The Case Study - Seylan Bank

Seylan Bank PLC Annual Report 2009 115Promoting Ethnic HarmonyThe end of the war in 2009 has created a massiveopportunity for the country. For the first time inthirty years, the Government’s writ runs over theentire country. This opportunity must be seizedby the state, business and civil society and madeuse of to lay the foundations for a peaceful andprosperous society.In the past year, the Bank focussed on promotingethnic harmony and promoting reconciliation amongthe different communities. It is important to providethe opportunity for all communities to overcomethe trauma of the war, to move forward in a spirit ofharmony and to feel a sense of belonging.Over the years, the Bank has been involved inpromoting a sense of harmony by sponsoring initiativesin connection with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.Last year was no different. The Bank sponsored thetraditional ‘Oil Anointing Ceremony’ (Hisa Thel Gama)at the Haththaka Rajamaha Viharaya, Niyagama,Hiniduma and also sponsored the ‘Kokila WasanthayaAvurudu Ullela’ held at the Poddiwela Maha Vidyalayaorganised by the Niyagama Divisional Secretariat andNiyagama Provincial Council.The Bank also made significant contributionstowards the Annual Kataragama Esala Peraheraand contributed towards the live telecast of theAnnual ‘Jasmine Flower Offering Ceremony’ (thePichcha Mal Poojawa) which was held for the 20thyear in Anuradhapura and organised by the ShanthiFoundation - Seruwila Buddhist Centre.The Bank sponsored the Special TV Programmeon the ‘Madhu Festival’ in August 2009. The MadhuShrine is venerated by Sri Lankan Catholics fromall communities and the festival was conducted in2009 in an atmosphere free of violence for the firsttime after almost 30 years.The Bank made a contribution of Rs. 1.5 Mn.to help the internally displaced persons who werebeing held in camps in Vavuniya and Mannar.The reconstruction of the Yal Devi railway linelinking the South with the North is a major partof the Government’s reconciliation programme.The Bank made a significant contribution towardsthis initiative. Facilitating the movement of peoplebetween the ravaged North and the South of thecountry is vital if the country is to move into an eraof peace and ethnic harmony and the Bank is proudto have been part of this initiative.Empowering the DisadvantagedThere were a number of other initiatives in whichthe Bank was involved.The North-Central Province has recently beenthe site of a number of cases with kidney problems.This has been traced to high levels of calcium in thewater in that area.In 2009, a special renal care and researchcentre was built by the National Kidney Foundationin the Anuradhapura District in order to treat thosepatients. The Bank made a significant contributiontowards the cost of the electrical cables for thetransplant theatre complex.Surgical masks were donated, with theassistance from the Seylan Bank Sports Club, tothe Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, to be worn bythe child-patients undergoing surgical treatment.The Bank also supported the Sri Lanka ModelUnited Nations 2009 Conference, contributed toSri Lanka International Film Award Ceremony andhelped the Association of Professional Bankers ofSri Lanka which, conducted their 21st Anniversarycelebration in September 2009.‘Grameen’ LoansThe Bank provides ‘Grameen’ loans for agriculture,fisheries and small industries. The objective ofthese loans is to enable small business folk toengage in entrepreneurship without the risks andconstraints of conventional financing.