SAMPATH BANK
Biodiversity Means Business:
A Decade of Impact,
A Future of Action
“Sampath Bank has built a performance driven ecosystem, holding partners accountable and recognising exceptional contributions”
Chief Human Resource Transformation Officer
At a time when sustainability is increasingly seen as a corporate responsibility, Sampath Bank has gone several steps farther – making biodiversity and environmental resilience central to its business strategy.
As one of the first private sector members of Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL), the bank championed conservation long before it became part of the mainstream dialogue.
“Sampath Bank was founded as an environmentally-friendly organisation. We were the first bank to introduce communication initiatives focussed on sustainability – even prior to biodiversity becoming a common term in Sri Lanka,” notes the Chief Human Resource Transformation Officer Dr. Lalith Weragoda.
This early recognition of biodiversity’s value laid the foundation for the bank’s longstanding partnership with BSL. He says: “Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is a great source of competitive advantage. We saw BSL as the apex body promoting this cause and wanted to be part of the solution.”
Its early support for the Kanneliya forest reserve project – a globally recognised model for ecological restoration – is a point of pride. “We backed it when very few knew about it. Today, it’s valued by researchers, students and conservationists around the world,” Weragoda avers.
PORTFOLIO OF IMPACT Sampath Bank’s conservation efforts span ecosystems and communities. From wetland and forest restoration to coral and marine conservation, the bank has developed flagship projects with organisations such as Biodiversity Sri Lanka, the Department of Forest Conservation, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).
Key initiatives encompass reforestation efforts at Kanneliya and Udawalawe including mangrove restoration initiatives at Anawilundawa and Karamba in Kalpitiya. Additionally, a turtle conservation project is being carried out in Rekawa, alongside coral reef restoration initiatives in the southern and eastern regions of the island.
Furthermore, a five year collaboration with the IUCN is underway to conserve coral reefs associated with the Erumaitivu-Kakkativu seascape in the Palk Bay, aimed at enhancing community and ecosystem resilience.
“We choose locations based on environmental vulnerability – not convenience. Even if they are 300 kilometres from Colombo, we go where nature needs us the most. Every project is rooted in scientific planning and local community engagement,” explains Weragoda.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES For Sampath Bank, conservation demands innovation, precision and partnerships. In turtle conservation projects for instance, the bank goes beyond protecting eggs.
He reveals: “We work with researchers to study ideal nest depth, temperature and timing to optimise hatchling survival.” Remote projects such as one in Kilinochchi are implemented despite logistical hurdles, ensuring coverage across Sri Lanka.
Weragoda asserts: “We always partner with expert institutions. Our approach is science led, not based on convenience.”
Chief among the hurdles is coordinating diverse stakeholders. “Various stakeholders operate on different timelines and have differing expectations,” he acknowledges. Environmental unpredictability and a shortage of specialists, such as marine scientists, add to the challenges.
Yet, Sampath Bank has built a performance driven ecosystem, holding partners accountable and recognising exceptional contributions. “Once stakeholders see our work ethic, they align with our vision. We energise the system and that motivates others,” he affirms.
BUSINESS LEVER Sustainability isn’t a PR exercise – it’s central to Sampath Bank’s operations and future readiness. And sustainability criteria are now embedded into credit evaluations, influencing how loans are assessed.
Weragoda says: “When we rehabilitate a tank under the flagship Wewata Jeewayak programme, it delivers a range of benefits to both the community and the environment.” By investing in industries such as tourism and sectors like agriculture, the bank not only enhances livelihoods but also contributes to environmental resilience.
“As bankers, we hold the power to approve or reject projects. If we stop financing unsustainable practices, they simply can’t survive. For instance, a green credit card can reward sustainable choices. Housing and SME loans can come with environmental stipulations – and that’s how we shift the economy,” he asserts.
Weragoda’s message is unequivocal: “Sustainability is no longer a choice; it’s a necessity. Banks have a unique responsibility and opportunity to lead this transformation.”
Telephone 2303050 | Email info@sampath.lk | Website www.sampath.lk
