Sampath Bank emerges Banking category winner at ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2016

Standing from left: ACCA Sri Lanka Country Manager Nilusha Ranasinghe, Senior DGM, Consumer Banking Sampath Bank Plc Tharaka Ranwala, Resident Representative UNDP Sri Lanka Una McCauley, ACCA Sri Lanka Member Network Panel President Adrian Perera

In tribute to its unwavering commitment to sustainability and corporate integrity, Sampath Bank was declared the winner in the Banking category at the prestigious Sustainability Reporting Awards 2016. Organised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts (ACCA), Sri Lanka, the awards ceremony was held at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo on 28 February.  

Being presented with this honour has recognised the dedication of the bank towards upholding the values of corporate sustainability. Sampath Bank was recognised with the award for its 2015 Integrated Annual Report and has previously emerged as the runner-up in the Banking category for two consecutive years.

Commenting on this achievement, Sampath Bank Plc Managing Director Nanda Fernando said: “Sustainability is an integral part of Sampath Bank’s status quo and being presented with this award emphasises this. We strive to accomplish our corporate goals in sync with national priorities, while promoting global best practices for managing the economic, environmental and social impacts of the business. We will continue to aim for excellence in our growth and performance, while maintaining the right balance between stakeholder expectations and our responsibility to the community. In this endeavour, our staff members provide weighty support to the success and long-term sustainability of the bank.”

Sampath Bank’s 2015 Annual Report was created as a completely carbon neutral product by abiding by a product standard that follows the GHG (Green House Gas) Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting, which quantifies the carbon output generated through the process cycle. 

Further, in its efforts to be sustainably driven, the bank also measures its performance against sustainability-related indicators, which include environmental sustainability (promoting e-business models, savings from recycling and reuse, reduction of carbon emissions, number of trees planted and green projects), social sustainability and economic performance.

The ACCA Sustainability  Reporting Awards aim to recognise organisations that demonstrate corporate integrity and accountability in their business operations. Entities are judged on the impact they have had on the environment and society by a panel of judges based on various criteria that revolve around completeness, credibility and communication. Since its inception in 2004, the efforts of ACCA Sri Lanka to encourage sustainability reporting have played a pivotal role in highlighting the need for socially responsible business practices in the country. 

Sampath Bank was further felicitated for its untiring efforts by emerging the title winner of the Best Sustainability Report at the Asia Sustainability Excellence Awards 2016 conducted by CMO Asia.

This recognition is a testament to the bank’s dedication towards driving sustainability throughout its operations, while remaining true to its core banking values and adhering to the highest ethical standards, in order to manage its triple bottom line.