Museum for Kirivehera from Commercial Bank CSR Trust

The CSR Trust of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently pledged Rs. 5 million to construct a museum at the precincts of the Kataragama Kirivehera for the benefit of thousands of devotees and tourists who visit this sacred site every day.

A commemorative plaque to mark this event was unveiled recently by President Mahinda Rajapaksa together with Commercial Bank Chairman Mahendra Amarasuriya, Managing Director Amitha Gooneratne and the Viharadhipathi of the Kataragama Kirivehera Ven. Prof. Aluthwewa Soratha Nayaka Thero.

The proposed 2,160 square foot, split-level, single-storey building will comprise of the museum as well as a bookshop. The museum will house ancient artefacts that have been found at excavations on the temple lands over the years.

The bank said that the donation was made in response to a request to the bank by Ven. Aluthwewa Soratha Nayaka Thero. The construction of the building will start early next year.

Kataragama has historical significance to Commercial Bank as its 200th service point was located there in July this year.

Commercial Bank contributes up to one per cent of its post tax profits every year towards its CSR Trust.

Among the principal initiatives of the bank’s CSR Trust are the donation of IT education facilities to rural schools, the grant of annual scholarships to undergraduates, supporting health projects around the country and conducting of programmes to upgrade English education.

The only Sri Lankan bank to be listed among the top 1,000 Banks in the world, Commercial Bank has been adjudged ‘Best Bank in Sri Lanka’ for 13 consecutive years by ‘Global Finance’ Magazine and has won multiple awards as the country’s best bank from ‘FinanceAsia,’ ‘Euromoney’ and ‘Trade Finance’ magazines.