The Safe Bottle Lamp Foundation

Acknowledgements

We owe our success to many foreign and local individuals and organizations. Some gave us financial assistance while newspaper organizations, TV channels and radio channels gave us the much needed publicity. We bow our heads to them. If not for these benefactors, our campaign would have ended many years ago like the previous one launched in 1965 and mentioned in the WHO publication referred to earlier.

The biggest grant we got was the US$ 50,000 prize money for winning a Rolex Award for Enterprise in 1998, which was instrumental in the very establishment of our NGO. That enabled us to maximize the work that was hither to done by one individual, and without basic facilities.

An account of the prestigious Rolex Awards
is given at the bottom of this page.

Besides the Rolex Watch Company, the others who made handsome donations are as follows-

Foreign organizations and individuals:

Canada		Embassy in Sri Lanka
USA		Lindbergh Foundation & Sri Lankans in San Diego
Singapore		Rolex Watch Company and Mr Yeo Swee & Friends
UK		Sri Lankans in UK (Medicalaid2srilanka)
Australia		Sri Lankans in Melbourne & Ms Andrew Collier
France		Sri Lankans in Paris
Switzerland		Cargill International & Sri Lankans in Geneva
Netherlands		Alumni Association of Lanka
Japan		Japanese Women's Association

Sri Lankan organizations and individuals:

The Sri Lankan benefactor who assisted us most is the Commercial Bank. They spent over Rs. 2 million to purchase a large number of our safe lamps, and to distribute them to school children in the Polonnaruwa District, 220 km from Colombo. The distribution was done after showing a playlet on burns in each school.

Govt. Organizations	Banks	NGOs	Others
The President's Fund Health Ministry S/L Insurance Corp NECDEP Cey Petroleum Corpn. Printing Corpn. Lotteries Board	Commercial DFCC People's Union NSB Sampath	Plan Lanka Colombo Round table CCF- Sri Lanka Lions Clubs Rotary Clubs IRD	Sir Arthur C Clarke WHO Nawaloka Hospital Ceylinco Ins Company Eagle Insurance Co Trade Finance Mackwoods Charity Fund Nawakrama Unilever Ltd Indoscan Pvt Ltd. Pan Pharma Pvt Ltd Janashakthi Ins Dilma Tea Co. Dialog Telecom Asian Alliance Ins Laugfs Gas Co Amana Takaful Ins

Rolex Awards for Enterprise

“We initiated the Rolex Awards in 1976 out of a conviction that we had a responsibility to take an active interest in improving life on our planet and in the desire to foster values we cherish- quality, ingenuity, determination and, above all, a spirit of enterprise”

The late Andre J. Heiniger,
Founder of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise.

“In keeping with the Rolex pioneering history and inherent spirit of enterprise, we have continued to assist scores of Rolex Awards winners in their efforts to bring ground breaking projects to fruition. By challenging the status quo, these bold and tenacious men and women have helped to make our planet a better place to live. We will continue to pay tribute to such initiative and resolve, and look forward to encouraging numerous other spirited individuals in their quests to change the world”.

Patrick Heiniger,
President and CEO of Montres Rolex S.A.
Chairman of the Selection Committee of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise

Rolex Awards support exceptional men and women who are breaking new ground in areas that advance human knowledge and well being.

Objectives

The Rolex Awards for enterprise were established to provide financial assistance to those seeking to break new ground in areas that advance human knowledge and well- being. Aimed at fostering a spirit of enterprise around the world, the Rolex Awards recognize pioneering concepts and innovative thought by giving individuals the means to achieve an important undertaking.

Rolex Awards fund new or ongoing work. Winners receive a financial contribution to implement their project, a Rolex chronometer and worldwide recognition of their work at award ceremonies held in different cities in different years. Rolex Awards stand apart from many other prizes in that, rather than rewarding past achievements, they encourage new talent and assist in the completion of innovative projects.

History

Since its foundation in 1905, the Rolex Watch Company of Geneva, Switzerland, has been guided by a pioneering spirit embodying ingenuity, quality and craftsmanship. In 1926, the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, invented the world’s first waterproof and dustproof wrist watch. Called the Oyster, this time piece was one of the most important innovations in history of watchmaking. In 1976, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Oyster, Rolex decided to encourage those with an adventurous and searching spirit, and in a broader sense, to help humankind. The Rolex Awards for Enterprise were born. Since their creation in 1976, the Rolex Awards have been granted on 12 occasions.

Areas of Recognition	Selection Criteria
Science and Medicine	Originality
Technology and Innovation	Feasibility
Exploration and Discovery	Potential Impact
The Environment	Spirit of Enterprise
Cultural Heritage

Judges

Winners are chosen by a Selection Committee, an independent international jury composed of outstanding personalities from a wide range of disciplines and activities. Members of the jury generally have expertise in a particular field, broad interest and a spirit of enterprise in their own right.

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