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| Sunday, 27 October 2002 |
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Sri Lankan environmentalists get Green Awards The Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum (SLEJF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will honour Sri Lankans with Sri Lanka Green Awards in appreciation of the leadership and social responsibility they have shown in protecting and improving the environment. J.P. Padmasiri of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board harnessed his expertise to device a low cost domestic filtering device so that the dry-zones could have defluorided water. Padmasiri has brought out a profusion of writing on treating rural water and won a merit award last year from the National Science Foundation for the technology. The SLEJF was launched in 1987 as a professional media non-governmental organization interested in the environmental and development,by co-founder Dharman Wickremaratne, then a environmental journalist working for a Sinhalese language daily. The SLEJF focuses on improving communication and media-related activity in environmental issues, and training and holding workshops for journalists with an environmental focus. The presenting of 13 Green Awards will run concurrent to the opening ceremony of the 14th Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (APEFJ) World Congress of Environmental Journalists scheduled to be hosted at Eden Hotel, Aluthgama, from October 27 - 31. Environmentalists are expected to fly in from 50 countries, spanning from global giants to emerging diminutive, committed to the cause of preserving the earth. Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Minister of Mass Communication will be the chief guest. Sri Lanka Green Awards, the third round of accolades awarded since SLEJF's inception in 1987, are founded on a unique concept, in that no self or external nomination is entertained in considering an award. The Forum picks candidates through constant monitoring of print and electronic media and evaluations made by personalities and organizations active in the green field. For the 2002 "once-in-three-years" awards, collaborated by the UNEP, 131 names were scanned before 15 filtered through to the final round. Colombo was also the host for the first and second rounds of Green Awards presented in 1995 and 1998. This year's sole Green Peace Award has been bagged by a bhikkhu who formulated the country's first group of green bikkhu activities and has lent unparalleled leadership for the peace process in uniting leaders from different religions through "Inter-Religious Peace Foundation". In 1998, Ven. Madampegama Assaji Thera of Shri Isipatanaramaya, Grandpass, presented to the UN a mammoth petition of 1,000,000 signatories for banning landmines throughout the world. Currently, he is busy with another petition doubling this number, to be presented to the LTTE. Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum (LRHF) of Colombo is recognised for their contribution in empowering people living in water sacred areas with access to improved household water and food security. The only Member of Parliament among the 13 winners, Sanjeewa Kaviratne of Matale, has been singled out for his unique employment of political prowess in leading a dedicated crusade for preserving the environment of the Central Hills of Sri Lanka. Kasun P. Chandaratne invested his personal funds to establish the country's first Foundation for Civilian Bravery. On the rationale that the "purpose of lives is to ensure the continuity of life", Chandraratne and his Foundation yearly encourage the civilians who risk their lives to save other lives by feting them with the Gold Medal of Civilian Bravery. "The bravery propounded by us has no geographical, racial or species barriers," he affirms. "Global Civilian Bravery is my ultimate goal". Young Asia Television (YATV), created in 1995 when Worldview International Foundation obtained a mandate at the UN Earth Summit in Rio to develop a global television on sustainable development, has been lauded for the difficult feat of presenting Sri Lanka's finest media programme on environmental issues, "Mihisara". A weekly television programme, it attempts to neither soft-pedal nor sensationalize issues but respond to the need for clear, comprehensive and audience-relevant information. It also has an E-Club for people of all ages and a weekly newspaper supplement published in partnership with ANCL's Dinamina and the Daily News. Twin sisters, Upuli and Chamali Gamage, are Green Award winners for the singular leadership by which they have inspired the local twin community by forming the world's first Twins Cultural Centre of Sri Lanka, as its president and vice president. Though tender in age, their efforts to uplift the economically-stricken twin community have been herculean and their Centre already boasts of a singing and dancing troupe, an art council and a sports club devoted entirely to the flowering of twin talent. Vinaya Ariyaratne, Executive Director of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, is recognised for his life-time commitment and contribution to community health and community development throughout Sri Lanka by way of continued research and resultant papers and reports providing guidelines to many aspirants in the field. Leader of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka Suranjan Kodituwaakku, too is Green Award winner for their efforts in promoting environmental concerns in recent years. "Isuru Fertilizer" of Suriyaarachchi Holdings (Pvt) Ltd is considered the most excellent of the compost fertilizers offered in the organic fertilizer market and have effected a quiet revolution in converting the cultivator community to appreciate the benefits of organic farming. Sujeewa Suriyaarachchi, Chairman, Managing Director, of Suriyaarachchi Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. is conferred a Green Award for having provided the best environmental-conserving leadership in the private sector. Milton Galappaththi, is feted for his continued campaign to promote the virtues of spiritual science and how they can benefit humankind. His life theme then is "Man belongs to man". For more information of Green Awards please contact [email protected]. |
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