HNB employees contribute a day’s pay to furnish IDH training centre

HNB Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Dilshan Rodrigo exchanging the MOU with National Institute of Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Hasitha Attanayake (centre), as (from left) National Institute of Infectious Diseases – Anura Athukorala, National Institute of Infectious Diseases – Accountant Hirani Ranatunga, National Institute of Infectious Diseases – Matron Geethani Udugamakorala, National Institute of Infectious Diseases – Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, HNB Chief Transformation Officer and HNB Sustainability Foundation Trustee Chiranthi Cooray, HNB Head of Human Capital Management Indrajith Senadhira, HNB Senior Manager – Facilities Management Roshan Fernando, HNB Officer in Charge of Sustainability Shanel Perera and HNB Sustainability Assistant V. Disharatnam look on

Employees of Sri Lanka’s largest private sector retail bank HNB PLC have contributed a day’s pay towards furnishing of a training centre for doctors at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH).

“The fact that Sri Lanka has made such incredible progress in combatting the spread of COVID-19 results directly from the courageous and diligent efforts of our healthcare professionals, especially those at the IDH who were on the frontlines of this battle,” HNB Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo stated.

The funds were gathered through voluntary contributions drawn from the HNB team during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and will be utilised towards the installation of essential furniture and fittings for the training centre. “HNB is proud to lend our support to enhance their training and skills development initiatives and we thank our employees for stepping forward at this critical moment to offer their voluntary contributions towards this noble cause. In supporting frontline healthcare workers, we are able to make tangible improvements to health outcomes. Moving forward, we will continue to seek further opportunities to assist health authorities to overcome this pandemic,” HNB Chief Transformation Officer and HNB Sustainability Foundation Trustee Chiranthi Cooray said.

Through the first round of employee contributions, HNB plans to install window blinds, chairs, tables and fabricate a timber podium to make the facility user ready for training sessions. HNB’s dedicated team of engineers, together with the Sustainable Business Unit, recommended the project to the HNB team after visiting the facility, which is part of a larger project under construction at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH).

Previously, HNB donated 64 fire extinguishers to the hospital to protect its medical stores and supported the installation of water tanks, for a supplementary water distribution system to the wards. The bank also installed insulated flexible ducts to improve airflow at the hospital.

HNB delivered urgently required personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Kurunegala and Karapitiya teaching hospitals during the height of the pandemic.