ComBank embarks on ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ campaign

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has embarked on an ambitious nationwide tree planting campaign to plant 100,000 trees across Sri Lanka in three years, to help achieve country’s self-defined national climate pledges under the UN Paris Agreement.

Aptly titled ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ the programme commenced on November 11, four days ahead of National Tree Planting Day – November 15, with the planting of 12,000 trees at 17 locations in 12 districts, achieving 12% of the target in a single day. More than 1,000 members of the staff of Commercial Bank participated in the tree planting.

Among the locations chosen for the planting of trees were, Giguruwa in the Sinharaja forest, the lower slopes of the Hantana mountain range, the precincts of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, the Bellanwila – Attidiya bird sanctuary, the banks of the TissamaharamaWewa, the Victoria Park in NuwaraEliya and the grounds of several universities.

The locations were chosen inconsultation with Commercial Bank branches and the relevant stakeholders in the localities to ensure that the most appropriateareas are benefited, the Bank said. The types of plants were also selected according to the requirements of the geographic locationsin consultation with relevant stakeholders, toensureproper climate transition.

The Bank said the project would continue in selected locationsacross the country, with Government agencies, universities, the Sri Lanka Army, Department of Forest Conservation and other institutions allocating the land, and supporting the initiative by helping the Bank to protect and maintain the trees till they are self-sustaining.

Commercial Bank Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge said; “We have already proved that sustainability is not just a buzzword for Commercial Bank, by becoming the country’s first carbon neutral bank. But that was just a beginning for us, not an end. The Bank has funded many other projects to support the regeneration of the environment and combat climate change. It is our hope that a project on the scale of ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ will have a significant impact on improving air quality, rainfall and biodiversity.This initiative not only focuses on achieving the Bank’s environmental goals inthe sustainability sphere, but is an initiative by the Bank as a responsible corporate citizen,to support the country achieve its climate goals.”

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