Sampath Bank celebrates Jaffna Poson Festival as a symbol of national reconciliation

Sampath Bank Assistant General Manager – Branch Banking Janaka Jayasuriya hands over a sapling to schoolchildren who participated in the art exhibition. Regional Manager – North Kumanan Rasanayagam and Manager – Jaffna Branch Rajashanthan are also present

Images drawn by the children who participated in the art exhibition

Sampath Bank announced its sponsorship of the Jaffna Poson Festival at the Sri Naga Vihara International Buddhist Center on 14 and 15 June. 

The beginning of this festival coincides with Poson, traditionally observed on the full moon day of June, which this year fell on Tuesday the 14th. 

Jaffna residents were treated to an exhibition of ancient Buddhist relics. The highlight of this year’s celebrations in Jaffna was expected to be not just the religious observances and good-fellowship, but the large and captivating collection of children’s paintings on display at the Sri Naga Vihara. The theme for this art exhibition was ‘good habits and rituals,’ and it elicited some charming submissions. These paintings were submitted by 200 Tamil children of different age groups, ranging from engagingly childlike drawings to mature works of astonishing artistic merit. 

Perhaps what’s most noteworthy about this art exhibit is that these budding young artists are the children of former LTTE cadres who have long since been rehabilitated and have assimilated themselves into the fabric of Sri Lankan society. The level of enthusiasm was so impressive that the bank decided to award each and every young artistic participant a cash prize of Rs. 2,500 in the form of a Sampath Bank account.

“Sampath Bank has had a presence in Jaffna peninsula since peace returned to the Peninsula,” said Senior Deputy General Manager/Group Marketing, Deposit Mobilisation and Digitalisation Tharaka Ranwala. “The bank has proved to be one of the fastest growing private banks in the area, offering its customers a range of attractive financial products and services. Coming from a bank that is on the cutting edge technologically, the people of Jaffna embraced these progressive products and services and are being rewarded for it. They appreciate the value and benefits of these technologically advanced products and services.” 

The festivities culminated on the evening of Wednesday, 15 June, with a number of landmark events. In the age-old Sri Lankan tradition of religious tolerance, these events were graced by the attendance of members of the clergy of the Buddhist, Hindu and Catholic faiths. Brief sermons delivered by senior Buddhist prelates, followed by the Sampath Bank-sponsored prize giving for participants of different age levels.