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content[0]='<br><big><b>1988</b></big><br><li>The license to commence banking business was issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on 18th March 1988. The soft opening &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; was conducted by Chairman Deshamanya Dr Lalith Kotelawala on 24th March 1988 introducing Saturday Banking from the very &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; inception.</li>'
content[1]='<br><big><b>1992</b></big><br><li>Sri Lankan Branch of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was taken over, and recommenced its operations as &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the Chatham Street branch of Seylan Bank.</li><br /><li>Seylan Bank recorded history as the first bank to introduce an indigenous credit card - Seylan Card.</li><br /><li>Two subsidiaries, namely, Seylan Merchant Bank Ltd. and Ceylinco Seylan Developments Ltd. were incorporated.</li>'
content[2]='<br><big><b>1993</b></big><br><li>The Bank obtained the agency for USA based ’Western Union’ money transfer system which facilitates transfer of money between &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; countries within minutes.</li>'
content[3]='<br><big><b>1994</b></big><br><li>Commencement of the bank’s first overseas operation occurred with the takeover of Hadi Express Exchange in Dubai and &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;subsequently linked up with the Saudi American Bank in order to provide ’Speed Cash’ service to customers, which was another &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; money transfer system to assist Sri Lankans working in the Middle East.</li><br /><li>Obtained membership in SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial (Tele-communications), to relay documentary credits, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; customer instructions and bank transfers etc.</li><br /><li>Linked with Visa International Network, to issue Visa Classic and Visa Gold Credit Cards, launched ATM card namely &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ’SMART’ (Seylan Multi Action Rapid Teller) and introduced Seylaphone service.</li>'
content[4]='<br><big><b>1996</b></big><br><li>Commenced the second overseas operation as Sri Lanka Express Exchange in Oman.</li>'
content[5]='<br><big><b>1997</b></big><br><li>Introduced the ’Profit Centre Concept’ in 1997 enhancing the autonomy of branches.</li><br /><li>Marking its 10th Anniversary, Seylan Bank moved into its new Headquarters Building namely Ceylinco Seylan Towers, situated in &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kollupitiya and opening of the Millennium Branch.</li>'
content[6]='<br><big><b>1999</b></big><br><li>The Bank introduced a PC based system for budgeting and performance assessment. The first awards ceremony under this &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; system was also held this year.</li>'
content[7]='<br><big><b>2000</b></big><br><li>The Y2K issue was successfully handled.</li>'
content[8]='<br><big><b>2001</b></big><br><li>The Chatham Street Branch moved into ’Ceylinco House’ and was renamed as the ’Ceylinco House Branch’.</li><br /><li>This year also saw the introduction of Visa Electron Card, Visa Affinity Cards to old boys of St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s and St. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Benedicts.</li><br /><li>The Rewards Plus Scheme was replaced with the ’Merit Rewards’ Scheme.</li><br /><li>The Bank’s ’Govisarupatha’ won the prestigious Asian Banking Award under the category for the best product coming under the &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; micro-credit project.</li>'
content[9]='<br><big><b>2002</b></big><br><li>The dawn of peace in 2002, enabled the Bank to establish branches in Jaffna and Trincomalee, and also the establishment of &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; three convenient banking centres in Piliyandala, Dambulla and Veyangoda.</li><br /><li>The Bank won the best Business Expansion Award at Western Union Middle East and South Asia Regional Conference held in &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Goa.</li><br /><li>Western Union won an award for the ’Service Brand of the Year’ at Brand Excellence 2002.</li><br /><li>The Bank’s logo underwent a change in order to reflect the flexibility of the institution and to denote its greater orientation to &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;customer expectations.</li> '
content[10]='<br><big><b>2003</b></big><br><li>The Bank recorded the highest profits in its entire history.</li><br /><li>Business Today Magazine positions the Bank as the number 3 corporate in Sri Lanka, and LMD Magazine ranks the bank at &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; number 4.</li><br /><li>The balanced scorecard system has advanced with the introduction of balanced scorecard based budgeting.</li><br /><li>The formation of a specialised Development Banking Unit to serve the SME sector of the country and facilitate poverty alleviation.</li><br /><li>Mrs Rohini Nanayakkara relinquishes her duties as GM/CEO, with Mr Ajita Pasqual named as her successor from 2004.</li> '
content[11]='<br><big><b>2004</b></big><br><li>Mr Ajita Pasqual assumed duties as DIR / GM / CEO of the Bank</li><br /><li>Bank became the largest issuer of VISA cards in Sri Lanka.</li><br /><li>Bank was among the award winners of “National Business Excellence Awards 2004” organised by the National Chamber of &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Commerce of Sri Lanka.</li><br /><li>“Merit Reward” won the Silver Award for “Service Brand of the Year” at SLIM awards 2004.</li><br /><li>Bank won the “International – Diaspora Initiatives Award”, awarded by Western Union International.</li><br /><li>Our chairman Deshamanya Dr Lalith Kotelawala has been nominated as the “most socially responsible Sri Lankan” by LMD’s readership.</li><br /><li>Some branches located in Southern and North East coastal belts were affected by the Tsunami, which occurred on the 26th December 2004. Some employees of the bank and a large number of customers became victims of this biggest natural disaster ever to hit Sri Lanka.</li><br /><li>Seylan Bank together with the ot er Ceylinco group companies, actively involved in the nation’s re-building programs with the guidance and directions of the Chairman Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala.</li> '
content[12]='<br><big><b>2005</b></big><br><li>Passed Rs.1 billion milestone in profitability before corporate tax.</li><br /><li>LMD, together with Sting Consultants adjudged Seylan as among the top 20 brands in the country</li><br /><li>Ceylinco Group (Where Seylan is one of the largest stake holders) has rated as one of the three “Most Respected Sri Lankan Entities” by the LMD.</li><br /><li>The role of the “Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)” exercise was completed in August 2005</li><br /><li>Successfully obtained the ISO 9001:2000 certified for HR & SDC.</li> '
content[13]='<br><big><b>2006</b></big><br><li>Reached Rs. 1 billion milestone in Customer Deposit base as at December 2006</li><br /><li>Seylan Bank set yet another first in the History of Banking by waiving Stamp Duty on Credit Cards. Also the Seylan Bank Card Centre launched the Visa Debit Gold Card, and the Platinum Credit Card during year 2006</li> '

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