Fourth ‘BOC Gammana’ in Meegasthenna village

Bankers to the Nation, Bank of Ceylon, recently commenced the fourth ‘BOC Gammana’ program successfully in Meegasthenna village located in Dehiowita area in Sabaragamuwa Province. 

The program was implemented by the Consumer and Development Banking Division and the initiative is targeted at enhancing financial literacy and livelihoods of the rural population residing in underprivileged rural outskirts of the country. Accordingly, BOC has structured a range of special programs to reach these target groups and a number of programs have already been implemented successfully. As a leading State-owned bank, BOC strongly believes that being somewhat an assistance to uplifting of living conditions of the rural population as a corporate social responsibility and accordingly, the bank launched the ‘BOC Gammana’ program as a landmark rural development initiative.

The launch of the fourth BOC Gammana program was held with the participation of Sabaragamuwa Provincial Deputy Chief Secretary Parakrama Piyasna, BOC Chairman President’s Council Ronald C. Perera, General Manager Russel Fonseka, Deputy General Manager Branch Operations Priyal De Silva, other officials from the bank, and residents of the area. 

In conjunction with the BOC Gammana program, BOC developed communal facilities and infrastructure of Meegasthenna village belonging to Yatiyanthota and Dehiowita Divisional Secretariats including repairing of a broken road, rehabilitation of a damaged dam that was damaged by landslides, renovation of the preschool and donating sport equipment and renovation of the Buddhist monastery in the area. Simultaneously, several key programs such as enabling access to micro financing facilities through BOC Mithuru Groups and distribution of plants for home gardens were also underway. 

With the support of the bank, a fund has also been established to raise required funds for the proposed building for the Meegasthenna College consisting of two classrooms for Advanced Level students. Moreover, the rural library along with BOC Ran Keklu Sansadya was opened on the same day, and in support of the school handball team, new jerseys were handed over. A blood donation campaign was also organised along with these activities during these days. 

In addition to supporting the rural agricultural sector, a main aim of the BOC Gammana program is to enhance financial literacy among the rural population, while expanding and popularising digital banking services even to outskirts of cities.

The BOC Gammana program was the first instance that a Sri Lankan bank pioneered a national project of this nature. During the implementation of the program, there has been a keen interest among the people in the program with their active participation to make this program a success. The bank takes humble pride in being able to inspire the villages of Meegasthenna to work forward for the betterment of their future.