This is Our Sustainability Story

An ethical initiative for a brighter tomorrow

The first light of day signals a fresh start, new opportunities and hope for a brighter future. “Firstlight” is a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative of DPL aimed at providing an improved quality of life to disadvantaged farmers located in remote villages of Sri Lanka. The cornerstone of Firstlight is fair trade in rubber latex, in order to empower farmers to be self-reliant and to sustain their families by partnering an ethical business initiative in natural rubber production. The Firstlight Foundation addresses wide-ranging issues impacting the lives of these smallholders: from the youngest to the eldest member of their communities.

Recent News

Interesting Facts

  • The Firstlight story begins in the Monaragala district with 2 farmers back in 2008.
  • In 2020 Firstlight project expanded to Kegalle with 17 farmers. After seeing Firstlight in action, interest spiked amongst the farmer community and our network in the region increased to a thousand smallholders in just 500 days.
  • In 2021 Firstlight expanded to Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Hambantota and Matara areas with over 6800 farmers currently registered under the initiative.
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Rubber Trees Planted
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Active Farmers
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School Children Supported
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Direct & Indirect Dependents
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Rubber Trees Planted
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Active Farmers
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School Children Supported
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Direct & Indirect Dependents

Our Team

The DPL firstlight program Connects the DPL Family more closely to one another and the community we operate in. Our team actively works together to achieve our Firstlight principals’, fostering Social Change and Environmental Sustainability with multiple programs that aim to empower and uplift the livelihood of farmer co-operative societies and their families.

The Farmers

With over 6000 farmers registered with us, We don’t just ensure a brighter future for our farmers but also their families and the communities they belong to…

The Farmers

With over 6000 farmers registered with us, We don’t just ensure a brighter future for our farmers but also their families and the communities they belong to…

“For over 12 years, DPL Firstlight has worked to empower smallholder rubber farmers. From the outset, we have sought to support their essential contributions and value additions to national rubber production while ensuring that they are guaranteed a fair price for field latex. Additionally, we have optimised their ability to derive maximum yields through the supply of essential agricultural inputs and equipment, and have complemented these efforts with education and awareness building. In this manner, we have been successfully able to enhance livelihoods at the grassroots of the Sri Lankan economy”

 

Pushpika Janadheera,
Managing Director DPL

Our Projects

Find out how you can be a part of the firstlight initiative