(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Standard Chartered Sri Lanka undertook to plant a tree for each of the Bank’s employees at the Attidiya Wetlands to commemorate Earth Day 2021 in April, in line with its commitment to sustainability. The trees were planted on the 6th, 8th and 20th of April, with the help of close to 90 volunteers, including Bank employees and their children, who dedicated their time towards the Bank’s efforts to support the environment.
Commenting on the initiative, Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, said “Standard Chartered has always been a socially and environmentally conscious network and over the years, we have dedicated significant resources to ensure we add value to our communities and the environment. All our sustainability efforts and initiatives work towards strengthening our sustainability drive and staying true to our ‘Here for good’ brand promise. Conserving this urban ecosystem will not only support its biodiversity but will also clean the air & water and give much needed relief from the urban heat supporting the overall well-being of our communities. The tree planting programme will add pride of ownership for our employees in protecting the environment.”
Explaining the Bank’s sustainability commitment, Anuk De Silva, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing at Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, commented “Globally and locally, we are faced with many challenges both environmental and societal; which requires us to be mindful and proactive to solve these different issues. The need for sustainability is now greater than ever, as we need to address more problems and enable more people to forge a better future for themselves. The tree planting programme is a small but concrete step in the right direction and will assist us to achieve our endeavour of reducing our carbon emissions putting the world on a sustainable path to net zero by 2050.”
Standard Chartered Sri Lanka chose the Attidiya Wetlands, as it is located in an urban neighbourhood, yet is rich in biodiversity and in need of continuous nurturing to maintain its wellbeing. Environment is a strategic pillar in the Bank’s overall sustainability agenda, and is viewed as a holistic long-term commitment by employees. Standard Chartered places emphasis on volunteer activities carried out by employees on the sustainability front, and enables their efforts by allowing them paid leave for sustainability-related engagements.
