Seylan Bank PLC, in collabora- tion with the Indira Cancer Trust (ICT) and Make- A-Wish Sri Lanka, marked the first anniver- sary of their shared initiative on the 29th of April 2026, celebrating a year of bringing hope and mean- ingful experiences to children bat- tling critical illnesses. The event, held at Suwa Arana – A Place For Healing, Maharagama, brought together children and fam- ilies, volunteers, healthcare profes- sionals, and partners to reflect on the progress achieved since the launch of Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka as a licensed territory of Make-A-Wish International. Over the past year, Seylan Bank has played a key role as the Official Banking Partner, extending financial support, driving awareness through public campaigns, and encouraging community participa- tion. Celebrating a year of joy and impact, the Bank’s employees have volunteered a contribution of LKR 10 million, amplifying hope for more lives as the partnership enters its second year. The dona- tion signals a renewed effort at inspiring optimism for children and families on their healing journey.

Furthermore, Seylan’s Islamic Banking Unit has also contributed towards amplifying cancer care through support in the forms of medication, transport, and patient welfare, and strengthening the overall impact of the initiative. Ramesh Jayasekara, Director/ CEO of Seylan Bank PLC, stated, “As the Bank with a Heart, our focus has always been on creating meaningful impact in the commu- nities we serve. Over the past year, our partnership with Indira Cancer Trust and Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka has allowed us to support children and families during some of their most difficult times. In addition to the efforts of everyone across our partnership that worked to bring joy to these children, I would also like to extend a special thanks to the employees of Seylan Bank for their generous spirit and empathy.

We remain committed to expanding this initiative and encouraging greater participation across our organisation and beyond.” Looking ahead, Seylan Bank is also set to enable its staff to direct- ly extend support and engage with children and families by introduc- ing structured employee volunteer programmes in collaboration with ICT and Suwa Arana. Since its launch, Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka has granted over 150 wishes to children facing critical illnesses, offering moments of joy, encouragement, and emotion- al strength. These wish experi- ences form part of a broader care approach led by the Indira Cancer Trust, combining medical sup- port with psychological and emo- tional betterment.

Speaking on the first anniversary of Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka’s mis- sion in the country, Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake, Chairperson and Trustee of the Indira Cancer Trust said, “In cele- brating a year of making wishes come true for children and families in need, we are reminded of the immense healing wishes can cre- ate. Guided by this vision of foster- ing hope, we’re immensely pleased to grant 70 more wishes today to bring smiles and courage to chil- dren battling critical illnesses”. The anniversary event highlight- ed the stories of children whose wishes were granted and show- cased the role of collective support in making each wish possible. It also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with ongo- ing initiatives and future plans.

Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka, administered by the Indira Cancer Trust, continues to focus on delivering life-changing wish experiences that complement medical treatments by improving emotional well-being and fostering hope among children and their families. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a support system that goes beyond health- care, bringing together financial institutions, charitable organisa- tions, and communities to create lasting impact.