‘Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma’: Siyapatha Finance’s Initiative to Conserve Sri Pada

• A Collaborative Effort Under ‘Siyapathen Mihikathata’

Revered as one of the most renowned pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka for millennia, Sri Pada, Adam’s Peak or “Samanala Kanda” is an ancient, sacred ground enclosing a sacred footprint which is believed to be Lord Buddha’s, Lord Shiva’s or Adam’s. Every year, the summit is visited by multitudes of devotees from various faiths and cultures from across the world.

Declared a Wildlife Nature Reserve as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its significant ecosystem and historical background, Sri Pada has captured global attention as a biodiversity hotspot for centuries. The reserve forms numerous headwaters in the territory, and is home to a vast number of animal and plant species including those highly vulnerable to extinction at present.

Today, millions of pilgrims and sightseers travel through the forested route during the pilgrimage season, posing a threat to the survival and conservation of the reserve. Environmentalists constantly raise awareness on the effects of littering the pilgrimage site with tons of non-biodegradable polythene and plastic items. In spite of imposing penalties, the many attempts by governmental and private entities to facilitate convenient segregation of waste along the route, or the many dialogues initiated on social media, it remains a growing problem. Worshippers continue to discard polythene bags, PET bottles and food wrappers, especially in areas such as “Seetha Gangula” and “Indikatupana” where they perform traditional observances prior to beginning their journey.

In an effort to find solutions ahead of World Environment Day 2024, leading finance company Siyapatha Finance PLC, through “Siyapathen Mihikathata”, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillar focusing on environmental conservation, set in motion its first step to conserve this wildlife sanctuary for the generations to come, under the theme of “Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma”.

Having obtained special permission from Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Mr. Nandana Galaboda, over 50 members of staff as well as the senior Management from Siyapatha’s Head Office, together with officials from Central Environmental Authority’s (CEA) Nuwara Eliya Office, joined hands to kick off the Sri Pada Cleaning Project. Displaying commitment to the objective of “Siyapathen Mihikathata”, Siyapatha staff collected close to a ton of plastic, polythene and other waste, which were  then sent for recycling.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Mr. Nandana Galaboda commented on the “Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma” programme, noting: “Collecting the tons of waste material left behind after each pilgrimage season is a tedious task. Prevention is better than cure. We believe it is critical that devotees be acknowledged that refraining from littering is the way to protect Sri Pada. Siyapatha Finance’s initiative goes beyond a mere cleaning project – a solid, consistent  course of action to encourage people to preserve this sacred site in the long run.”

Sharing his thoughts on this important step forward, Siyapatha Finance Managing Director Mr. Ananda Seneviratne remarked: “Preserving the sacred site of Sri Pada is not only to preserve our heritage, but also an ecosystem with the highest biodiversity in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is upon all of us to take charge and be mindful about the great threat it faces due to plastic and polythene littering, and it is time to collectively set an example to only leave our footprints behind. We are deeply moved by the impact of this project and are determined to conserve Sri Pada for the generations to come.”

Now an annual event in its CSR calendar, Siyapatha Finance aims to make “Nemadumen Pasu Amaduma” a nationwide project that gathers people from all corners of the Island Nation under a single purpose. The project further looks to carry out regular awareness programmes to educate worshippers, visitors as well as the general public on preserving Sri Pada and its invaluable ecosystem through proper waste management.

Siyapatha Finance PLC, the largest fully owned subsidiary of the Sampath Bank Group, boasts an islandwide network of branches, including in the North East, ensuring their customers are provided with the best-in-service delivery standards. Over the past 19 years, the company has contributed to the development of small and medium entrepreneurial efforts as well as fulfilling individual financial needs across the island.