Joint celebrations for World Environment Day in Matara

A series of activities were carried out on June 5, 2009 to celebrate World Environment Day. The Environmental Foundation Limited together with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the American Red Cross shared the highlights and progress of their ongoing Partnership on this day at the Matara Cultural Centre. The event included an opening session with a series of presentations by representatives from each sector, a full day exhibition displaying environment related work of different organisations based in Matara and a food festival to promote organic home gardening and healthy living.

What is World Environment Day?

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The theme for WED 2009 is ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.

This year in Sri Lanka several programmes were initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to celebrate this day and create awareness among the larger community on the need for protecting and conserving our environment.

Showcasing the work of Southern communities

Invitees and participants 

Promoting traditional cuisine 

  Results of good home gardening

  Thirst quencher – Sri Lankan style

Judges & Environmental Law: A Handbook for the Sri Lankan Judiciary was launched amid a distinguished gathering, including the Chief Justice Hon. Asoka de Silva, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, judges of the Supreme Court and Court of appeal and Magistrates and High Court Judges from all over Sri Lanka at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel on September 6, 2009. Special invitees for the launch also included \Bakary Kante, Director, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Justice Nissanka Udalagama, Director, Sri Lanka Judges Institute.

The judicial workshop that followed included an address by Judge C.G. Weeramantry, former Vice President of the International Court of Justice, who shared his wealth of knowledge gained over five decades. Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane, Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, Lead Environmental Specialist, South Asia Region & Country Sector Coordinator (Sustainable Development), The World Bank also made presentations. Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge, Land and Environment Court, New South Wales, Australia made a special appearance and presented his experiences to the gathered members of the judiciary.

Chief Justice and the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources lighting the oil lamp

Lal Kurukulasuriya, former Head UNEP Environmental Law Programme handing over a copy to Judge C.G. Weeramantry, former Vice President of the International Court of Justice

Bakary Kante, Director, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions – UNEP addressing the gathered