develop social enterprises in Sri Lanka

The Need

Social Enterprise sector in Sri Lanka is growing. We estimate there are thousands of entities in Sri Lanka which can be recognised as social enterprises. Although a few companies already identify themselves as social enterprises, many others do not know they may be running a social enterprise. Most social enterprises are at start-up stage, while more and more charities are being transformed into social enterprises.

They have different needs ranging from business modelling, planning, sales, working capital, product design etc. They need impact investment in order to scale up rapidly. Their social, environmental and economic impact need to be measured and reported against global standards. They also need to be recognised and rewarded for their achievements. Policies and systems need to be developed to support the growth of the emerging social enterprise sector in Sri Lanka.

The Vision

Our vision is to have a “thriving social enterprise sector in Sri Lanka by 2025″, with thousands of legally recognised social enterprises, employing hundreds-of-thousands of people, and delivering measured social, environmental and economic impact.

In order for us to get there, we need to fulfill the above needs step-by-step, working together with different partners, and be committed to a long term plan. Social Enterprise Lanka is the Hub pulling together local and international stakeholders, and aligning their efforts towards our shared vision.

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Team

World is changed by the

people who believe they can

Eranda Ginige

Founder of Social Enterprise Lanka

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Follow @ErandaGinige

Mario De Alwis

CEO of Social Enterprise Lanka

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Services

This is what we do

Organise, Support, Measure, Reward

Ath Pavura ඇත් පවුර அத் பவுர

Ath Pavura is the first TV show to promote social entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. A pioneering initiative to find the hidden entrepreneurs scattered around the country who are solving social and environmental problems through their businesses. An ambitious programme to invest in aspiring social entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses. And the opportunity of a life time for existing social entrepreneurs to showcase their business on television, and secure investment to jump to the next curve.

Ath Pavura is conceptualised and brought to you by Social Enterprise Lanka and Lanka Impact Investing Network together with Sri Lanka’s best television channel, ITN. Ath Pavura is a national scale programme, and with ITN we are reaching the far corners of the rural most segments where the real gems of Social Entrepreneurs are waiting to be discovered.

Ath Pavura ඇත් පවුර அத் பவுர

Our title Sponsor is Hatton National Bank, a prestigious commercial bank in Sri Lanka celebrating its 129th Anniversary. Our Official Telecommunications Partner is Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s largest telecommunications service provider. Our Official Education Partner is Horizon Campus, Sri Lanka’s most recognised University Campus. And our Official Print Media Partner is Wijeya Newspapers, Sri Lanka’s No. 1 print media company. We are excited to have the top brands in Sri Lanka working hand-in-hand with us to start the revolution in building a social enterprise sector in Sri Lanka.

Our Support Partners include the Good Market, Sri Lanka’s premier market place for social and responsible businesses, Lanka Social Ventures, the Incubator for social entrepreneurs, and Youth Business Sri Lanka, a member of Youth Business International.

What is Ath Pavura ඇත් පවුර அத் பவுர

Ath Pavura literally means “Elephant Wall”. Sri Lanka is world famous for its majestic elephants roaming freely across the forests. They are intelligent, social and playful animals. Elephant symbolism is found all around the country and all throughout Sri Lanka’s 2,600 year long history. In the nature, the Tuskers form a wall standing next to each other to protect their young ones.

The Tuskers represent Impact Investors in Sri Lanka, the successful entrepreneurs, the rich and the benevolent, those who have a track record of doing good business. They will be waiting patiently to hear the business pitches of the social entrepreneurs. And social entrepreneurs, the young elephants will face this Wall of Elephants to prove their business idea, its viability, its Impact to the society and the environment.

And if they are successful in convincing the Impact Investors, they will win the investment they seek, right there, on the spot, with a little pat on the back just like how the elephants do. What’s unique about Ath Pavura is that every contestant stands an equal chance to secure the investment they need to start and grow their social business. Please click the Learn More button to visit our website.

What can you do

If you have an idea for a social enterprise, or if you are already running a social business and want to scale it up, then send us an application right now! This is your moment.

If you know somebody who should take part in Ath Pavura, then share this with them. They deserve it.

If you are an individual or an organisation outside of Sri Lanka working to support social entrepreneurs, then write to us to explore opportunities to collaborate.