Sampath Bank hands over Dickwella material recovery facility

Sampath Bank Chief Transformation Officer Dr. Lalith Weragoda officially unveils and hands over fully operational Material Recovery Facility Centre in Batheegama

Reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship and inclusive socioeconomic development, Sampath Bank PLC officially handed over a fully operational material recovery facility (MRF) in Batheegama, Dickwella, under its ‘A Breath to the Ocean’, ocean plastic reduction initiative. 

This milestone marks a significant step in transitioning from a corporate-led initiative to a community-owned, sustainable model.

Implemented in partnership with Neptune Recyclers (Pvt.) Limited and the Sobakantha Foundation, the initiative is designed to address the critical gap in formal waste collection systems along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. The project focuses on intercepting plastic waste before it reaches the ocean, playing a vital role in protecting fragile marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and turtle nesting habitats.

Sampath Bank Chief Transformation Officer Dr Lalith Weragoda said, “This initiative marks an important transition from facilitating cleanups to enabling a circular economy that is owned and sustained by the community. The strength of this project lies in the 384 women who have shaped it into both a livelihood and a purpose and we take great pride in handing over this facility to them, confident in their ability to drive lasting environmental and socioeconomic impact.”

Neptune Recyclers Chief Executive Officer Azleen Majeed added, “At Neptune Recyclers, we believe that sustainable waste management must be both community-driven and scalable. Our partnership with Sampath Bank to establish the Batheegama Material Recovery Facility in Dickwella reflects a shared commitment to creating lasting environment impact while empowering local communities, namely Sobakantha. Together, we are strengthening the plastic collection ecosystem across the Southern region in advancing Sri Lanka’s transition toward a circular economy.”

At the heart of the initiative is a strong focus on empowering women, with 384 individuals supported and transformed into environmental stewards and micro-entrepreneurs. Through structured training and integration into a formal recycling value chain, these women are now able to generate a stable income while contributing meaningfully to environmental conservation.