National Bank’s Islamic Banking arm, HNB Al-Najah entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka (HFHSL) to launch the ‘Drops of Life Project’ for this year.
Targeting the improvement of water, sanitation and hygiene standards in the Batticaloa district, ‘Drops of Life’ is a project aligned with UN Sustainable Development goals to provide disadvantaged and marginalised communities with access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, leveraging on the extensive expertise of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the significance of the new partnership with Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka, HNB Chief Operating Officer, Dilshan Rodrigo said, “HNB is a bank that prides itself on our ability to serve as a partner in progress to Sri Lankans from all walks of life and the agreement with Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka represents another vital milestone in this journey.”
“In that regard, we are deeply satisfied to have partnered with an organisation of the stature of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka.
The remarkable work that they have carried out as part of their mission to provide decent and secure homes for Sri Lanka’s often overlooked rural communities is strongly aligned both with our own mission to build a sustainable future for all Sri Lankans, and with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and we look forward to building on this invaluable relationship moving forward,” he said.
The project plans to construct three latrines for a primary school named Ameer Ali Vidyalaya in Kattankudy and donate 50 water tanks – each with an individual capacity of 500 litres - for 50 low-income families residing in the Divisional Secretariat of Kattankudy in Batticaloa, for which HNB AlNajah will donate Rs. 1 million, while the company’s employees will also be volunteering their time and effort towards completion of this vital initiative. Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka National Director, Yu Hwa Li said, “At the outset, we wish to thank HNB and its Islamic Banking team for supporting us in this vital project.
“Habitat for Humanity has been operating in Sri Lanka for the past 23 years, and during this time we have been able to construct affordable housing for communities in the North and East, as well in flood prone regions in the Kalutara district using funds from the European Union, and Indian Government, together with generous donations from corporate donors such as HNB Al Najah,” he said.