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| Thursday, 06 January 2005 |
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Sampath Bank pledges to re-build lives of tsunami victims Sampath Bank pledged their support in re-building the Nation, devastated by the 'tsunami' ravages. The bank proposed a comprehensive two-stage relief plan, concentrating on both short and long-term needs. The first phase covers the immediate assistance and the second phase targets the long-term needs, a spokesman for the Bank said. The bank staff went into action on Sunday, December 26, by immediately opening a special account for fund raising. The entire workforce willingly contributed two days salary to the "Sampath Sahana Seva Fund". Facilities were made available over www.sampath.lk web page for expatriate Sri Lankans, foreign donors and others to channel their valuable contributions to the fund. Seventy branches of the bank were converted into 'Collection Centres' where dry rations, water, medicine, baby food, clothes and other essential items were collected and customers and non-customers poured in with generous contributions for the needy. The Sampath team also contributed in every way for this collection which was later distributed among the displaced persons. He said Sampath Bank donated a large number of tills to the State media to be used on their collection rounds of relief funds. The Sampath team of Galle branch, took on the herculean task of having the ravaged branch functioning in just 48 hours after the 'tsunami' waves struck. A voluntary 'Clean-up Brigade' led by Sampath Bank's MD/CEO, Anil Amarasuriya, tackled the rubble at the Panadura area on Sunday, January 2. The Brigade comprised many other senior, junior Sampath team members. A significant feature was providing Sampath Payment Gateway to websites of the Prime Minister's Office, Rupavahini Corporation, MTN Networks, Sarvodaya, M Entertainment, Board of Control for Cricket, Rotary Club, NDB Bank, Central Bank, Sampath Bank which enabled parties to contribute with credit cards issued worldwide. For the last five days the contributions alone to the websites amounted to Rs. 50 million. On Sampath's long-term relief providing plans, they hope to take in a small village into their care. The village would comprise a school and a hospital. They also hope to provide assistance to school children for their educational needs, such as school books, stationery, bags, uniforms and shoes etc. Sampath Bank has pledged its commitment to re-build the lives of 'tsunami' victims in 2005, the spokesman said. |
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