People's Bank has donated Rs. 300 million to the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to support the development of a multi-storey housing project in the Nuwara Eliya District, aimed at resettling families affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The initiative, undertaken in commemoration of the Bank’s 65th anniversary, forms a key component of its Mahajana Mehewara Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. It reflects the Bank’s continued commitment to community support, national development, and sustainable recovery efforts.
The symbolic cheque was handed over at the Presidential Secretariat by Clive Fonseka and Prof. Narada Fernando to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. Nalaka Wijayawardana was also present at the occasion.
Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in November 2025, along with subsequent landslides in the Nuwara Eliya town area, caused extensive damage to residential properties and displaced several families. In response, the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply initiated a permanent housing programme to provide safe and sustainable resettlement solutions. The contribution from People’s Bank underscores the national importance of this effort and reinforces its role in post-disaster recovery and community resilience.
The proposed development includes a fully integrated multi-storey housing complex designed to ensure long-term sustainability and quality living standards. The residential component will comprise three multi-storey blocks, offering a total of 120 housing units, with 40 units in each block.
In addition to housing, the project includes supporting infrastructure and community facilities to promote a holistic living environment. Planned amenities feature internal road networks, dedicated parking, a wastewater treatment plant, and solar-powered outdoor lighting. Community facilities will include a health centre, day-care centre, commercial outlets, a community centre, a children’s play area, a condominium management office, and a dedicated banking unit.
Each block is expected to be completed within approximately six months, enabling the timely resettlement of affected families and supporting long-term community rebuilding efforts in the region.
Sun Siyam Pasikudah celebrates Sinhala and Tamil New Year in festive style
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Sun Siyam Pasikudah, part of the Prive Collection within The House of Siyam, celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on April 14 with a vibrant, full-day programme that brought together guests and team members in a festive atmosphere rooted in shared traditions, cultural rituals, and generous hospitality.
The celebrations followed the traditional rhythm familiar to Sri Lankan households. At the auspicious time determined by the New Year almanac, the ceremonial hearth at The Kitchen was lit and the milk pot was set to boil—symbolising warmth, unity, and the welcoming of prosperity for the year ahead.
This was followed by another key moment at midday, when a Traditional Sweet Table was arranged by the resort’s culinary team. Guests gathered to enjoy an array of festive delicacies, offering some their first experience of Avurudu traditions while providing others with a familiar taste of home.
From 3:00 PM onwards, the festivities transitioned into a lively afternoon of traditional Avurudu games held across the resort grounds. Guests of all ages participated enthusiastically, creating an energetic and joyful atmosphere that captured the essence of the New Year celebrations.
Speaking on the occasion, Arshed Refai said that Avurudu is a celebration where the atmosphere itself defines the experience. He noted that each tradition—from the lighting of the hearth to the sweet table and the afternoon games—carries its own meaning, and when observed together, creates a uniquely immersive cultural moment. He added that the resort aimed to ensure guests felt genuinely part of the celebration, rather than merely observers, and that Pasikudah provided a natural setting for such meaningful cultural experiences.
The celebration further reinforced Sun Siyam Pasikudah’s positioning as a destination that blends luxury hospitality with authentic cultural experiences, offering guests moments that reflect the spirit and traditions of Sri Lanka.
People's Bank donates Rs. 300 million to Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund
