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| Wednesday, 29 September 2004 |
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BoC offers Rs2.25m for 'Dahasak Wev' project Though the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has come into focus only in recent times, the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) has over the years been a consistent adherent to the cause of CSR, a spokesman for the Bank said. Recently, the Bank of Ceylon contributed Rs. 2.25 million to construct the "200 Drinking Water Wells" project initiated by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as long term relief to the drought affected people of the North Western Province. Chairman, Bank of Ceylon Manik Nagahawatte handed over the cheque to W. J. S. Karunaratne, Secretary to the President in the presence of S. N. P. Palihena, General Manager. When a national disaster affects the country, the BoC is in the forefront in offering assistance. Last year Rs. 5 million was given to assist flood victims and the BoC also undertook to rehabilitate nine schools affected by floods. In another CSR project, the BoC launched a reforestation project in the Veddah colony of Dambana, he said. The spokesman said this year BoC's main CSR project was the refurbishment of maternity wards in small government rural hospitals. Provincial AGMs were asked to identify government hospitals in which the maternity wards were in need of repair. The Bank of Ceylon allocated Rs. 500,000 for each hospital. The work done involved the tiling of ward floors, repainting of walls, beds and other furniture, fixing new curtains and improving toilet facilities. In each case the BoC officials worked closely with the hospital authorities. Rs. 500,000 was also donated to the Kalutara Bodhi Trust recently. The initial aim of this project by the Bodhi Trust is to provide a dialysis unit to the government hospital, Kalutara, Nagoda. In 2002 the BoC contributed Rs. 1 million to the "Sahanaya" project to build a hospital for the mentally handicapped. The BoC also constructed and continues to maintain the children's ward at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital. The Bank of Ceylon has identified the "Dahasak Wev" project as its main CSR involvement for next year. In addition to the financial commitment, the BoC through its branch network intends playing an active role in the reconstruction and restoration of selected tanks, virtually adopting them. BoC's involvement will extend further by way of farmers credit, advice on crop management and assistance in establishing Forward Sales Contracts with reputed wholesalers and firms. The BoC has readily identified this massive national project because through the "Dahasak Wev" project the following objectives will be achieved. * Cultivation of minimum of 30,000 acres of abandoned paddy lands in two cultivation seasons; * Improvement of health and social conditions of village communities living around the tanks by providing sufficient water for their personal and household requirements; * Maintain bio-diversity and use such resources for economic activities by rehabilitation of an aqua-based environment system; and * Development of home gardening and animal husbandry in high lands around the irrigation system by maintaining ground water level through improvement of recharging process. In addition to playing its role as a commercial bank, the BoC has been in the forefront of community welfare thereby fulfilling its responsibilities in corporate social responsibility. |
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