National Savings Bank celebrated its golden jubilee by felicitating the media.
Photography: Arham Farook.
Speaking at the event, Keasila Jayawardena, Chairperson, NSB, said, “It is with great pride and pleasure that I, as the Chairperson of the National Savings Bank, the Safest Bank in Sri Lanka, steer the NSB through its 50th Anniversary Celebrations. In the journey spanning five decades, the NSB has grown from strength to strength while serving the people of this nation with consistency and consideration. I take this opportunity to thank all our honored guests present here today for the unstinted support given to us in dispensing information to the public. I reiterate our desire to continue working with distinguished guests throughout our journey to greatness. I am honored to be part of the National Savings Bank at its Golden Jubilee Celebrations and thank all those who celebrate with us.
Ajith Peiris, General Manager, CEO, NSB, said, “The year 2022 is most significant in the history of National Savings Bank (NSB), having completed 50 years in providing an excellent and continuous service to the nation. While we celebrate our Golden jubilee, we reflect on our deep roots spanning almost two centuries that have kept us in touch with the people through generations and being chiseled in the annals of history as a distinguished institution. It is my honor to serve in this great financial institution that has molded generations of savers who are the lifeblood of this nation. As the General Manager/CEO, I express my profound appreciation to all-out stakeholders and distinguished guests for their continuous faith in our abilities as the Safest Bank in Sri Lanka and invite all to celebrate with us on this momentous occasion. Adding further, he said, NSB recorded its highest profits in its history in 2021 of 22 billion rupees, and had provided over 3.6 billion rupees moratorium benefits to the majority of its customers in the past year. The NSB has invested over Rs 800 billion in government bonds so far and is the only bank that gives a 100 percent government guarantee for customer deposits.
In celebrating the golden jubilee of the NSB, the Bank hosted several events across the month: women’s day celebrations, Agroforestry initiative focusing on the banks’ projects, a walk from the head office and all regions and branches to raise awareness on thrift, and inaugurating the digitalization of NSB and the emphasis upon inward remittances to strengthen the National Economy.
Some of the key milestone achievements of NSB for the year 2022 include the celebration of 50 years of Excellence, the only Sri Lankan Bank to receive World Savings Bank Institute (WSBI) membership, first specialized Bank to receive RTGS membership, rated one of the topmost admired companies in Sri Lanka by ICCCSL and CIMA, ranked as one of the ten women-friendly workplaces by CIMA Sri Lanka and Satyn, rated the fifth most valuable brand in Sri Lanka; and the only Bank in Sri Lanka to be successfully rated “AAA” since 2003. In 1832, the Governor of Ceylon, Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, established the Ceylon Savings Bank to inculcate the savings habit amongst the people.
On the suggestion of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, the Ceylon Post Office Savings Bank was established in 1885. With increasingly efficient service, it became convenient to make deposits and withdrawals through national post offices located throughout the island. In 1938, the Savings Certificates Section of the Postmaster General’s Department was established to further promote people’s saving habits. In 1942, the Ceylon War Savings Movement was formed to mobilize savings to finance the war loans obtained during World War II. Under its operations, the Savings certificates were further popularized. By the end of the war, this entity was renamed the National Savings Movement. The then Minister of Finance, the late Dr. N.M, established National Savings Bank. Perera, amalgamating the above four unique institutes, provided financial services to the people.
