"There was an era when banking was confined to a handful of the community. Prior to the country gaining independence banking was mainly implemented by foreign banks and only a handful of wealthy English educated had access to the then banks.

T. B. Subasinghe who did yeoman service in the field of co-operative along with the ex-minister T. B. Ilangaratna inaugurated the People’s Bank in 1961 which became the bank of the ordinary masses," said Hambantota People’s Bank regional manager D. D. P. Abeysekera at Beliatta, Miriswatta Muthumala Vidyalaya on 28th October speaking at the simple ceremony held when the People’s bank Buddhist Society presented stationery for 199 students from grade one to eleven.

He said that there are about ten thousand personnel on the staff of the People’s Bank and out of them about eighty five percent are Buddhists and all of them contribute for the fund of the Buddhist Society. From this fund annually needy students in remote villages in the country are helped by presenting them with stationery and other utensils to further their education.

Chief incumbent of Kudaheella Pushparama Viharasthanaya Rev. Pangnawimala Thero performed the religious observances while the principal of the school Darmapala Vidanapathirana did the welcome speech.

Manager of the Beliatta branch of the People’s Bank E. Kodikara stated that his only contribution was the coordination he did to help the Buddhist Society to choose a suitable school for their meritorious deed.

The People’s Bank is not confined only to banking activities but is involved in social welfare activities too. One such activity at Beliatta is building a house for a family at Walasmulla road, Beliatta whose house was razed to the ground during the tsunami.

Treasurer of the People’s Bank Buddhist Society L. P. W. Dammika observed that the society help the needy students in rural areas annually from the funds of society in order to help them in their education. It is an islandwide programme and for the 2007 academic year the society has chosen 86 schools covering 55 branches in the People’s Bank network. Beliatta Muthumala Vidyalaya is one and, in the same evening they would present to a rural school in Ambalantota and the next day they would visit three schools in Middeniya selected by Middeniya; branch.

Scholarship winner of Sisu Udanaya Miss. Thilini Chathurika spoke on behalf of the students and thanked the organisers while the retired teacher Miss. T. P. Dayawathie delivered the vote of thanks.