The Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry and its affiliated institutions have organised a series of programmes centering the Polonnaruwa district from June 1 to 8 to observe Environment Day.
Parallel to the national ceremony, all schools have been requested to hold an assembly at 9.00 a.m. and conduct tree planting and clean-up campaigns and environmental exhibitions to raise awareness. Development of rural schools in Polonnaruwa, tree planting campaigns at Medirigiriya Watadageya premises and Somawathiya scared site, herbal garden and forest cultivations, implementation of solid waste management programmes and infrastructure development in the area will also be carried out.
An environmental exhibition has been organised under the theme 'Towards an environmental friendly nation' from June 5-6 at Medirigiriya National School.
The global theme this year "Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care" expresses the challenge of creating opportunities for inclusive and sustainable economic development, while attempting to stabilise the rate of resource use and reduce environmental impacts.
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment and the first World Environment Day was celebrated on June 5, 1973.
