John Keells Foundation marks its 21st anniversary with a redesigned website and new Volunteer App

John Keells Foundation, announced the unveiling of its redesigned website and plans to launch a new Volunteer App as it marked its 21^st anniversary of incorporation on 28^th March 2026.

The redesigned website was symbolically launched by Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group, in the presence of the JKF’s Management Committee comprising the Group Head of CSR, JKF Project Champions, Sector CSR Coordinators, the JKF team and associated Centre functions personnel.

Speaking at the website launch, Krishan Balendra said, “I am happy to note features in the redesigned website which amplify the voices of beneficiaries and partners and ease overall navigation, strengthening how JKF connects with our multiple stakeholders. Meanwhile, the new Volunteer App has potential to reach our 15,000+ employees through a dynamic and personalised interface and critically enhance Group-wide data collation and reporting on volunteerism. Both these innovations are meaningful ways of marking JKF’s 21st year, demonstrating how JKF continues to evolve strategically.”

Established in 2005 as a pioneer CSR entity in Sri Lanka, JKF has over the past 21 years, evolved as a dominant force in corporate responsibility, demonstrating how corporates can play a pivotal role in social development through a multi-stakeholder approach.  JKF’s dedicated website has since its launch in 2016 served as a vital platform to communicate its wide‑ranging initiatives implemented under the John Keells CSR vision of `Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’. Over the years, the website has evolved as JKF’s primary portal and repository of information for all its multiple stakeholders, persons seeking employment or internship opportunities, researchers on CSR among others, affirming JKF’s commitment to social responsibility, transparency and impact. The redesigned website builds on this legacy, offering a modern, user‑friendly interface designed to better showcase JKF’s journey and achievements.

The Volunteer App, developed as a customised tool with the technical support of John Keells IT, is designed to engage John Keells Group volunteers more effectively. By enabling streamlined tracking, monitoring and sharing of updates, the application ensures transparency and efficiency in volunteer participation. Currently in its testing stage, the application is scheduled to go-live in April 2026.

Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of CSR, speaking on the occasion said, “Since its incorporation in 2005, JKF’s ethos has been empowerment rather than welfare, based on strategic and long-term focus and a multi-stakeholder approach, and guided by national priorities, the Sustainable (initially Millennium) Development Goals, and the UN Global Compact principles. In 2024, we streamlined our focus areas from six to four, to better align with the Social Ambitions under the Group’s ESG Priorities and to optimise JKF’s interventions and impact. The redesigned website reflects this evolution. We have also simplified navigation and adopted a more people‑centric approach. Meanwhile, we are excited to launch the Volunteer App at the start of the new financial year, which is expected to streamline and digitise our Groupwide volunteer engagement – from callouts to tracking and reporting – as well as a dedicated blog for volunteers representing a transformative step in mobilising the Group’s formidable volunteer strength, aligning technology with purpose to deliver greater impact to the communities we serve.”