Annual Report 2012 - National Savings Bank

139BRANCHING OUT INTO NEW VENTURESSUSTAINABILITY REVIEWto announce that some of our newlyconstructed branches are equipped withrainwater harvesting facilities as onesuch expression of this commitment is toconserve our natural resources. As partof this commitment towards protectingthe environment, we also help ourcustomers develop methods of reducingthe environmental impact through theirindividual business activities.Throughout the year, we also supportedmany worthy causes, to encouragesuch activities and to ensure widerbenets to society. You may read moreabout these activities and our approachtowards achieving a balanced andsustainable business culture in thepages of this sustainability report. Wehope to continue our journey towardssustainability and long term shareholdervalue during 2013 and beyond.Sunil S SirisenaChairmanColombo, Sri Lanka28 March 2013PreambleSustainability necessitates people tolook inward, not only collectively butalso individually. It prompts questionsas to what we can do, as a person, tomake ourselves achieve more withoutharming those around us; how we canempower our communities to betterthemselves; how we work on initiativesthat will reduce our carbon footprint;what impacts do our actions have onthose around us? These are not easyanswers to respond to, but it certainlyencourages a thought process that isbuilt on long term sustainability.For NSB, being rooted means we havebeen around a long time and hence, havea responsibility for the sustainability ofthe planet and all those living beingson it. It also means that we have toeconomically empower people, whileensuring that the environment is notharmed, preservaing nature’s resources.It is also our responsibility to instil bestpractices, values and ethics that willencourage better compliance whereinwe will be regarded as a responsiblecorporate steward that must beemulated. And this also makes us focuson the macro picture that contains ourstakeholders; shareholders, customers,valued business partners, communities,our people and the environment – thatwe have a responsibility to ensure theirsustainability.REPORT PARAMETERSScope of ReportThis report, the fourth of its kind,reviews the sustainability of NSBsoperations for the year ended 31December 2012. The report isgrounded on principals of materiality,stakeholder inclusiveness, sustainabilitycontext and completeness and has beenguided by triple bottom line reporting,based on the GRI reporting framework.We have attempted to ensure thereliability of the information statedin this report through a systematic,ongoing, data collection process, andby keeping in mind the principles ofbalance, accuracy, timeliness, clarityand reliability, in reporting.NATIONAL SAVINGS BANK . ANNUAL REPORT 2012