Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Monday, 8 June 2020 02:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sampath Bank Chairman Professor Malik Ranasinghe (centre) conducting the AGM. Also pictured (from left): Sampath Bank Group Chief Finance Officer Ajantha Gunasekara, Non-Executive Director Ranil Pathirana, Managing Director Nanda Fernando, Non-Executive Director Rushanka Silva, Ernst & Young Partner Sanath Fernando, Nithya Partners Precedent Partner Dr. Arittha Wikramanayake and Sampath Bank Company Secretary Lasantha Senaratne
Dhara Wijayatilake
Moving away from convention, Sampath Bank PLC successfully hosted its 34th Annual General Meeting on a virtual platform, in a bid to ensure the health and safety of its shareholders while also staying in line with national efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 
As such, the Bank’s AGM was livestreamed smoothly from its Head Office to shareholders without any disruptions, via the Zoom video communications app. This is yet another first from Sampath Bank which has a history of pioneering several ‘firsts’ to the country’s Banking Industry.
The Bank also leveraged technology to allow shareholders to interact with the proceedings and vote remotely via eBallot, a leading US-based online voting platform.
The solution delivers instant results with secure access and tracked delivery, while maintaining complete confidentiality. This was very likely the first instance of this technology being used on this scale at an AGM in Sri Lanka.
At the meeting, the bank announced that it will pay a final dividend of Rs 11.75 per share, for the financial year 2019, a distribution of Rs. 4.5 billion.
Furthermore, Dhara Wijayatilake was appointed as Deputy Chairperson of Sampath Bank by the Bank’s Board of Directors, with the appointment coming into effect subsequent to the conclusion of the AGM.
Expressing his views on holding the AGM online, Sampath Bank PLC Managing Director Nanda Fernando stated, “Innovation has always been at the very core of our operations and online solutions are fast becoming the new norm in today’s technologically advanced world. While we are very pleased to have introduced another ‘first’ to the country’s banking industry, we are also proud that we were able to fulfil our obligations to our valued shareholders in a manner that facilitated their participation without compromising their safety. As we collectively continue our fight against the spread of COVID-19, we urge all industries to keep innovating and discovering new methods of operating that ensures both success and safety.”
Established in 1987, Sampath Bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. Its unique tailor-made solutions, superior services and convenience of access have allowed Sampath Bank to further differentiate itself from the competition and stand out as the bank of choice for many in Sri Lanka.
