Beach cleaning begins

Pic: Courtesy thehindu.com

A Clean-up Week has been declared to mark the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) 2015 on the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena.

A national program which began yesterday (19) will continue till September 23 with the participation of schoolchildren, environmental organisations, state officials and the public.

The objectives of the programs are to quantify the composition of marine debris on beach around Sri Lanka, make the public aware of the importance of waste-free marine environment and change their attitude on conservation of marine environment, enhance public participation on conservation of marine environment and ensure sustainability of marine and coastal environment related industries such as fisheries and tourism.

The clean-up campaign will cover the entire coastal stretch round the country.

The media release by the Mass Media Ministry said that the ICC is a global event initiated by Ocean Conservancy in 1986. It is celebrated worldwide on the third Saturday of September every year.

This International Day is about much more than picking up trash. It is creating a chance for every human being to join this great event and express their respect for our oceans and waterways.