The period from May 30 to June 5 has been declared National Environment Week ahead of World Environment Day 2026, the Ministry of Environment said, with island-wide programmes anchored on the national theme “Let it Sprout” (Dalu Lanna Ida Denna).
The national celebration of World Environment Day, set for June 5 under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, runs in line with the global WED theme “Urgent Climate Action,” the ministry said. Sri Lanka’s overarching vision for the week is “Sustainable Biosphere — Evergreen Life.”
Daily programmes have been organised across multiple sectors covering attitude development, cleanliness, air pollution control, biodiversity conservation, water conservation and coastal clean-ups. Drawing on lessons from the recent Cyclone Ditwah disaster, special attention is being directed at restoring the upper catchments and ecosystems of the central highlands to build resilience against future climate shocks.
The “Atavisi Bodhi” — 28 Bodhi trees — distribution programme will open the week tomorrow morning at the Sri Vapikarama Temple in Malkona, Pethiyagoda, under Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody. On June 1, an awareness session on climate change and air pollution will be held at the ministry, alongside a Diyawanna Oya conservation event at which the first batch of infrastructure tractors will be handed over to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Water and source-conservation programmes follow on June 3 with the opening of the Hambantota District Water Resources Board Office under the patronage of the Environment Minister, the launch of the Butterfly Garden and website at Ridiyagama Safari Park, and inspections of the Kudababula spring in Weeraketiya. The week complements the May launch of five new conservation forests in Anuradhapura.
Source: Ada Derana.
