officer Future Automobiles said that the Sri Lanka program was announced in late 2011 and in response to a series of press advertisements, they have received 53 applications from NGOS, student groups, academics, environmentalists and corporate bodies.
After heavy scrutiny by the judges, the recommended winning proposal and recipient of a donation worth up to $ 10,000 was preventing the Forest Fires in the Knuckles Range project, he said.
As a company, Ford runs several environmental initiatives under its Green Technology umbrella. The company is constantly developing multiple technologies to find affordable solutions that create products with greater efficiency.
Ecoboost is a good example of Ford’s groundbreaking green technology in action. The Ecoboost engines combine direct petrol injection and turbo- charging in smaller- displacement engines to give customers outstanding fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions, he said.
Ford Motor Company's Conservation and Environmental Grants program has become an annual event in Asia Pacific. Since its inception over 10 years ago, the Asia Pacific chapter of the grants program has supported multiple organizations with significant fund injections awarded to winning projects.