Sunday Times 2
Nations Trust Bank gives helping hand to Loris and Warana/Waranam magazines
View(s):Nations Trust Bank strengthened its collaboration with Wildlife and Nature Protection Society by fostering research and education on biodiversity, through full sponsorship of the “Loris” and “Warana/Waranam” magazines. The sponsorship will span three years from 2017 to 2019 with the first magazine published under this agreement being the renewed Warana/Waranam magazine that has undergone a major format change to become the first bilingual magazine on nature published in Sri Lanka. The e-version of the magazines will be freely accessible on the WNPS webpage from June 5.
Wildlife and Nature Protection Society Secretary Spencer Manuelpillai presenting the first bilingual issue of the Warana/Waranam Magazine to Nations Trust Bank CEO Ms. Renuka Fernando. In the picture (left to right): Vidya Abhayagunwardena – Editor of Warana/Waranam Magazine, Rohan Wijesinha – Editor, Loris, Spencer Manuelpillai, Secretary WNPS, Renuka Fernando – Chief Executive Officer Nations Trust Bank, PriyanthaTalwatte – DGM Consumer Banking, Theja Silva – DGM Legal/Company Secretary and Head of CSR, Adheesha Perera – Sustainability Manager and Ayura Perera, Corporate Secretary to DGM - Legal & Administration/ Company Secretary
Warana magazine that is primarily enriched by the research findings of the local university undergraduates is available to the school library system, thereby fulfilling dual objectives of promoting research in tertiary education, whilst at the same time being a source of science based learning in secondary education.
Loris magazine that reaches wildlife enthusiasts and environmental advocates from civil society equips them with the latest research on status of biodiversity in the country and sheds awareness on species at risk and conservation efforts underway.
Speaking on the rationale of Nations Trust Bank’s full sponsorship of Wildlife and Nature Protection Society’s magazines, Renuka Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of Nations Trust Bank noted, “Given the status of Sri Lanka as a biodiversity hotspot and the lack of due recognition about the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, it is imperative that further research is undertaken and evidence based knowledge becomes available to the public at large, so we have a better understanding and appreciation of the kind of action that is required. ”
The sponsorship of the magazines is in addition to the Nations Trust Bank’s current endorsement of Wildlife and Nature Protection Society’s annual ten-part lecture series, featuring leading biodiversity researchers, that the bank had come on-board to sponsor for the second consecutive year.
Highlighting the uniqueness of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity status Rukshan Jayewardene, President of Wildlife and Nature Protection Society noted,” Within the confines of a 65,000 sq km Island, Sri Lanka punches way above her weight in terms of both bio diversity (Flora and Fauna) as well as spectacular mega fauna. Apart from the little animals such as frogs, fresh water fish and crabs, skinks, lizards, ground snakes and insects to name a few, Sri Lanka is remarkable in that we are probably the best place in all the world to see Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, marsh Crocodiles and Blue and Sperm Whales”.
Mr. Jayewardene added “Sri Lanka’s biodiversity is continental in scope if not in scale and its future rests with the future leaders and decision makers of our Island. In that respect, both the monthly lecture series and the two publications LORIS and WARANA/WARANAM presented and published by WNPS and sponsored by Nations Trust Bank is of key importance to our conservation process.