A program to eliminate animal cruelty by means of creating awareness, implementing efficient & affective projects, and to make everyone understand that “Animal welfare always leads to Human welfare.

In order to achieve our long-term goal to eliminate animal cruelty, Embark has initiated a campaign to address a number of critical issues facing our society – rabies & dog bites and excess dog population. Embark approaches these issues at various levels, including modern clinical and medical means. This will have a positive impact on welfare of both people and the animals of Sri Lanka. The method in practice is world renowned CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate & Release) which is approved by the WHO (World Health Organisation).

Since its inception in March 2007, Embark has sterilized and vaccinated over 1350 stray and community dogs in greater Colombo and Colombo suburbs. This number achieved in a span of just nine months is proof of Embark’s interest and dedication towards fulfilling its long term vision.

Puppy Love

This is the latest campaign initiated by EMBARK. The project aims to rehome stray puppies from the streets. The campaign is implemented by means of displaying photos of puppies in the Odel Store as well as on its website http://www.odel.lk/shop/browse/dept/5/cat/229/subcat/0/page/.

Once a person decides to adopt a puppy, a “Responsible Dog Ownership” contract form is signed by the the new owner and the organization, and the pup is delivered to the new owner. Follow-up home visits will also be made to ensure the well-being of the puppy.

Besides the sterilization campaigns and puppy love promotion carried out by Embark, Otara has initiated many campaigns as part of her social responsibility work. To name a few:
• Adoption of baby elephants in need of help
• Introduction of “carbage bag” – to collect garbage in the car
• Plant a tree campaign
• Housing project for displaced people by the 2004 tsunami.

She has also actively taken part in conservation campaigns initiated by others. For example:
• Clean our beach project
• Project to clear Proposis Juliflora from the Bundala National Park. (a campaign made possible with MA’s Linea Aqua)

In addition to these campaigns, Otara’s personal social responsibility initiative – project Embark – held a special event to commemorate World Animal Day 2007. The fun filled “Dog Grooming Event" for domestic pets was held on the 6th & 7th October and you will find a link at the bottom of this page to more information about this.

Project Embark is funded by the profits generated from the Embark merchandise range available in the Odel Store in Colombo, Kohuwala and Ja-Ela in Sri Lanka. In addition to the sale of merchandise, Embark raises funds through personal & corporate donations. An option to donate online will be available soon on Embark’s own website: www.embark.lk which is currently under construction.

A link to a selection of press articles about the animal welfare projects carried out by Embark will be added here shortly.

Ms Otara Gunawardene has been in the fashion industry since 1989. She initially started as a whole sale business catering to other stores from the boot of her car. And today Otara is the Chief Executive Officer of Odel, Sri Lanka’s most fashionable department store. Her achievement in building the vibrant brand “Odel” as a fashion empire in Sri Lanka is a classic example of building a powerful brand from nothing. Today Otara has become a prime example of a Sri Lankan entrepreneurship by making Odel a retail success.

Otara is actively involved in environmental and animal welfare issues which are very close to her heart. From assisting to build houses for tsunami victims, planting trees to help the environment and to adopting orphaned elephants, Otara and Odel are well known for their CSR projects. Otara’s commitment to bettering the lives of animals resulted in the birth of EMBARK, a personal CSR initiative.