HNB BRINGS HOPE AND SMILES TO CHILDREN ACROSS SRI LANKA THROUGH “NANA SAVI MEHEWARA” AFTER DITWAH CYCLONE

HNB PLC, the leading private bank in Sri Lanka, has successfully concluded Nana Savi Mehewara, a nationwide initiative launched to support children whose education was severely disrupted by Cyclone Ditwah and the subsequent flooding.

Driven by HNB’s extensive branch network, Nana Savi Mehewara mobilized employees, customers, and communities across Sri Lanka. Collection points established at over 250 HNB branches enabled contributions from all parts of the country, resulting in the gathering of essential educational resources for affected students. The initiative was designed to address immediate educational needs by providing books, stationery, and learning materials to students who had experienced displacement, loss, and interruptions to schooling due to the natural disaster.

HNB MD/CEO, Damith Pallewatte said: “At HNB, we recognize that in times of national need, institutions with the reach and strength to make a difference have a responsibility to step forward. Through Nana Savi Mehewara, our islandwide network enabled employees, customers, and communities to unite around a common purpose: ensuring that children affected by the recent disaster could return to learning with hope and confidence. Children are the future of this nation, and when their education is disrupted, the consequences extend far beyond the classroom. By empowering them with the tools and continuity they need to learn, we are investing in the resilience and capability of the generations who will one day lead Sri Lanka forward.”

Distribution was carried out in collaboration with existing school-level relationships, ensuring that assistance reached students who were most impacted. The program will continue, ensuring ongoing support for affected communities as recovery and rebuilding efforts progress.

HNB Vice President – Marketing and Corporate Communications, Upul Adikari said: “HNB is a brand built on the belief that banking should be meaningful in people’s lives, not just transactional. When Cyclone Ditwah disrupted communities across the country, we saw an opportunity to demonstrate that belief through action. Nana Savi Mehewara was designed to mobilize our islandwide presence in support of children whose education had been interrupted, beginning with the first distribution at Dehiowita Buddhist Primary School and expanding across the country through the collective efforts of our employees, customers, and branch network. Education is foundational to the future of this nation, and initiatives like this reflect the role we believe HNB should play in the communities we serve, particularly in moments of crisis.”

This initiative demonstrates HNB’s integrated approach to corporate social responsibility, leveraging its nationwide branch network to mobilize contributions from employees and customers across the country. With the participation of over 5,000 employees and customers nationwide and the support of more than 250 branches, the initiative reflects HNB’s commitment to translating its organizational reach into meaningful community impact.