With this timely donation under its ‘Hope for a Life’ CSR programme, Sampath Bank’s contribution will fund the maintenance of 10 Suwa Seriya ambulances in all nine provinces.
One of Sampath Bank’s key CSR focus areas is extending health assistance to the community and this donation by the Bank will enable Suwa Seriya to maintain and improve the services of its 1990 ambulance network for providing lifesaving emergency medical assistance in Sri Lanka.
At the Adopt an Ambulance event on 26th April, Chairman, and senior officials of the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation accepted the donation of Rs. 50 million from Sampath Bank’s senior representatives which comprised the Corporate Management of the Bank as well.
The 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation introduced the ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ initiative to secure private sector funding to sustain the services it offers, as the government's assistance for Suwa Seriya was impeded due to financial constraints brought on by the economic crisis in the country.
The 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation provides pre-hospital care ambulance services and emergency response services free of charge to any person.
These facilities include providing immediate and effective pre-hospital care in a safe and clinical working environment until a person reaches the nearest healthcare provider.
The Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service was established in 2016 with the assistance of the Indian government.
The ‘Hope for a Life’ CSR flagship programme has inspired Sampath Bank to make a significant contribution to health care in the country over the years.
In the past, the Bank has donated a Neuro Navigator to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka at an investment of Rs. 49.7 Mn which enabled neurosurgeons to conduct more operations per day to reduce the waiting list.
The Bank also handed over a ventilator worth Rs 2.2 Mn to the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of National Hospital of Sri Lanka which enhanced the capacity of the hospital’s Neurosurgery ICU, previously limited to five ICU ventilators for all 10 beds.
Further, in 2020, Sampath Bank stepped into assist the nation's fight against COVID-19 and jointly with CBL Group and WSO2 donated a fully equipped PCR laboratory to the Army Hospital in Colombo amounting to Rs. 32 Mn.
The state-of-the-art lab has a testing capacity of 600 patients per day, thereby enhancing the country's virus testing capacity.
The Bank assisted nine state hospitals across various provinces in 2022 with donations of lifesaving medicine and medical equipment to alleviate the shortage of such items due to the lack of imports.
Closely engaged with local communities, Sampath Bank has also conducted various community empowering initiatives under its CSR flagship projects such as Wewata Jeewayak (Tank restoration to benefit farmers), Sayurata Husmak (Oceanic Ecosystem Restoration Programme) and Gasai Mamai Pubudu Pothai (Tree-planting programme for school children).
Sampath Bank is a truly local bank that has deeply rooted itself in the lives of Sri Lankan people reflecting its strong corporate belief of “Values that bind us beyond a Transaction”.
Established in 1987, the Bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader for its constant innovation and customer-focused approach to business.
Image Captions
1. From L to R – Mr. Dumindra Ratnayaka, Chairman – 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation and Mr. Nanda Fernando, Managing Director, Sampath Bank engage in the signing of the agreement.
2. From R to L – Mr. Nanda Fernando, Managing Director, Sampath Bank hands over the agreement to Mr. Dumindra Ratnayaka, Chairman – 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation whilst Mr. Sohan De Silva, CEO - 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation (Far Left) and Mrs. Ayodhya Iddawela Perera, Managing Director – Designate (1st Right), Sampath Bank look on.
3. Sampath Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Nanda Fernando (Center) and Mrs. Ayodhya Iddawela Perera, Managing Director - Designate (1st Right) hand over a cheque of Rs.50 million to support the foundation’s ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ project to Mr. Sohan De Silva, CEO - 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation (Far Left) and Mr. Dumindra Ratnayaka, Chairman – 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation (2nd Left) whilst members from the Bank’s Corporate Management look on.
