Her Passion

Otara's passion for conserving the environment and her love for animals coupled with her deep sense of responsibility towards the community has expressed itself in pathbreaking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects over the years that are a testimonial to her committment to needy causes.

As Odel evolved into a brand with international stature, Otara felt it was time to indulge her other passions, namely, her love for the environment and animals. She was convinced that her professional and personal life would gain a supreme balance if she could only put these strong feelings for the environment and animals into practice. Secretly, she was proud that these childhood fancies had, if at all, become stronger with time, and she gladly embraced many projects over the years as a testimonial to Odel’s commitment to corporate social responsibility in the community.

Although her childhood desire to become a veterinarian may have not materialised, she channelled that love for animals into ‘Embark’ (www.embark.lk) – Otara’s very own personal initiative for the welfare of street dogs, which has today caught the imagination of Sri Lankans everywhere. Embark aims to promote the well-being of animals by creating awareness, raising funds and simultaneously organising individual projects in conjunction with other animal welfare associations, treating street dogs and finding kind homes for them. Otara is deeply touched by the overwhelming response to Embark and she has many more exciting plans to ensure that this initiative, so dear to her heart, will continue to inspire generations. A range of clothing, jewellery and accessories featuring endearing logos of the beloved pooches has further deepened public involvement in Embark.

Odel has spearheaded many causes over the years, identifying key issues and tackling them with an admirable hands-on approach by store employees and other like-minded people who believed in the brand's dedication to the various causes. Odel has also been deeply involved in providing relief to the victims of the tsunami, constructing 18 quality houses to benefit families affected by the tsunami. It gives Otara great personal satisfaction to know that these families are sheltered safely and that they can resume a normal life once more.

Odel has always inspired loyalty and goodwill, which has ensured that people have come out in droves to partner it in many of its initiatives in the past. The tree planting and Bundala National park and beach clean-up drives have witnessed a gathering of both young and old as they stood shoulder to shoulder with Odel in achieving significant gains.

Animals always inspire fondness, be they baby elephants or the sleek leopards – and Odel has championed their causes through baby elephant adoption projects and save the leopard petitions/book promotions. The Odel range of t-shirts featuring messages/pictures of a range of endangered animals has created strong awareness about animal conservation. Sponsoring the welfare of physically disabled children was another successful project that Odel was associated with in the past.

Otara remains humbled by the realisation that she can, through Odel, make a positive contribution to society, and this knowledge gives her an immense sense of responsibility and pride that few other achievements can measure up to…