Sampath Bank only Sri Lankan bank awarded for CSR efforts and sustainability reporting

From left: RGF Management Search, India Executive Director Dr. Sanjay Muthal, Sampath Bank Product / Business Analyst and Brand Manager for CSR Nuwan Pathirana, Sampath Bank Employee Relations Manager Chryshanthi Lokuhetty and Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable, India Chief People Officer and Group Head of HR Dr. Saugatha Mithra 

Renowned for being at the forefront of pioneering CSR initiatives and sustainability efforts in the banking sector of Sri Lanka, Sampath Bank has broken new ground with the achievement of three prestigious awards for the ‘Best Sustainability Report’ at The Asia Sustainability Excellence Awards 2015 and the ‘Best Use of CSR Practices in Banking and Finance’ and ‘Poverty Alleviation’ at Asia Best CSR Practices Awards ceremony held on 12 August in Pan Pacific, Singapore.

Sampath Bank was honoured for its sustainability efforts in publishing its first integrated Annual Report in 2014, with the prestigious ‘Best Sustainability Report’ award at the Asia Sustainability Excellence Awards. The Sustainability Annual Report under the theme ‘Just Ask Our Stakeholders’ not only provides information on the economic, environmental and social impacts of the company’s actions, but also makes evident the link between Sampath Bank’s corporate strategy, governance and commitment to a sustainable economy, environment and society. 

The Asia Sustainability Excellence Awards is a leading industry event which recognises and rewards outstanding achievements in sustainability in the built environment and are a key benchmark for achieving best practice in the sector and awarding these recognised entities with accolades under 14 organisational categories.  

The leading national bank was also recognised at the fifth Asia Best CSR Practices Awards ceremony with the distinguished ‘Best Use of CSR Practices in Banking and Finance’ and ‘Poverty Alleviation’ awards in recognition of the bank’s tremendous efforts and overall performance in executing sustainable CSR initiatives and the launch of its successful Entrepreneurship Development Program, ‘Sampath Saviya’.

The Asia Best CSR Practices Awards program recognises outstanding social and environmental initiatives of organisations among 41 countries in Asia under 19 award categories.

The award ceremonies were organised by CMO Asia in Singapore, an institution considered to be Asia’s highest recognition corporate body that has a significant and positive impact on the lives of the people and corporates in the region. 

Commenting on these ground-breaking achievements, Sampath Bank Marketing and Business Development Deputy General Manager Tharaka Ranwala said, “We at Sampath Bank are greatly honoured to receive these awards of recognition as the team at Sampath Bank always strives to ensure that our activities are in concurrence towards the needs of the society and well-being of the country. Thus, we are truly appreciative to be recognised internationally for our efforts in putting together our first integrated Annual Report among many other successful foreign and local competitors.  

“Additionally, Sampath Bank has continually held a resilient sense of social ethics interweaved with our business values since CSR has always been a profound part of everything we do. Thus, we are also honoured and humbled to have our efforts recognised with awards for the ‘Best Use of CSR Practices in Banking and Finance’ and ‘Poverty Alleviation’ as we whole heartedly believe in giving back to the society and extending our efforts in ways that go beyond the realm of customer satisfaction.”

Sampath Bank has also received awards for the Sustainability Report and Annual Report in the category of Banking Industry at the Sustainability Reporting Awards 2014 organised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka and CA Sri Lanka Annual Reports Awards 2014 organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. Other accolades awarded to Sampath Bank for its CSR and sustainability endeavours are the Health Promotion Category Award at the Asia Responsible Awards Entrepreneurship Awards 2015, the Best Community Leadership Award at the Asia Responsible Business Excellence Awards 2014, Silver Award for the CSR Brand of the Year in SLIM Brand Excellence Awards and awarded among the Top Ten Best Corporate Citizens at the Best Corporate Citizens Awards 2014 by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. 

Sampath Bank’s achievements are thus another strong depiction of Sampath Bank’s undying efforts to continuing its expedition of being a leading bank in Sri Lanka while fronting groundbreaking CSR initiatives and giving back to the society with a thorough understanding of various socio-economic needs. It is a reiteration of Sampath Bank’s initiative to go beyond the ordinary responsibilities which govern its activities and reinforce the bank’s commitment to focus its efforts towards economic development, and growth and sustainability of individuals of the nation, the society and the environment as a whole.