In response to the Government’s island-wide program-“Wana Ropa” to add 2889 hectares to national forest cover, the Bank of Ceylon has itself committed to restore hundred hectares of degraded forest in Hurulu Conservation Forest as “BOC Haritha Arana”. The ceremony marking the beginning of this massive project was held on Saturday 12th October 2019 at a land stretch close to Habarana Morakanda attached to the Hurulu Conservation with the participation of the Bank’s officials including members of Corporate and Executive Management and Officials from the Mahaweli Development Authority, Forest Department and Civil Security Department also participated for this event.
The nature is truly the only thing that sustains life on earth. With the current pressure on nature posed by climate change, degradation of ecological system on earth, it is made to be a duty of every country to make a significant contribution to protect the nature by many international conventions and agreements. The Bank takes this as an opportunity to assist the country to increase its forest cover up to 32% and meet-up with internationally agreed standards. With this objective, earlier in September 2019, the Bank has signed a MoU with Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry and the Forest Department to work out this project in a comprehensive manner.
As the No.1 Bank in the country, we’ve always considered it to be our duty to contribute to the economy and environment, and society. From a holistic view, the bank’s activities should be conducted in a sustainable manner, contributing to overall economic growth and stability, while minimising negative environmental impacts and uplifting the society. We believe we are setting an example for every individual, business and corporate to join this noble endeavour to assist the Government.
This project was a carefully orchestrated with a long-term overview to maintain this area continuously for three years until it has matured enough to be self-sustaining. The bank will ensure that proper maintenance will be conducted and records will be kept during this time period to ensure a quality outcome of this project. Being a genuinely concerned partner to protect the nature, Bank of Ceylon took responsibility by actively engaging in causes that deliver good sustainable results for the society, its people and the environment as a whole with this Green Corporate Social Responsible initiative.
Bank of Ceylon ensures that this project has comprehensively looked into improving this 100 hectares of land and contribute to improving environmental quality of the country. It will eliminate the growth of invasive plants such as Shrub Verbena (Gandapana), Speer grass (Iluk plant) and Ceylon citronella plant (Mana plant), reduce chances of wildfire and the spread of such, will limit feeding cattle inside the forest reserve and will regenerate natural growth of plants that form the forest.
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