Pan Asia Bank, one of the fastest growing commercial banks in Sri Lanka, celebrated its 20th anniversary in a meaningful manner by completing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project to build a water purification plant in Thanthirimale.

This CSR project, which was initiated under the guidance of Pan Asia Bank Chairman Nimal Perera and the board of directors, was completed within a span of mere three months in view of the dire necessity to provide clean water to this needy village.

Thantirimale is a village located in Mahavilachchiya Divisional Secretariat in Anuradhapura, which has been severely affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is believed to be caused by consumption of contaminated water. This village has a population of approximately 1500 out of which more than 80 are already diagnosed with kidney disease while it is likely that there are many more that are affected but are not aware of it.

As it is believed that the main reason for CKD is lack of clean water, Pan Asia Bank as a responsible corporate citizen of this country came forward and built this water purification plant which would provide a sustainable solution to the clean drinking water problem of Thanthirimale.

This project consists of a water purification plant that uses the reverse osmosis (RO) technology to purify the water and the proposed plant will have capacity to purify 10,000L of water per day. In addition, multiple distribution units with capacity of 1000L per unit will be constructed in 10 strategic locations across the village to distribute the clean water. 

The clean water will be supplied to the distribution units using a special water bowser which was also donated by Pan Asia Bank as part of the project. A noteworthy aspect of this project is that the toxic material separated from the contaminated water during the purification process will be geo cycled using advanced technology instead of releasing them to the environment again.

A simple opening ceremony was held in Thanthirimale Anuradhapura recently during which Pan Asia Bank Director/CEO Dimantha Senerviratne handed over the completed project to Saliyamala community-based organisation that will be managing this facility is a sustainable manner. This ceremony was graced by several prominent government servants in the area, representatives from armed forces, police and Saliyamala Community-Based Organisation - Thanthirimale Chairman Edwin Welikala, who represented the local community. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Seneviratne stated that it gives immense sense of fulfilment to Pan Asia Bank including its board of directors and staff members, to be part of such a worthy cause, given that as a successful truly local bank, it felt very strongly about helping fellow citizens of the country who are in need of assistance. 

Puritas (Pvt.) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Hayleys group provided the technical services for this project. 

In addition to the handing over of the water purification project, Pan Asia Bank staff members conducted another CSR initiative by helping improve the educational facilities in Sri Vimalagnana School in the same village. Under this project, staff members of Pan Asia Bank collected donations from fellow colleagues and donated a computer, a cupboard, water storage tanks, books and stationery to the school to improve its library and sanitation facilities and to provide assistance to over 400 needy students who are receiving their education from grades 1-13 at the school.