Along the A9 Road a bevy of girls performed a welcome dance and escorted the guests towards the HNB’s new customer centre at Chavakachchery. They were dynamic. They were smart. They displayed a performance par excellence. Again another group of children sang the welcome song. They themselves composed the lyrics and music. The gathering was tranquillized by the song. No one suspected anything till it was disclosed that the dancers were all speech and hearing impaired and the members of the choir were visually impaired children. Everyone in the gathering was left with wet eyes.

It was on November 25, 2009 HNB opened its 183rd Customer Centre in the conflict devastated Chavakachcheri township in Jaffna Peninsula. This was, as HNB’s MD/CEO Mr. Rajendra Theagarajah pointed out, not just an opening of another customer centre, but bringing back of hope to the devastated town and community.“The inclusion of children from Nuffield School in this ceremony is a manifestation of our inclusive policy, be it children with special needs” he added. Further, he announced that HNB would, under its CSR,initiatives donate Rs. 100,000 to the Nuffield School for Children with Special Needs.

Mr. Dilshan Rodrigo, AGM Risk and Compliance, addressed the gathering in Tamil signifying the ability of HNB’s corporate management to transcend language barriers in communicating with its customers.

The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Neil Nishanthan Karunairaj, the Manager Designate of the Chavakachcheri Customer Centre, who emphasized that HNB is not here to be with the people only in times of prosperity, but has been with the people of Jaffna Peninsula for almost three decades sharing the ups and downs of peninsula life during the period of protracted war. He also pointed out that HNB is willing to offer helping hands to the people of this area to rebuild everything from buildings to businesses that have been devastated by war.
 
The event attracted a gathering of hundreds of people from all walks of life in Chavakachcheri area. Mr. J R PM Paiva, DGM- Human Resources and Administration, Mr. P Hennanayake, DGM-Services, Mrs. Manaram Rambukwelle, Senior Manager- Training and Development & Mr A V Beadle,  Regional Senior Manager – North Eastern Region participated in this event. Members of public and private institutions and security forces also participated.