Communication, Education & Public Awareness

Celebrations in Sri Lanka




Focus is on a programme for school children





The Commemoration Programme of International Biodiversity day (May 22) was held on Sunday, the 21st of May, at C. W. W. Kannangara Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo, by the Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka and Colombo Children’s Book Society of UNESCO Organization.


The Programme was mainly focused on School Children at different ages (Grade 1 – 12) and successfully conducted with the participation of 250 school children, island wide.


The theme of the day in year 2006 was to protect “Biodiversity in drylands” around the world and the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment carried out several Programmes/ Activities to commemorate the day.


1. Awareness Programme for School children at C. W. W. Kannangara Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo 08.

(i) A presentation on Dryland Biodiversity Conservation.
(ii) Evaluate their general knowledge on ‘Dryland Biodiversity’ through a Question paper (Senior, Junior and Primary levels were arranged).
(iii) Awarding Certificates and sets of valuable environment-related books for the winners of the evaluation test.
(iv) Awarding Participation Certificates for the rest of the participants in the programme as an incentive.
(v) Preparation of dockets with articles, leaflets and brochures on ‘Dryland Biodiversity’ for all participants.


2. Opening of a plant sanctuary (with 18 endemic threatened & culturally important plant species) at “Parama-dhamma” Vihara, Moraketiya, Pannipitiya.

3. Radio Programmes
Date/TimeChannelProgramme
18 May 2006
8:30 - 9:00 am
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) ‘Mihikatha’
Additional Secretary (Natural Resources), Ministry of Environment, Government of Sri Lanka
22 May 2006
6:45 - 7:15 am
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)‘Subharathie’
Director (Biodiversity), Ministry of Environment
22 May 2006
7.00 am (2minutes)
‘Lakhanda’ Radio CorporationNews item on Commemoration of International Biodiversity Day Programme

4. Television Programmes
Date/TimeChannelProgramme
23 May 2006 Independent Television Network (ITN) News item on Commemoration of International Biodiversity Day Programme
23 May 2006 T.V. Lanka News item on Commemoration of International Biodiversity Day Programme

5.   News Articles
DateTitle Newspaper Page/pages
18 May 2006“Protect Biodiversity in Drylands”
Author- Dhanesh Wisumperuma
The IslandSection – Leisureland, Sub- section – Green Watch
22 May 2006 “Protect Biodiversity in Drylands – National theme”
Message from Hon. Maithreepala Sirisena, Minister of Environment.
Daily NewsSection – Local News, Page No. 02
17 May 2006 Threatened Biodiversity in Drylands (in Sinhala)
Editor – Amal Udawatta
Vidusara – Scientific magazineMiddle page (Page No. 14-15)
23 May 2006 Unconcerned Biodiversity in Drylands (in Sinhala)
Editor- Amal Udawatta
DivainaSection – ‘Sarubima’Agricultural Section