Our Community Engagement Strategy

DFCC Bank demonstrates its commitment to social sustainability of communities with a focus on resilience. Our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) extends from philanthropic CSR to strategic CSR which serve to generate sustainable outcomes to society. In implementing our CSR programmes we focus on key six themes, i.e. 6Es depicted in our Sustainability Strategy: Education, Elderly, Emergency Relief, Entrepreneurship, Environment, and Exercise. The programmes are all aligned with one or more of the 6Es and Sustainable Development Goals.

Under the guidance of the Executive Sustainability Management Committee (ESMC), the Sustainability Unit gets involved in planning, implementing and monitoring of the sustainability initiatives of the Bank.

Project Management Mechanism

“Flourish Beyond” is a programme introduced in 2023 under the Elderly pillar, dedicated to Senior Citizens. The programme was very well received and we intend to roll it out on an ongoing basis in the future.

The primary objective of this programme was to enhance the physical and cognitive well-being of the elderly, foster healthy aging, and empower our senior citizens to take proactive control of their health and overall well-being.

The inaugural workshop under the “Flourish Beyond” programme was conducted in September 2023. This event witnessed active participation from individuals aged 60 and above, including customers and parents of DFCC staff, in collaboration with the Geriatric Unit of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital in Kalubowila.

This programme originated during the financial crisis of 2022. During the crisis, a large segment of the population either lost their normal sources of income or found their purchasing power eroded by inflation. Through the Community Kitchen programme the Bank sought to ensure that food was available to the most vulnerable sections of the population. During 2023, 14 community kitchens were conducted in Batticaloa, Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa and Puttalam districts serving more than 4,500 people.

In line with the Bank’s “Sustainability focus”, these events were conducted as plastic-free events.

Value added activities for Community Kitchen programme

• Planting of fruit saplings and distribution of vegetable seed packs at some of the schools where the Community Kitchens were held
• Awareness sessions on nutrition and healthy meals
• Distribution of school supplies/essentials to the schools based on the requirement

Outcome of DFCC Community Kitchens

This programme provides books and stationery to under-resourced schools. In addition to the Bank’s contribution, items are collected from customers, employees and other well-wishers and distributed. The schools were selected on a district basis. The programme benefitted more than 14,000 students across 50 schools in 19 districts. The branches collaborated in the programme by helping to identify deserving schools and organising the distribution.

“Read the way” inculcates the habit of reading among young children and opens a window to the world through books. Through the programme we intend to make a positive contribution to the lives of the future generation of Sri Lankans. In addition, book cupboards were donated to 10 schools.

This programme aims to reduce barriers, particularly when seeking employment, that many under-privileged youth face due to their inadequate knowledge of English. The programme is targeted at young people who have completed the G.C.E. (A/L) examination, and is free of charge. It is being conducted in partnership with Gateway Education Services (Pvt) Ltd. In 2023, the programme was rolled out in Hambantota, Trincomalee and Nuwara Eliya and was followed by 81 students. The programme has innovative teaching methods including group exercises. The Bank offers internship and work opportunities to high achievers who have graduated from the programme.

The course also includes a soft skills component, which includes aspects such as time management, team management, presentation skills, and interview-facing skills. In addition to employment, the programme unlocks the door for participants to access a world of information though the internet and books and thus contributes to their personality development.

DFCC Education Scholarship Programmes

DFCC – CARITAS Sri Lanka Education Scholarship Scheme

Commencing in 2020, the Bank embarked on a five year journey with CARITAS Sri Lanka – SEDEC to support selected underprivileged children to continue their education by providing financial support for their secondary and tertiary education.

The Bank invested LKR 2.5 Mn in 2023 to support 192 students during the year.

Beneficiaries of the programme

Level	Beneficiaries
G. C. E. (O/L) and other	45
G. C. E. (A/L)	81
Vocational Training	19
Undergraduate	47
Total	192

Educational Assistance to Children Affected by the Easter Sunday Attack

With its commitment to assist people in difficult times, DFCC Bank initiated a scholarship scheme to assist 12 children who were victims of the Easter Sunday Attack in Katuwapitiya since 2019. In 2023, 9 students were provided with scholarships worth LKR 145,000/- in total to support their education. This scholarship will continue until they complete their secondary education.

Emergency Relief Programme in Southern Region

DFCC Bank assisted customers and communities who were heavily affected by floods during the period September-October 2023.

Dry ration packs were distributed to more than 200 families identified as directly affected from floods in the areas under the Athuraliya Divisional Secretariat – Balakawala, Panadugama, Haupe, Thibbotuwawa and Thibbotuwawa North and also to 65 affected customers in the Matara District. The packs were distributed to the beneficiaries under the supervision of officials from the Divisional Secretariat and the Grama Niladhari of each area.

DFCC Entrepreneurship Development Programmes

The Bank is cognisant of the economic and social importance of the micro/SME sector in the country. We are also aware of the limitations this sector faces in many areas such as accounting, financing, marketing, product standards and international trade procedures. For over five decades the Bank has focused on extending to this sector not only financial assistance, but other forms of assistance as well. In 2023, we signed an MOU with the Industrial Services Bureau (ISB) Kurunegala, for the purpose of utilising their expertise in conducting capacity development programmes.

We conducted a capacity development exercise under the “DFCC Vyapara Hamuwa” Entrepreneurship Development Programme. This programme is intended to help women and other small scale entrepreneurs to hone their skills. Four such programmes were conducted during the year benefitting 246 entrepreneurs.

Summary – Vyapara Hamuwa 2023

Target Group – Women and Small Scale Entrepreneurs

Location of the programme	Number of participants
Matara	45
Kurunegala	53
Bandaragama	85
Ratnapura	63
Total	246

Capacity Development and Financial Literacy Programmes for Farmers

Several other entrepreneurship development and financial literacy programmes were conducted for agriculture and dairy sector farmers under value chains and for female entrepreneurs. DFCC Bank linked with the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) to provide financial literacy to the farmers linked with HARTI. During the year, 16 training sessions were conducted for more than 300 farmers in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Galle, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara and Vauniya.

Further details can be found in the MSME section in Financial Capital.

DFCC – Good Life X Climate Adaptation Accelerator Initiative

The Bank partnered with Good Life X in 2022 and 2023 as the climate action initiatives’ sole financial institutional partner. Good Life X works on climate change and adaptation in the agriculture and tourism sectors. Further, it works as an accelerator with start-ups by developing their businesses and products to match market requirements and up scaling these solutions widely across Sri Lanka.

During the year 2023, the Bank successfully conducted three knowledge-sharing sessions for the startups registered with Good Life X. The Bank also functions as a “business matchmaker”, scoping out business opportunities, connecting programme participants with the Bank’s existing clients and others based on mutual interests, and providing banking facilities to participating business entities on a best-effort basis.

Workshop for Agri-Entrepreneurs

DFCC Bank collaborated with the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura through the Sri Lanka Council for Agriculture Research Policy (SLCARP) to conduct a workshop for 40 agri entrepreneurs linked with SLCARP. The programme was held in August 2023 at the SLCARP Auditorium. This was an interactive programme targeted at agri-entrepreneurs and guided them to develop their business models.

MSME Success Stories

OMMM initiatives – Wellness Activities for Staff

The Bank’s Health and Wellness Committee, OMMM, conducted a number of initiatives during the year to promote employees’ wellbeing.

More details are given under Employee Capital – Engagement and Wellness.