Source : MAS Holdings

MAS Holdings was recognized by the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO for the valuable contribution the company has made towards Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through its Eco Go Beyond Programme.

The award - the only one of its kind given to a private sector organization - was presented to MAS on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the National Commission for UNESCO in Sri Lanka.

MAS received the Award from the Chief Guest at the event - Mr. A Parsuramen, Director, UNESCO representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The event was attended by many dignitaries and high ranking officials of Sri Lanka including guest of Honour, Mr. Neil Buhne – UN resident coordinator, Minister Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education, Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO and member of the UNESCO Executive Board, Professor Tissa Vitharana – Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, and Romesh Jayasinghe- Secretary for the Foreign Ministry. Also in attendance were Ms. Malini Peiris - Secretary Ministry of Higher Education, Mr. Wimal Rubasinghe - Secretary  Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and Mr. Prithiviraj Perera- the Secretary  General of the UNESCO National Commission for Sri Lanka.

Eco Go Beyond was launched by MAS Holdings in 2006. To date, the programme has transmitted the  message of Sustainable Development to over 11000 students in 30 schools in rural Sri Lanka. In 2008 UNESCO Bangkok signed an MoU with MAS Holdings to incorporate the concepts of the Eco Go Beyond programme into a toolkit which they are developing for the Asia Pacific region.

Commenting on the award Mr. Dian Gomes – Group Director - MAS Holdings and Head of Group Corporate Responsibility thanked the National Commission for UNESCO for the award.

“We have always been committed to sustainably – to practicing it and propagating it. This award is certainly encouraging; we will continue to develop the Eco Go Beyond Programme and focus on furthering Education for Sustainable Development and are committed to the work of the National Commission.”