President opens Rs. 175m People’s Bank branch in Matara

Jayasiri Munasinghe, Bandula Gunasekara and Justin Kodikara Special Corr.Matara

A new regional branch office complex of the People’s Bank built at a cost of Rs. 175 million at Dharmapala Mawatha, Matara was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

The new complex would fulfil the banking needs of the people of the district and also house the new Matara Branch of the People’s Bank

President Rajapaksa also opened the new swimming pool of Rahula College, Matara built at a cost of Rs. 15 million and the D.A.Rajapaksa Foundation contributed Rs. 8.2 million towards the construction of the swimming pool and new latrine complex for the college.

Religious rites and a Sanghika Dana were held at Palatuwa Gunaratana Vidyalaya, Palatuwa, Matara with the participation of President Rajapaksa to invoke merit on the President’s mother Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake who was from Palatuwa. The President met a number of residents of the area and members of the clergy and local leaders during this visit. President Rajapaksa and the other distinguished invitees were welcomed on arrival at the new People’s Bank complex, Matara, by the Chairman People’s Bank and the bank’s directors.

President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Treasury Dr.P. B. Jayasundara, Minister Dallas Alahapperuma, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Udaya Seneviratne and other senior bank and local officials were present.