Programme updates

Once again Eagle was recognized for its deep commitment to corporate social responsibility and was adjudged second in the "less than Rs10 billion turnover" category. This category is a new award segment introduced this year. The Award was presented by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at the "Best Corporate Citizens Awards 2008" held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel recently.

Eagle pioneered and practiced corporate social responsibility (CSR), long before it became the buzzword it is today. Eagle's CSR initiatives are designed to benefit the nation. Being "ethical and socially responsible" is a vital core-value of the company. Eagle isn't merely a commercial establishment engaging in CSR, but an entity driving the nation forward through a value-system. Eagle's CSR is consistent, comprehensive, and consciously impacts the country with a profound commitment towards building a better society. 

Elaborating further Amal Perera, AGM Marketing & Planning, comments: "At Eagle CSR is part of the value-system which its corporate-culture pivots on and is a way-of-life. It runs in the veins of every member of the Eagle family. It goes beyond business objectives to create a continuous impact on society. It is the driving-force behind all activities ensuring sincerity and absence of undue publicity vis-à-vis CSR expenditure. Eagle CSR is not mere tactical image-enhancement."

Some endeavours are in fact totally devoid of any form of publicity. Eagle's grass-root, school development endeavours spanning over 15 years are devoid of media-hype, as are training of intermediary's staff and Eagle Sports Club activities such as blood donation campaigns.

Deepal Sooriyaarachchi, managing director, commented: "Caring, the very essence of the Eagle brand is embodied in our tag-line 'Come under our wing'. Eagle's comprehensive CSR initiatives, significant investments made and trust funds established to ensure long-term continuity, are a reflection of this caring. Eagle ensures the long-term continuity of its ventures, by setting aside 1% of the preceding three year's profits. As from the very inception we will continue to strengthen and ensure the long-term sustainability of our CSR endeavours with consistent focus."

In 2006 Eagle was ranked Asia's number one for CSR in the industry by Asia Insurance Review, in light of Eagle's policy of "CSR without fanfare". Eagle was also ranked among the 10 Best Corporate Citizens by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, for three consecutive years.

Eagle's strategy on corporate social responsibility is in line with Aviva's. Aviva's CSR strategy ensures that it acts responsibly over the long-term in how it does business. For Aviva, CSR involves the responsible management of relationships with customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders. It also means managing the impact Aviva has upon society and the environment. Adherence to strong CSR principles is an essential part of Aviva's long-term success.

-ends-

Enquiries:
Nishanthi Gunewardena
Senior executive integrated marketing communications 
Telephone: +94 112310078       

Notes to editors:

In February 2006, the Aviva Group acquired a majority stake in Eagle. Aviva is one of the world's oldest insurance groups, with a history dating back over 300 years to 1696. Today it is the world's fifth-largest insurance group and the biggest in the UK. The group has 57,000 employees serving 45 million customers worldwide with more than £359 billion of assets under management. 

Listed below are some of the key CSR initiatives of the company:

Eagle Samana
Eagle's consistent effort to nurture the Sri Lankan community has resulted in the launch of its latest innovative CSR-platform - Eagle Samana "Creating an equally abled Society". This CSR initiative was implemented after the company identified the prevalent need to enhance the competencies of educators of children with disabilities. This initiative will ensure that these children benefit through the development of their teachers' knowledge and capability in relation to; education, moulding a well-balanced personality and facilitating psychological welfare and stability to enable them to harness their potential.

Seasonal safety
Eagle's large multimedia campaigns and below-the-line activities during festive seasons on the careful use of fire-crackers during festive seasons, commenced in 1992, have reduced fire-cracker accidents in children to near zero.

Safety ambassadors
Eagle also creates awareness on home-accidents highlighting day-to-day perils through more than 2000 sales agents, who are fortified with the title "Safety Ambassadors" and equipped with "safety tool kits". They inculcate country-wide safety-awareness amongst children, teachers, parents and society at grass-root levels and beyond. Over 200,000 households have been reached.

One million pilgrims - Zero drownings
"Poson Safety" is a unique campaign initiated and sustained by Eagle for the past 15 years. It has been instrumental in the prevention of drowning during the Poson season, where approximately one million pilgrims journey to Anuradhapura. As a result, consecutive Poson seasons have recorded near zero deaths with over 128 lives saved in the past 15 years.

National safety awards - For a safer workplace
Eagle plays a crucial role in creating a safer workplace, through the "National Safety Awards", held once in two years since 1994, together with the Department of Labour and Employees' Trust Fund Board. This concept was evolved and sponsored by Eagle after identifying the need to enhance Industrial Safety in Sri Lanka. It has become the benchmark of organizational commitment towards an accident-free workplace.

Recognizing educational excellence
Eagle rewards Sri Lanka's most promising children with the annual "Eagle Higher Education Scholarships", for which the initial trust-fund of Rs10 million, has increased to Rs39 million.  The selection criterion is purely on merit and does not hinge upon the students' parents being policyholders.

Felicitating bravery
Eagle has been Strategic Partner to the National Civilian Bravery Awards held for four consecutive years. The awards recognize civilians who have saved lives at the risk of their own. Eagle has played a strategic role in raising the awards to a national level.

Eagle goes green
Eagle's "Go Green" project has gained the attention of employees on the impact of global warming and other environmental issues that need to be addressed to save the planet. Eagle set out to cut down paper usage by 10% a goal the company achieved. Eagle also achieved a significant reduction in the use of printing and photocopy paper during the year. Eagle also recycles used documentation through an outsourced service provider who collects used papers in boxes specially provided for the purpose and dispatches it weekly for recycling.