Seylan Bank Opens 295th ‘Pahasara’ Library at Giri/Gemunu Central College, Pannala, to Foster Financial Literacy among Students
Seylan Bank PLC, the Bank with a Heart, marked another milestone in its flagship Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative by opening its 295th ‘Pahasara’ Library at Giri/Gemunu Central College, Ingaradaula, Pannala.
The ceremony was held on the 03rd of July 2026, under the patronage of Zonal Assistant Director of Education - North Western II, Prasad Kinigama, the Principal of the School, K.M. Wijerathne, Deputy General Manager - Corporate Banking, Nilanthie De Meral, Seylan Bank Assistant General Manager - Marketing and Sales, Asiri Abhayaratne, Chief Manager - Marketing, Nalin Karunaratne, Senior Manager – Sustainability, Sandrine Gomez, Regional Manager – North Western Region, Upendra Adhikari, and Branch Manager – Pannala Branch, N.G.R. Sanjeewa, along with the Seylan Bank staff.
The newly refurbished library was officially handed over following the completion of Pahasara Week, a series of student-focused engagement activities conducted jointly by Seylan Bank and the school. As part of the initiative, the Bank donated books along with a laptop and smart board, to enhance teaching and learning with digital tools.
The Pahasara Week included a volleyball match for students aged under 15 to under 19, an art competition for grade 01 students, and a financial literacy educative programme for Commerce stream students in grades 11,12, and 13, aimed at introducing children to savings habits and basic money management during their formative years.
While empowering students across Sri Lanka with financial and digital literacy, the Seylan Pahasara initiative also remains committed to nurturing future generations through meaningful environmental engagement.
As part of this sustainability drive, school students are encouraged to plant and care for valuable trees within their school grounds, fostering environmental responsibility from an early age. This reinforces Seylan Bank’s commitment to cultivating a greener, more sustainable future for the country. Going beyond being just a programme, it reflects Seylan Bank’s commitment to nurturing environmentally conscious citizens who will help protect and sustain Sri Lanka’s future.
Speaking on the occasion, Asiri Abhayaratne, Assistant General Manager - Marketing and Sales, Seylan Bank, said, “The opening of the 295th library represents a significant step as the Bank moves steadily toward its commitment of establishing 300 Pahasara Libraries across the country. Seylan Bank remains committed to funding library refurbishments and providing essential educational resources to cultivate students’ knowledge and skills.”
Education officials, teachers, parents, and students extended their full cooperation to ensure the success of the programme, with strong student participation recorded throughout Pahasara Week activities.
Commenting further on the significance of the 295th Pahasara chapter, Nilanthie De Meral, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Banking at Seylan Bank, added, “As we near the completion of 300 Pahasara libraries across the country, we at Seylan Bank are reminded of the immense potential of education in bridging Sri Lanka's youth with the tools for sucess.
Furthermore, we're recognise each Pahasara chapter as a vital platform in nurturing the next generation of socially concious and responsible citizens through the expansion of access to effective learning material."
The Seylan Pahasara Library Project, launched on 01st March 2013, stands as Seylan Bank’s long-term social sustainability initiative, placing education at the centre of empowering future generations.
Through this programme, Seylan Bank continues to support schools island wide by strengthening library infrastructure and expanding access to essential learning tools. As the Pahasara initiative approaches its landmark 300th library, this milestone represents one of the biggest achievements in the Pahasara journey, reinforcing Seylan Bank’s commitment to building knowledge, nurturing financial literacy, and creating lasting community impact across Sri Lanka.