With the intention of uplifting the spirits of children in marginalized communities during the festive
season, Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, launched the ‘Season of Giving’ donation
campaign on its premier digital payment app SOLO, to support Caritas Sri Lanka.
The non-profit organization, the social arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, is one
of the largest and most respected humanitarian organisations working Integral Human Development
projects across 12 diocese across the island. Chief Guest Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and Caritas
Vice Chairman of the Commission of Justice, Peace and Human Development Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell
Silva, HNB Director and Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo, HNB AGM-Digital Business
Chammika Weerasinghe, Caritas Sri Lanka National Director Rev. Fr. Luke Nelson Perera together
with reverent fathers and sisters, donors and senior officials of HNB were present at a special
ceremony held at Caritas Head Office to launch the initiative.
“The ongoing economic crisis has increased the number of families that do not have access to the
proper meals, sanitation and shelter in Sri Lanka. As of now, data indicates that as much as 4.8
million children do not have access to these basic facilities each day. Given that we do not have the
funds or the facilities to reach out to each and every one of these children, we partnered with
Caritas Sri Lanka to provide for those we can. We hope that many will join us in this worthy cause
to provide for those in need, during this festive season,” HNB Director/COO Dilshan Rodrigo said.
All donations made via HNB SOLO will be directly sent to the Caritas Sri Lanka accounts, with the
bank making an additional donation for every transaction made by users. Moreover, HNB has also
facilitated donations directly to the organization through the Direct Pay option available on the
payment app.
“Christmas is the time for giving and sharing. With the support of your donations, these children will
receive the necessary books and equipment required to gain the education they need in order to
create promising futures for themselves and be free of poverty. Many children have lost their
motivation to return to school, but with your support, we can help them get the education they
need to create a new change in their lives and communities. When you donate, you change their
future and help them see beyond their struggles of poverty,” Caritas Sri Lanka National Director
Rev. Fr. Luke Nelson Perera said commenting on the initiative.
Last year, HNB launched a similar campaign with HelpAge Sri Lanka to obtain donations through the
SOLO app to uplift the lives of all people.
With 252 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most
technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive
forward a new paradigm in digital banking. The bank has continuously won prestigious accolades
including being declared Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka for 2020 by the Asian Banker Magazine for the
eleventh occasion, in addition to being the highest ranked privately owned commercial bank in Sri
Lanka by the prestigious Banker Magazine Top 1000 global rankings in 2020.
Head-North Western, Rajiv Perera (far right)
