ENVIRONMENTAL PROMOTION PROGRAMME ORGANISED IN MOUNT LAVINIA BEACH

General Secretary of the GO Sri Lanka Organisation and scholar Kumara Liyanage said the on going environmental pollution in the beaches has brought disrepute to Sri Lanka as the fifth of the countries with the most polluted beaches.

Addressing the media conference held at the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Auditorium to create public awareness on the proposed national environmental promotion programme in the Mount Lavinia beach on February 04, to mark the independence day, he pointed out that GO Sri Lanka organization had launched a massive pilot project to protect the environment and to encourage the systematic use of it.

He said the organization launched the programme after a thorough study of the causes that led to the environmental pollution in the Sri Lanka beaches.

“The theme of the environmental promotion programme in the beach on February 04, is “Freedom to the Beach”. As an underdeveloped country we have been facing a series of national issues and attempting to resolve them. The object of our organization is to use our experiences as citizens since independence and to use them in the endeavour to resolve the issues. Environmental pollution is just another major issue affecting the country today. GO Sri Lanka Organistation which is free of political affiliations implements its programmes with a sense of responsibility to protect the country and its environment. The attitudes of the people should be changed and their support mustered to resolve the environmental issues,” he said.

Dehiwala-mount Lavinia Major Stanley Dias said in the past priority was given to commemoration of national heroes on the Independence Day and that the environmental programme organised by the GO Sri Lanka Organisation is more gainful and purposeful.

“The beach is an endowment of the nature which is largely instrumental in maintaining natural equilibrium and protecting the mankind. Mankind would not survive if the natural surroundings were destroyed. The ongoing marine pollution is a matter of serious concern. With this in view the programmes to prevent marine pollution and to keep the beach clean should be given priority,” he said.

He further said the environmental promotion programme in the Mount Lavinia beach organised by GO Sri Lanka Organiation would be implemented with the help of the Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Coast Conservation Department, Beach Resources Management Department, Sarvodaya Movement and several private sector institutions. The Mayor requested the public to join the beach programme.

The beach is an endowment of the nature which is largely instrumental in maintaining natural equilibrium and protecting the mankind

The attitudes of the people should be changed and their support mustered to resolve the environmental issues