People’s Bank celebrates 78th Independence by offering gifts to newborns

Thursday, 5 February 2026 05:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

People’s Bank Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando presents gifts to newborn babies at Castle Street Hospital and De Soysa Hospital for Women in Borella. Also in the picture are the hospital’s Director Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana, People’s Bank CEO/GM Clive Fonseka, DGM (Channel Management) Naleen Pathiranage, and DGM (Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Services) Aruni Liyanagunawardana.

People’s Bank celebrated Sri Lanka’s 78th National Independence Day with a modest ceremony held at its ‘People’s Tower’ Head Office, Colombo 02, under the patronage of its Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando and Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Clive Fonseka.

People’s Bank’s ‘Birth of Freedom’ program, which commences every Independence Day, was carried out this year as well. Under this initiative, People’s Bank gifts a Rs. 2,000/- ‘Isuru Udana’ Gift Certificate to every baby born between 1-14 February.

People’s Bank introduced the Isuru Udana Account in 1998 and launched this program in 2006 with the aim of instilling national pride and encouraging parents to plan for their children’s future. Parents or guardians can open an ‘Isuru Udana’ Children’s Savings Account at any People’s Bank branch using the gift certificate along with the child’s birth certificate. A unique aspect of this program is that People’s Bank staff personally visit hospitals to present the certificates to newborns.

Chairman, Prof. Narada Fernando symbolically presented ‘Isuru Udana’ gift vouchers and other gifts at the Castle Street Hospital for Women and the De Soysa Hospital for Women in Borella.

The Director of the Castle Street Hospital for Women and De Soysa Hospital for Women in Borella Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana, along with hospital staff, corporate and executive management of People’s Bank, and staff members from the Colombo North and South Regions, were also present at the event. In line with this initiative, all People’s Bank branches across the country launched ‘Birth of Freedom’ activities island-wide.