HSBC’s environmental programme

HSBC recently launched an educational environment programme for 400 schoolchildren in five schools -- Weddagala Maha Vidyalaya, Pothupitiya Maha Vidyalaya, Kudawa Maha Vidyalaya, Gamini Maha Vidyalaya and Thiriwanaketiya Vidyalaya, which are situated in and around the vicinity of the Sinharaja forest.

This is in an effort to conserve the Sinharaja rainforest which is becoming increasingly important to Sri Lanka with climate change being seen as a serious threat to the world, the bank said.

The bank together with the Field Orthinology Group (FOG) attached to the University of Colombo, took this initiative in order to sensitize students to the environmental issues facing the Sinharaja rainforest and to create a core group of school children dedicated to the cause of environmental conservation.

The school environmental programme will comprise an intensive one year course on environmental issues, a schools beautification programme, a schools libraries programme and many nature outings.