Elderly farming parents from Mahalakotuwa, Elahera and Attanakadawala were taken to Kandy to experience the Sacred Dalada Perahera. Image: Ceylon Business Reporter.
The Serendib Uththama Dalada programme provided elderly participants with transport, meals, medical support and reserved seating. Image: Ceylon Business Reporter.
A meaningful corporate social responsibility initiative has enabled more than 100 elderly mothers and fathers from remote farming communities to experience the spiritual and cultural significance of the Sacred Dalada Perahera in Kandy.
The initiative, organised by Serendib Flour Mills under the fifth edition of its Serendib Uththama Dalada programme, took place on 26 August 2026 and brought together farming parents from Mahalakotuwa, Elahera and Attanakadawala. The programme recognised the lifelong contribution of rural agricultural communities, whose work continues to support households and national food security, often without receiving public attention.
The initiative was reported by Ceylon Business Reporter in an article written by Isuru Udayanga and published on 7 September 2026.
A spiritual journey shaped by gratitude
The Serendib Uththama Dalada programme was conducted under the campaign thought:
“Nourishing the hearts of elderly parents with spiritual merits, who once nourished a generation.”
The sentiment placed the experiences of elderly farming parents at the centre of the initiative, acknowledging that many of them had spent decades cultivating land, producing food and supporting their families through demanding agricultural work.
For the participating mothers and fathers, the visit offered an opportunity to worship at the Sri Dalada Maligawa and witness one of Sri Lanka’s most revered religious and cultural observances. Although the annual Perahera attracts attention from across the country and around the world, access to such an experience can remain difficult for elderly people living in distant rural areas, particularly when transport, mobility, health and cost considerations are involved.
By addressing those practical barriers, Serendib Flour Mills created an occasion in which the participants could take part in the spiritual traditions of Kandy in a manner that respected their age, comfort and dignity.
Careful arrangements for a safe and comfortable visit
The journey was arranged with the wellbeing of the elderly participants in mind. Three dedicated buses transported the group to Kandy and returned them safely to their communities, providing a structured travel arrangement for participants from Mahalakotuwa, Elahera and Attanakadawala.
Upon arrival, the group was able to worship at the Sri Dalada Maligawa before attending the Perahera. Reserved seating was arranged at a specially erected VIP stand, allowing the elderly visitors to view the procession in comfort and with suitable visibility.
Meals and refreshments were provided throughout the day, while continuous medical support was made available from the beginning of the journey until the participants returned home. These arrangements were particularly important for a group comprising elderly mothers and fathers, for whom long-distance travel and extended public events can otherwise present considerable physical challenges.
The combination of transport, religious observance, reserved seating, refreshments and medical care demonstrated that the initiative was not limited to providing access to the event. It was structured as a complete experience in which the participants’ safety and comfort were treated as essential elements.
Recognising rural communities beyond the spotlight
Sri Lanka’s farming communities make an instrumental contribution to the country’s social and economic wellbeing. Agricultural work sustains families, supplies markets and supports the wider food system, yet the people responsible frequently remain outside the public spotlight.
Many rural parents have continued working through changing economic conditions, physical hardship and the responsibilities of raising families. Their contribution is often measured through harvests and household income, while the personal sacrifices behind that contribution receive considerably less recognition.
Serendib Uththama Dalada offered a visible expression of appreciation to those communities. By bringing elderly farming parents to Kandy, the programme recognised not only their participation in agriculture but also their accumulated life experience, family responsibilities and enduring connection to Sri Lanka’s religious and cultural traditions.
The programme’s focus on elderly mothers and fathers was especially significant. Rather than treating the participants solely as beneficiaries of a corporate programme, the initiative positioned them as respected members of rural communities whose lives and work had helped nourish successive generations.
The value of dignity-led corporate responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is most effective when it moves beyond short-term publicity and responds to the actual needs of the communities being served. In this instance, the practical details of the programme were closely connected to its underlying purpose.
The provision of return transportation made the journey accessible. The opportunity to worship at the Sri Dalada Maligawa addressed the spiritual dimension of the visit. Reserved seating ensured that participants could witness the Perahera with greater comfort, while meals, refreshments and medical support helped protect their wellbeing throughout the day.
Such an approach reflects a dignity-led model of community engagement. The participants were not simply taken to an event; they were supported throughout an experience designed around their circumstances and expectations.
The initiative also demonstrated the value of maintaining a sustained commitment. As the fifth edition of Serendib Uththama Dalada, the 2026 programme represents more than an isolated activity. It forms part of an ongoing relationship between Serendib Flour Mills and rural communities, with each edition reinforcing the importance of gratitude, compassion and responsible corporate participation.
Continuing a meaningful annual tradition
The continuation of Serendib Uththama Dalada illustrates how businesses can contribute to social wellbeing through programmes that are both practical and culturally meaningful. Religious and cultural occasions often carry deep personal significance, especially for older generations whose lives have been shaped by Sri Lanka’s traditions and community institutions.
For the elderly participants from Mahalakotuwa, Elahera and Attanakadawala, the visit provided a shared experience connected to faith, heritage and community. It also created an occasion through which their lifelong contribution could be formally acknowledged.
The central message of the programme remains closely aligned with the values expressed in its campaign thought: those who once nourished a generation deserve opportunities that nourish their own hearts and affirm their place within society.
Through the fifth edition of Serendib Uththama Dalada, Serendib Flour Mills reaffirmed its commitment to rural communities and demonstrated how corporate initiatives can create lasting value when they are guided by respect for people, cultural understanding and thoughtful care.
The story serves as a positive reminder that recognition does not always require grand gestures. At times, it is expressed through a safe journey, a place of honour, a shared meal, access to spiritual observance and the assurance that a community’s elders have not been forgotten.
For further positive stories about Sri Lankan communities, heritage and community initiatives, readers can follow eLanka, Australia’s long-standing digital platform connecting Sri Lankans with news, events and stories from around the world.
Source: https://ceylonbusinessreporter.com/2026/09/07/serendib-flour-mills-brings-100-elderly-farming-parents-to-kandy-to-witness-sacred-dalada-perahera/
This article was written based on the source https://ceylonbusinessreporter.com/2026/09/07/serendib-flour-mills-brings-100-elderly-farming-parents-to-kandy-to-witness-sacred-dalada-perahera/, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
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