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| Wednesday, 1 September 2004 |
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by L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Maha Vihara Chapter Kandy told a delegation of the Bank of Ceylon that they should protect the two State Banks, the Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank as those two institutions were the only commercial banks owned by the people of this country. Bank of Ceylon had rendered a yeoman service to the nation and the common people for the past 65 years. The Mahanayake Thera made these observations when a delegation of the Bank of Ceylon led by its General Manager S. M. P. Palihena called on the Manayake Theras of the Malwatte Chapter and Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Rathanapala Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter at their respective Aramayas in Kandy to receive their blessings for the bank on its 65th anniversary. Assistant General Manager, Central Province, W. Somaweera, Chief Manager of Kandy Super Branch, Asoka Basnayake and Operations Manager Central Province K. A. Gunawardhana also participated. The Malwatte Mahanayake Thera added that sometime back there were only foreign banks in this country and later local bankers came into operation as private banks. Those banks were of little service to the common man. It was after the People's Bank came into being and the Bank of Ceylon came to be state-owned that the banking system in this country became national and financial establishments that served the common people of the country. Sometime back there was a move to privatise these two banks too but due to the efforts of its employees that was stopped. It was their bounden duty to protect and promote those national institutes as a national asset. He said that the activities of the bank would be a great success to achieve prosperity in the years to come. Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Ratanapala Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Maha Vihara Chapter commended the contribution made by officials and employees of the Bank in carrying on its business for 65 years successfully. It was due to their untiring efforts that the bank had become an institution that serves the people. Today its branches were being opened and operated not only in Sri Lanka but also in some foreign countries. It has become an active partner in the country's economy. Engaging in various social and religious activities to mark the 65th anniversary was also highly commendable, he said. Bank officials explained that to mark the 65th anniversary of the Bank, action had been taken to provide funds amounting to about Rs. 1,000 million for the upliftment of the less-privileged hospitals in remote areas and also in many other parts of the country. They also had provided assistance to cancer units and childrens hospitals. That scheme was launched from Kalutara and would be spread to other areas. Not only the bank funds but also the contributions collected from employees would be utilised for those social and religious services. Benefits of the social insurance scheme connected to Ran Kekulu accounts amounting to Rs. 500,000 each were handed over to Miss Dinushi Dissanayake and Miss Inoka Dissanayake two students of Girl's High School Kandy on the death of their father A. G. B. Dissanayake who had opened these accounts before his death. |
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