Sampath Bank wins top honours at BCCS Awards 2024

Prof. Lakshman Watawala (fifth from right) presents Sector Award Winner – Finance Sector – to Ajantha De Vas Gunasekara (fourth from right) of Sampath Bank, accompanied by Sampath Bank Head of Sustainability Nuwan Pathirana (third from left) and Christian Skoog (fourth from left), Chairperson of Panel of Judges, UNICEF Sri Lanka, alongside representatives from the bank

Second Runner-Up Awards (from left) Sampath Bank SDGM Marketing, Customer Care and Card Centre Tharaka Ranwala, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa, keynote speaker World Bank Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Gevorg Sargsyan, Sampath Bank Managing Director Ayodhya Iddawela Perera and Sampath Bank ESG Chairman Ajantha De Vas Gunasekara

Sampath Bank has been honoured as the Second Runner-Up in Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024 (BCCS), hosted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. 

Widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s pinnacle of recognition for corporate sustainability, the awards ceremony took place recently at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.

This accolade emphasises Sampath Bank’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, a philosophy deeply rooted in its purpose to ‘Empower Dreams and Enrich Life’. Over the years, the bank has championed impactful initiatives that safeguard the environment, strengthen employee and customer relations, uplift communities and uphold robust governance practices. This award reflects Sampath Bank’s ability to harmonise financial success with meaningful societal contributions.

The bank also received several key accolades during the ceremony, including the Category Award Winner for Environment Beyond the Business, Sector Award Winner – Finance Sector and recognition as one of the Top Ten Corporate Citizens. These awards highlight the bank’s leadership in embedding sustainable practices across its operations while delivering tangible value to stakeholders.

Speaking about these achievements, Sampath Bank ESG Chairman Ajantha De Vas Gunasekara remarked, “This recognition stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to driving positive change across all facets of our operations. Sustainability is not merely part of what we do; it is the essence of who we are as an organisation. At the heart of our journey lies a steadfast dedication to the pillars of ESG – Economic, Environmental, Social and Governance, ensuring that every initiative we undertake creates enduring value for our stakeholders. We are humbled and motivated to continue empowering communities, supporting livelihoods and protecting our planet for future generations, while upholding the highest standards of governance and economic responsibility.”

Sampath Bank’s award-winning efforts stem from a series of impactful sustainability initiatives. The flagship ‘Wewata Jeewayak’ programme, launched over two decades ago, focuses on restoring Sri Lanka’s traditional irrigation network, enabling dry zone farmers to cultivate paddy across the Yala and Maha seasons. By 2023-24, 21 tanks have been restored under this initiative, with investments increasing to strengthen agricultural resilience amid economic challenges. Complementing this, the ‘Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai’ tree-planting and vegetable gardening programmes were launched to foster environmental awareness and sustainability among students in these regions.

In addition, the A Breath to the Ocean marine protection programme addresses coral replanting and mangrove restoration, including a long-term project at the Anavilundawa Wetland Sanctuary in collaboration with Biodiversity Sri Lanka and the Wildlife Department. Furthering its commitment to conservation, the bank is also working to protect endangered turtles by establishing hatcheries in Rakawa village, a critical breeding zone for five globally endangered turtle species.

The BCCS Awards, recognised as Sri Lanka’s highest honour for corporate responsibility, celebrate organisations that set benchmarks for sustainable practices and social responsibility. Sampath Bank’s recognition reaffirms its position as a leader in driving inclusive growth, fostering innovation and addressing the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

This achievement reaffirms Sampath Bank’s unwavering dedication to empowering communities and enriching lives, serving as a steadfast partner in progress. Rooted in its sustainability-driven approach, the bank remains committed to redefining corporate responsibility by leading purposefully and inspiring meaningful change across every facet of its operations.