DIMO
Biodiversity Means Business:
A Decade of Impact,
A Future of Action
“DIMO believes innovation in conservation stems from the integration of science, tradition and collaboration”
Chairman
DIMO has embedded ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation as a core element of its sustainability agenda 2030, under the pillar of conserving a living planet. The organisation’s flagship environmental initiatives are making a significant national impact – restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity and fostering long-term environmental resilience.
Among the most notable is Life to Our Forests (LOF) – Kanneliya, a rainforest restoration initiative implemented in partnership with Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Forest Department Sri Lanka and other corporate partners.
This project rehabilitated 12 hectares of degraded forest using principles of restoration ecology. DIMO initially joined as a funding partner and now serves as the official fertiliser partner through its agriculture arm DIMO Agribusinesses.
More recently, DIMO partnered with BSL and the Federation of Environmental Organisations (FEO) on the Life to Our National Parks (LONP) project at Lunugamvehera, removing invasive species across 15 hectares while creating local employment opportunities.
In Panama, DIMO led a marine turtle conservation project for over 14 years in collaboration with Wildlife & Ocean Resource Conservation (WORC) – an initiative now supported by MAS Intimates and Commercial Bank – focussing on the in-situ protection of endangered turtle species.
In addition, DIMO supports a mangrove restoration initiative in Galle with the Wildlife Conservation Society – Galle and MAS Holdings, empowering local communities to restore coastal ecosystems.
“BSL enables companies such as DIMO to be true custodians of the planet, fostering collaboration and purposeful action that embeds biodiversity protection into core strategies for lasting impact,” says DIMO Chairman and BSL CEO Ranjith Pandithage.
DIMO believes innovation in conservation stems from the integration of science, tradition and collaboration. For example, the Kanneliya reforestation project uses traditional methods including clay pot irrigation and scientific techniques such as elevation specific soil testing to enhance forest growth.
He adds: “As the official fertiliser partner, DIMO introduced the first ever forest fertiliser, designed to enhance soil productivity across varied terrain.”
Through strategic collaboration with local communities, the turtle conservation project at Panama empowered residents as coastline stewards – combining awareness programmes with active engagement to curb illegal egg collection and safeguard hatchling populations, setting a benchmark for community driven conservation in Sri Lanka.
“These initiatives demonstrate how the private sector can achieve measurable ecological outcomes by combining technological innovation, indigenous knowledge and inclusive partnerships – setting a new standard for nature based, community rooted environmental action,” Pandithage affirms.
DIMO’s contributions to biodiversity projects have restored over 27 hectares to date, advancing its biodiversity key performance indicator (KPI) of achieving a 1:1 restoration ratio by 2030. This includes the 12 hectare restoration at Kanneliya, 15 hectares at Lunugamvehera and 7.4 hectares of mangrove restoration.
“Beyond environmental results, these projects have enhanced cross sector partnerships, provided income generating opportunities and empowered local communities as ecosystem custodians. These projects enabled our staff to volunteer through DIMO’s Nature Club, engaging in purposeful initiatives,” he avers.
Pandithage reiterates that “beyond restoration, our work strengthens stakeholder trust, creates inclusive economic opportunities and reinforces DIMO’s brand as a responsible corporate citizen.”
DIMO looks to the future with plans to integrate conservation efforts more deeply into its own operations. “While we’ve made a significant impact through external biodiversity projects, the next phase will embed nature based solutions into our facilities, focussing more on water conservation, waste management and green innovations,” he says.
The company recognises the importance of science based targets – especially in emissions – and is committed to aligning with global sustainability frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conservation will serve not only as an external focus but a catalyst for internal transformation, driving employee wellbeing, awareness and operational improvements.
Pandithage concludes: “Sustainability is no longer a peripheral obligation – it is the core of business resilience. Investing in nature is not only a moral imperative but a strategic necessity.”
Telephone 2449797 | Email dimo@dimolanka.com | Website www.dimolanka.com
