Education and Foreign Ministries to launch art competition for school children to highlight Indian Ocean

Boat trips by the Navy and other prizes on offer

The ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education have combined to launch an IORA Day in March next year with an art competition for school children that will showcase the importance of the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka took over the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in October 2023 for the period 2023/2025. There are 23 member states and eleven dialogue partners in IORA. IORA Day will be celebrated in March every year, during Sri Lanka’s period as chairperson, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Sunday Times.

The theme for IORA Day will be a’Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generations’ and will focus on educating and engaging future generations on the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable practices to preserve the oceans for the future.

Among the activities planned is a national level art competition for school children in association with the Ministry of Education and Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.

Entries will be accepted from school children in three categories, Primary (Grades 1 – 5), Junior (Grades 6 – 9) and Senior (Grades 10 – 13). Details will appear in the children’s publications of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., and their online versions.

Several other ocean-related activities will be conducted with the participation of children island-wide, drawing awareness to the importance of ocean sustainability. These activities are also coordinated by the Sri Lanka Navy and other ocean-related agencies. Opportunities are to be provided for children to be taken out to sea on short excursions to observe corals and marine life.

Ahead of IORA Day several awareness programmes are planned, such as seminars, workshops, visit to turtle hatcheries and so on.

The main event of IORA Day 2024 will be held at an ocean-front site in Colombo with stalls displaying various ocean-related activities.