1. Commercial Bank supports marine turtle conservation programme in Panama.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has pledged to

support a Panama sea turtle conservation project
on the east coast of Sri Lanka, to enable the
expansion of the scope of the project from
Kumana Village to Panakala Lagoon.
The Wildlife and Ocean Resources
Conservation Project (WORC) of Sri Lanka
covers an area of 3 km in a previously
unprotected area that is home to four species of
turtles, including Videlicet Green, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles.
Conservation initiatives at the WORC in Panama are important because four of the seven
species of sea turtles in the world come ashore to nest in Panama. The immediate objective of
the program is to protect the nests and eggs of these sea turtles from predators such as pigs,
foxes, mongooses, spotted iguanas and dogs.
Night and day patrols, covering cages with metal cages to protect them from wildlife, training
egg collectors and becoming cage keepers are initiatives that need to be activated to achieve
the objective of the conservation program.  The scope of the project also includes field data
collection, school awareness programs and field trips, turtle nest observation and reporting.
The overall objective of the project is to restore a degraded ecosystem and to invigorate a
culture and community of environmental conservation.  In addition to funding the project, the
Bank will assist WORC's efforts to build partnerships with communities, raise education and
awareness, and identify sustainable livelihoods and business opportunities related to the
project and to initiate related activities.  The Bank stated that it will be actively involved in
the project whenever possible.

This turtle conservation project by the Wildlife and Marine Resources Conservation Project
was launched in 2013 by Prof. K.B.  Ranawana and Vimukthi Weeratunga.  With the
financial support of aid organizations, it has accomplished its conservation objectives,
including identifying egg collectors, educating them on the importance of protecting turtles,
and making them cage keepers.  The conservation area covered an area of 3 km from the
mouth of the Panama Lagoon to Kumana.  The survival rate of chicks and eggs has increased
from 13,564 eggs in 2013 to 12,265 eggs in 2013 to 17,500 eggs and 15,700 chicks in 2018. 
This is the result of an existing conservation project under a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.  It has traveled another 3 km and has so far released
11,000 turtles. This information shows that they have succeeded in that project.
 

12. Commercial Bank marks World Environment Day with tree planting at National
Hospital.

Commercial Bank's Corporate Social Responsibility Trust joins the National Hospital of Sri
Lanka (NHSL), Colombo, in a gardening and landscaping project covering one and a half
acres of the hospital's gardens.
The project aims to facilitate the mental well-being of patients, including the planting of C02-
absorbing trees in specific areas of the hospital to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in its
vicinity. In addition to the trees in the garden, mango and jackfruit trees have been planted.
Existing ponds have been cleaned and repaired with benches. Fertile grass enhances the
aesthetic and environmental value of the property, according to a bank press release.
The bank has also appointed a full-time caretaker to look after the maintenance of the garden.
The Bank plans to continue planting jackfruit and mango trees in this section for the benefit
of the environment and the health of patients, visitors and staff at the National Hospital.
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
the National Hospital to formalize this partnership, the Bank said, adding that major work has
already been completed. And they have successfully completed this project.