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 –‘ForwardTogether for a Cleaner Future’– the initiative extended well beyond a conventional beach cleanup. It encompassed conservation activities at 16coastal 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.
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.
The drive provided a practical platform for the Bank to translate these commitments into action, while strengthening collaboration among business, Government, development, academic, environmental and community stakeholders.
The programme also built on Commercial Bank’s continuing environmental initiatives, including its ‘Life to Our Beaches’ initiative, through which the Bank appointed a dedicated beach caretaker for Kalido Beach, Kalutara, and its ‘Life to Our Coral Reefs’ initiative supporting the restoration and conservation of the Kayankerni Reef. It also formed part of the Bank’s broader Forward Together 2026 sustainability platform and its continuing programme of environmental and community-focused activities led by branches, departments and volunteer teams.
Source: Daily News