SDB bank marks 25 years with network-wide events

Highlights from the initiation of SDB bank’s reforestation project in Ududumbara

To mark its 25th anniversary, SDB bank, one of the key players in Sri Lanka’s SME banking landscape, conducted a number of events across its branch network, in line with its values and future vision. 

While SDB bank remains fundamentally true to its founding principles to date, its ethos and purpose have grown and evolved over time. Today, SDB bank has emerged as a futuristic, value-based, tech savvy and contemporary bank with a key strategic focus on the areas of SME Development, Women’s Empowerment and Digital Inclusion. 

To commemorate the historic milestone of 25 years of service, SDB bank conducted several activities. Most notably, in scaling positive climate action, SDB bank inaugurated a large-scale ecosystem restoration initiative with a pilot project launched in Dewahandiya East Village in Ududumbara to restore 25 hectares of degraded land (where tobacco had been previously grown), adjoining the Victoria-Randenigala-Rantembe (VRR) Sanctuary. This pilot project will support 90 families to adapt to the effects of climate change, helping them to diversify their income by growing meat substitutes such as jackfruit and nine other herbal/superfoods including Bael Fruit and Indian Gooseberry. 

The project is being implemented through a multi-stakeholder participatory model involving the community, relevant state agencies, including the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Central Province Department of Agriculture and Department of Export Agriculture, while technical guidance for the project is being provided by partners such as the IUCN and SLYCAN Trust. 

The first planting of the pilot project took place on 24 August. Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage was the Chief Guest at the event, while SDB bank Chairperson Dinithi Ratnayake, members of the bank’s Board of Directors, SDB bank Acting CEO Niranjan Thangarajah and members of the Executive Management team of SDB bank were also in attendance, along with representatives of the project’s key stakeholder groups. 

Moving beyond the milestone of 25 years, SDB bank is strongly positioned, financially, and in terms of expertise, experience and other resources, to sustainably fuel economic development in Sri Lanka, with a keen focus on the SME sector. SDB bank has joined hands with prestigious global financiers and organisations that share its vision for an empowered and equitable society. In the present environment, creating new economic opportunities for all Sri Lankans and supporting export-oriented businesses, along with businesses that create value for Sri Lanka, are focus areas for the Bank. Working together with like-minded partners, SDB bank is moving to further its goal and vision to develop Sri Lanka’s SME sector, with a focus on female entrepreneurship.

To mark SDB bank’s 25th anniversary, a media conference for representatives of all Sri Lankan media houses, including print, electronic and digital, was also held at The Kingsbury, Colombo on 17 August. Anniversary celebrations were rounded off by a Grand Felicitation Ceremony held on 25 August, the purpose of which was to recognise key personalities in SDB bank’s story and key contributors to its 25-year long journey. This event saw the recognition of the bank’s founders, key stakeholders and the very special employees who have served SDB bank loyally for 25 years. 

Staying true to its inclusive and equitable ethos, “where you are valued”, SDB bank also hosted several special events across its branch network, which included multi-religious observances to commemorate this historic milestone, in line with the cultural values of its diverse cadre of staff and its customers. These events included a pirith ceremony and almsgiving at SDB bank’s Head Office, a Catholic ceremony at the Katuwapitiya St. Sebesthiyan Church, an Islamic ceremony at the Pottuvil Cultural Hall, and a Hindu ceremony at the Thellipalai Thurkai Amman Kovil in Jaffna. Along with these events, other events also took place across the bank’s island-wide network on 25 August to mark the occasion.