Profile – Shaan Corea

Current Position Founder/CEO Awakening Lanka and Appe Lanka

Professional Overview:

Shaan Corea has over two decades of experience working in positions of leadership at top organizations in the private and public sectors producing over 600 documentaries that have been telecast on National TV. She has been the driving force behind creating ground-breaking documentaries for iconic blue-chip conglomerates in the country such as Unilevers, John Keells Holdings, CIC Holdings, Arpico, Nestlé and the Maharaja Group of Companies. Over the years, her work has helped to raise awareness about important issues and address concerns in the areas of maternity health and childcare, home emergencies, nutrition, healthy living, career and skill development and the empowerment of youth, women and children. Shaan has collaborated with a variety of global not-for-profit organizations such as the Asia Foundation, the World Bank, Handicapped International, Save the Children and GTZ, passionately contributing to empowerment projects. She has also worked closely with many national organizations such as the National Education Commission, the National Institute of Education, the Employers’ Federation and the National Chamber of Commerce. Through her work in various capacities at these organizations, she has helped to champion the education, career development and skills development of differently-abled individuals, thereby helping to empower them and guide them in their efforts to find financial independence and self-reliance. Shaan has also partnered with the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, the Sri Jayewardene Teaching Hospital, the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, the University of Moratuwa, the State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation to formulate, design and broadcast educational programmes that raised awareness on key health issues. Time and time again, her programmes have been filled with the vital information and tips that people need to learn about health concerns. During Former President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga’s presidency, Shaan also served on several Presidential Task Forces, and worked under the guidance of Dr. Tara De Mel to assist the formulation of Government policies on the rights of women and children as well as key areas of national concern such as substance abuse.

During her school career, Shaan served as the Founder and Charter President of the Interact Club of Bishop’s College, and went on to win the ‘Best President’ award in Sri Lanka and South India. She led the school’s debating team for four consecutive years and won the Lesley Joseph Memorial Prize for English Oratory and the Wijesekera Silver Medal for Contemporary Speech. The Bishop’s College Hewisi Band was also formed by her.

Current Work:

In her current role as the Founder of Appé Lanka, Shaan is involved in running an extensive empowerment programme that provides training, skills development and employment opportunities to the people of Northern Sri Lanka. Appé Lanka at present provides renewable electricity, psycho-social support and services as well as educational opportunities for residents living in Poonakary – an area that was drastically affected by the civil war. Shaan is currently focused on ensuring the project’s success in Poonakary, where her project is playing a crucial role in fostering healing and economic recovery. She has embarked on a strategic fundraising drive and hopes to gradually expand the project’s reach, so that it may continue to empower and uplift people across the island who are in need.

https://www.facebook.com/AppeLankaByAwakening/videos/388148418195208/

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=413717622568880/ 

http://life.dailymirror.lk/article/62/life_columns/16294/Shaan-Corea-On-The-Buzz-With-Danu

http://www.dailynews.lk/2016/11/21/features/99615

https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20161211/283437781141122

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161211/plus/launch-of-appe-lanka-website-219390.html

 

Profile – Annick SANSONI

Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation OFFICER

Annick SANSONI is a qualified lawyer in France and Britain and has an extensive track record of work with NGOs around the world. Her father was a native Sri Lankan and she now wants to return to give back to the country that was- and still is – home to many generations of the Sansoni family (that include former Lord Chief Justice Ned Sansoni and fabric designer Barbara Sansoni).

She worked as a corporate lawyer in international companies such as Colgate-Palmolive for over 15 years but sought early on in her professional life to give a more human meaning to her activities.

After starting up and running a fair-trade activity in Paris, Annick went into teaching and training and taught a wide variety of students, from underprivileged or sick youth to adults undergoing vocational training and musicians.

Following her latest professional experience as Assistant Project Manager on water projects in the Maldives for Hayleys, Annick will be handling all the Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation aspects of projects for APPE LANKA, as well as participating actively in field work with her signature enthusiasm!

Profile: Mr. Rajan Asirwatham

Advisor of APPE LANKA

Mr. Asirwatham was the Senior Partner and Country Head of KPMG Sri for well over four decades, from 1961 to 2008. KPMG Sri Lanka always retained a place in the global firm’s Middle East and South Asia boards, whereas many larger countries were unable to secure such an exalted position. The Institute of Certified Management Accountants inducted Mr. Rajan Asirwatham to the Global Accounting Hall of Fame® for his services to the profession in Sri Lanka.

During his lifetime of achievement to the profession, Mr. Asirwatham has been the Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon; Chairman of the Institute of Taxation; Chairman – Finance Services Stability Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Member of the University of Colombo Council, Member – Advisory Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; Member of the Presidential Commission on Taxation and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Asirwatham has held a number of important positions in the public sector and with professional organisations; and he continues to be a director of a number of companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). He also sits on the boards of S. Thomas’ College, Bishop’s College and Trinity College.

Mr. Asirwatham is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, and the first chairman of Faculty of Taxation, a position he held for over 10 years. He has been a paper writer, commentator and session chairman at number of annual National Conferences and a speaker at annual Budget seminars and other seminars on Taxation and Company Law. He was also a paper writer at South Asian Federation of Accountants conference in Chennai, India.

Mr. Asirwatham is an invaluable source of inspiration and a true mentor to the APPE LANKA team. His ethics and vision for an inclusive Sri Lanka as well as his humility and generosity are a beacon to inspire and guide us in our work.

Contact Information

Web page – www.appelanka.com

Email – info@appelanka.com

Phone number – +94772872056