Sampath Bank’s ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’, tree planting program moves into high gear with vegetable garden initiative

Sampath Bank recently launched the extension of its ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’ tree planting program with the introduction of a vegetable gardening program at the Zonal Education Office, Piliyandala. The Bank launched its ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’ tree planting program in 2021 with the participation of schools located in those areas where it had earlier undertaken its ‘Wewata Jeewayak’ tank restoration program. Pleased with the progress and positive outcomes of this program, the Bank launched this initiative–a vegetable gardening program with the enthusiastic participation of students, teachers and principals of schools in the Zonal Education Office, Piliyandala. Going forward, the Bank plans to extend this program to a selection of 100 schools in Colombo and Colombo Suburbs.

The plan is to distribute ten types of vegetable seeds plus organic fertilizer and a set of cultivating tools per school, as per the request of the school or at the discretion of each school. Sampath Bank purchased the seeds from the Seed Planting Material Development Center of the Department of Agriculture. Meanwhile, ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’, the fruit sapling planting program launched last year is being successfully implemented in the Bibile, Kahatagasdigiliya, Talawakelle, Dehiattakandiya, Hingurakgoda and Jaffna Educational zones.

The objective of this program is to inculcate the traditional values of cultivation in the younger generation, whilst heightening the environmental consciousness in the minds of these schoolchildren.

“Building upon the success of the tree planting program was a logical next step,” said Lalith Weragoda – Group Chief Human Resource Officer, Sampath Bank PLC. “Tree planting promises great future benefits, and encourages schoolchildren to develop long term goals– Vegetable cultivation in school gardens is the next step of strengthening the bond between the environment and school children. That was the thinking behind Sampath Bank’s ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’ vegetable gardening campaign.”

Despite the obstacles currently faced by the banking sector in Sri Lanka, Sampath Bank has successfully maintained all its capital ratios well above regulatory requirements throughout Q1 2022. All the while, Sampath Bank has implemented all government-led moratorium schemes for eligible customer segments affected by the pandemic. The Bank’s digitalization strategy has also continued to prove its worth during these trying times by securing a more accessible and safer banking experience for customers.

Sampath Bank is a 100% local bank that has deeply rooted itself in the lives of the people of Sri Lanka. Established in 1987, the bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. It has introduced many firsts to the Sri Lankan banking sector including introducing ATMs to Sri Lanka, extended banking hours, slip-less banking and adaptation of block-chain technology to name a few. As part of its visionary 2022 approach, the bank is steadily transforming itself into a ‘tech company engaged in banking,’ from the traditional approach of a bank adopting technology.