Amãna Bank employees take part in ‘Race the Pearl’

Irshad Iqbal (VP – Business Banking), Tuan Samsudeen (Executive Central Processing) and Chathura Dayaratne (Manager – IT Infrastructure Systems)- the cycling enthusiasts of Amãna Bank.

Three of Amãna Bank’s employees undertook Sri Lanka’s one and only ultra-endurance cycling challenge ‘Race the Pearl’ which took to the roads of Sri Lanka on 2 October 2020. Held for the 3rd time, ‘Race the Pearl’ is a 600km spanning cycling race connecting the furthermost points of Sri Lanka, Point Pedro to Point Dondra. ‘Race the Pearl’ is the Sri Lankan equivalent to the famous ‘Race Across America’, for which this race is a sanctioned qualifying event.

With close to 50 cyclists in the race, Amãna Bank was represented by three of its employees namely, Irshad Iqbal (VP – Business Banking), Tuan Samsudeen (Executive Central Processing) and Chathura Dayaratne (Manager – IT Infrastructure Systems), who are avid cycling enthusiasts. Tuan Samsudeen took part part in the 24 hour ultra-racing challenge while Irshad Iqbal and Chathura Dayarante took part in the relay event.

Tuan Samsudeen is an experienced cyclist having ridden the 2nd edition of Race the Pearl in 2019 in the 48 hour category as well as taken part in ‘Ride 4 Ceylon’ Colombo to Jaffna 435km bike ride in 2020. He was also instrumental in commencing a ‘Bike 2 Work’ campaign amongst the employees of Amãna Bank, through which encouraged fellow riders Irshad Iqbal and Tuan Samsudeen to take part in this years ‘Race the Pearl’.

Expressing his comments and wishes, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Azmeer said, “We are are honoured that three employees of the company took part in Race the Pearl. The race is not just merely a race to see who finishes first, but rather a race of endurance, persistence and dedication.”