Siyapatha Finance conserves Sri Pada

Siyapatha Finance PLC, through “Siyapathen Mihikathata”, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillar focusing on environmental conservation, set in motion its first step to conserve Sri Pada, visited by millions of pilgrims and sightseers, under the theme of “Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma”.

Having obtained special permission from Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Nandana Galaboda, over 50 members of staff as well as the senior management from Siyapatha’s head office, together with officials from Central Environmental Authority’s (CEA) Nuwara Eliya office, joined hands to kick off the Sri Pada Cleaning Project. Displaying commitment to the objective of Siyapathen Mihikathata, Siyapatha staff collected close to a ton of plastic, polythene and other waste, which were then sent for recycling.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Nandana Galaboda commented on the Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma program, noting: “Collecting the tons of waste material left behind after each pilgrimage season is a tedious task. Prevention is better than cure. We believe it is critical that devotees be acknowledged that refraining from littering is the way to protect Sri Pada. Siyapatha Finance’s initiative goes beyond a mere cleaning project – a solid, consistent course of action to encourage people to preserve this sacred site in the long run.”

Siyapatha Finance Managing Director Ananda Seneviratne said: “Preserving the sacred site of Sri Pada is not only to preserve our heritage, but also an ecosystem with the highest biodiversity in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is upon all of us to take charge and be mindful about the great threat it faces due to plastic and polythene littering, and it is time to collectively set an example to only leave our footprints behind. We are deeply moved by the impact of this project and are determined to conserve Sri Pada for the generations to come.”

Now an annual event in its CSR calendar, Siyapatha Finance aims to make Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma a nationwide project that gathers people from all corners of the island nation under a single purpose. The project further looks to carry out regular awareness programs to educate worshippers, visitors as well as the general public on preserving Sri Pada and its invaluable ecosystem through proper waste management.