DFCC Bank marked World Environment Day and World Oceans Day with two initiatives – a mangrove restoration project at Waikkal and a reforestation project at Riverston in the Knuckles Mountain range.
The Mangrove Restoration Project at the Gin Oya Estuary in Waikkal was conducted on June 7. Several top-ranking officials were present, including Chief Executive Officer Thimal Perera and Chief Human Resource Officer Paduma Subasinghe. Volunteers across various branches and departments took part.
The Mangrove Restoration Project was undertaken in collaboration with the Navy, together with the support of the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of the Environment, the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, and the Geography Department of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
The initiative focused on planting Rhizophora mucronata (Maha Kadol) and Rhizophora apiculata (Mal Kadol) mangrove species grown in the mangrove nursery funded by DFCC Bank at the Naval Detachment – Karukupane.
The primary objective of this project is to enhance ecosystem resilience provided by mangrove forests along Sri Lanka’s extensive coastline. This initiative also involved people from the local community and the support of Suriya Resort Waikkal and its staff.
The restoration of the Gin Oya Estuary mangroves enriches the local ecosystem and provides a habitat for various marine species. During the event, Dr Manoj Prasanna of the Biodiversity Secretariat also led an awareness session on “Mangrove Restoration and Habitat Enrichment of the Gin Oya”, helping to educate participants, which included students of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura studying ‘Environment and Development’, about the ecological significance of mangroves.
Alongside this project, DFCC Bank also undertook a reforestation project in the Knuckles Conservation Forest Reserve on June 8, planting 100 native plants in collaboration with the Forest Department of Sri Lanka. DFCC Bank’s staff and people from the local community took part.
Chief Executive Officer of DFCC Bank, Thimal Perera said, “Our commitment to environmental sustainability is deeply ingrained in our ethos, culture, and strategy at DFCC Bank. By undertaking projects like these, we preserve vital ecosystems and promote community involvement and awareness, which have long-lasting positive and cascading benefits.
“We believe these initiatives and our many other ongoing sustainability programs are crucial for combating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for generations. These programs also heavily underscore the significance of collaboration with authorities and communities towards realising positive climate action,” he said.
