ComBank landscapes National Hospital gardens

The Corporate Social Responsibility Trust of Commercial Bank partnered with the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo (NHSL) in a gardening and landscaping project covering an area of one and half acres of the hospital's gardens.

The project will facilitate the mental well-being of patients and includes the planting of C02-absorbing trees in specified plots of land belonging to the hospital to minimise carbon dioxide emissions in its immediate environs.

In addition to the trees in the garden, more mango and jack trees have been planted. The ponds have been cleaned and repaired along with the benches. Lush lawns enhance the aesthetic and environmental values of the property.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Commercial Bank of Ceylon and the National Hospital to formalise this partnership, and the major part of the work has already been completed, a Bank official said.

The contractor entrusted with the work will also maintain the landscaped areas for five years.

The National Hospital situated on a 32-acre block of land is the largest teaching hospital in Sri Lanka and the final referral centre in the country consisting of 3,500 beds and serves over 10,000 outpatients daily.

Consisting of 80 wards and 30 treatment units, 38 operating theatres and 18 intensive care units, it is the training centre for undergraduates and post-graduate trainees of the Faculty of Medicine.

The nurse's training school, Colombo, PBS, and schools of Radiography, Pharmacy, Cardiograph,

Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are affiliated to the National Hospital.

Commercial Bank contributes a percentage of its post-tax profits annually to its CSR Trust, set up in 2004 with a capital of Rs 25 million.