Commercial Bank reaffirms environmental commitment with nationwide coastal and aquatic cleanup drive
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon brought together its island-wide network of employees, customers, volunteers, partners and other stakeholders for a coordinated national coastal and aquatic conservation initiative on 19 September, marking International Coastal Cleanup Day with activities across 20 locations nationwide.
Conducted under the Bank’s sustainability platform and its theme – ‘Forward Together for a Cleaner Future’ – the initiative extended well beyond a conventional beach cleanup. It encompassed conservation activities at 16 coastal locations and four inland waterways, enabling communities across the country to participate in a single, nationally coordinated environmental effort.
The flagship Colombo programme comprised activities at three prominent locations, Mount Lavinia Beach, where the main inauguration was held, as well as Wellawatte Beach and Galle Face Beach. At the same time, the Bank’s Regional Offices conducted conservation activities at selected beaches and inland aquatic environments across the island.
The scale of the initiative was matched by the breadth of stakeholder participation. Commercial Bank employees, corporate management, regional offices and branches, Future Force volunteers, customers, family members and other volunteers participated alongside the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the initiative’s Technical Partner, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Network Sri Lanka, relevant government and local authorities, environmental organisations and community members.
The 20 locations were selected based on factors including environmental significance, accessibility, community participation, safety and partnership opportunities, the Bank said. Regional activities included locations such as Calido Beach Kalutara, Akurala Beach, Kammal Moya Beach Park – Negombo, Trinco beach - Dockyard Road, Kallady beach – Batticaloa, Puttalam lagoon, Kubichchamkulama Wewa, Parakrama Samudraya, Point Pedro beach and Lighthouse area, Pannai (Jaffna), Lighthouse beach Galle Fort, Dondra beach in front of Ruhuna University, Tangalle - Oruwella beach, Chilaw beach in front of the Rest House, Bopath Falls, and the Mahaweli River – Polgolla Dam area.
The initiative represented a tangible expression of Commercial Bank’s commitment to responsible water stewardship. In 2025, the Bank formally adopted SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation as a priority Sustainable Development Goal, strengthening its focus on the responsible stewardship of water resources and protection of aquatic ecosystems. It was also the Bank's Patron Lead Initiative under the Water & Ocean Stewardship Working Group of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, of which Commercial Bank is the Patron.
