People’s Bank launch ‘Pathumak Thagi Karamu’ campaign

• In celebration of the literature month 2019

People’s Bank Senior Deputy General Manager, Banking Operations Bonniface Silva presents a bundle of books to B/Kumarapattiya Ambagasdowa Rajakeeya Vidyalaya Principal A. Ariyarathne marking the distribution of books through ‘Pathumak Thagi Karamu’ campaign

People’s Bank ceremoniously initiated the distribution of donations received from generous and charitable Sri Lankans for bank’s ‘Pathumak Thagi Karamu’ campaign at the B/Kumarapattiya Ambagasdowa Rajakeeya Vidyalaya recently. In parallel, books and reading material were presented to the students in Bandarawela Visaka Central College as well. Many academic tools were also distributed at these events, in addition to books.

‘Pathumak Thagi Karamu’ campaign was launched in the hope of bringing quality reading material closer to the less privileged children of our nation, and is yet another example of People’s Bank being a pillar of strength to all sectors of the society. Through its official Facebook page, bank appealed to its clientele, and all kind-hearted Sri Lankans, to donate any book that they have already enjoyed to their nearest branch. In addition, it was also requested to inscribe a positive wish on the front page, to serve as a source of strength to the child receiving the book. 

People’s Bank, the bank at the fore-front of digitized banking in Sri Lanka, received an overwhelming number of responses to this request, which the public received through social media channels alone. During the campaign, people from all over the country were rushing to bank’s branches, with tens and thousands of books, signifying the inherent generosity of our countrymen, and also the level of trust they put in People’s Bank.

Importance of knowledge obtained through reading, and of digital literacy for overcoming the challenges in the future, were highlighted and emphasised during the ceremony at Badulla. Students were also informed about the novel and futuristic services introduced by People’s Bank through it digitization drive, such as Self Banking Units, People’s Wave mobile app, People’s Wiz, and People’s Web. It is worth noting that People’s Bank, who became the first Sri Lankan bank to inculcate the habit of saving among students in 1971 and introduced an ATM equipped with NFC technology specially designed for Schools last year, thereby offering a chance to experience digitized banking first hand to our future generations.

As the most prominent State bank in Sri Lanka, People’s Bank, from its inception, has been carrying out a number of campaigns to educate country’s younger generations on the value of saving. In 1971, the bank introduced savings at school-level, a first for Sri Lanka, and is annually presenting awards and scholarships to the high achievers in Advanced level and Ordinary level examinations, as well as Grade 5 scholarship exam. In addition, a number of seminars are conducted island-wide on an annual basis, courtesy of People’s Bank, targeting students facing the scholarship examination.

Rest of the donations received through the ‘Pathumak Thagi Karamu’ campaign will be distributed among the less privileged students in the country during the coming weeks.

Event in Badulla was graced with the attendance of Bonniface Silva – Senior Deputy General Manager, Banking Operations, People’s Bank, W. D. Jayathilake, Zonal Education Director, Ajith Rajapaksha, Divisional Education Director, and A. Ariyarathne, Prinicipal, B/Kumarapattiya Ambagasdowa Rajakeeya Vidyalaya. Kapila Dharmasena, Deputy Principal, Majula Dissanayake, Regional Manager for Badulla region, People’s Bank, and E. A. Kalpanee Chandima, Manager, Uwa-Paranagama branch of the bank were also in attendance.

Student participation

A portion of the books handed over under the project ‘Pathumak Thagi Karamu’ are displayed