HNB partners with SLWP to commence rainwater harvesting for 6 schools in Hatton

From left: HNB Assistant Manager – Sustainable Business Hemantha Seneviratne, HNB Head of Marketing Chammika Weerasinghe, SLWP Senior Advisor Kusum Athukorala, SLWP Chairman Jayatissa Bandaragaoda, HNB Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo, HNB Head of Legal Niroshini Wettasinha, HNB Senior Manager – Talent Development and Sustainability Gayathri Ganeshan, and HNB Officer in Charge – Sustainable Business Shanel Perera

Furthering its mission to serve as a partner in progress to all Sri Lankans, leading local bank, HNB PLC announced that it would be working in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Water Partnership (SLWP) to introduce rainwater harvesting tanks to six schools in the Hatton and Talawakelle regions.

In addition to providing and installing the rainwater harvesting infrastructure, HNB will also be engaging with SLWP to conduct awareness campaigns and workshops with residents in the area on key issue of health and sanitation in order to encourage the establishment of an improved standard of living and quality of life for residents.

“HNB is firmly committed to facilitating investments that safeguard water security in keeping with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Hence we are extremely proud to be able to collaborate with the Sri Lanka Water Partnership on such a vital initiative. Rainwater harvesting remains one of the most effective, affordable, and sustainable methods of ensuring that underserved communities optimise their water resources.

“Particularly given the challenges that many of these communities face in accessing pipe- borne water, rainwater harvesting has the potential to drastically improve the living standards of communities in the Hatton region, and we hope that this investment will serve as a positive example that will be expanded to others in the community moving forward,” HNB Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo said.

The establishment of new rainwater harvesting tanks in Hatton and Talawakele regions and the accompanying awareness campaigns on sanitation and hygiene follow on similar investments made by HNB in collaboration with SLWP in the for four selected schools in the Aranayake region. Notably, the awareness building programs encompassed within the project will help to build water and climate related awareness in addition to a stronger understanding of catchment conservation in school communities, forming strong engagements with principals, teachers, students and parents in order to drive positive behavioural changes.

Sri Lanka Water Partnership is an independent non-profit association established in 2000 with the goal of promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in line with the concepts and principles outlined at Rio, Dublin & 1st & 2nd World Water Forums. The association serves as the locally accredited representative to the Global Water Partnership established in 1996 by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Swedish International Development