MEPA launches ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’

In order to protect Sri Lanka’s endangered water resources and environment, Sri Lanka’s Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) launched the ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’ (Protect the Sea) community-led program. Under this umbrella initiative the organisation also launched the ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’ Facebook page and a theme song to engage and educate the public on proper waste disposal and minimising the use of non-biodegradable waste, thereby encouraging them to take a proactive approach in restoring the coastlines of Sri Lanka to its former glory. 

In order to shed light on the country’s lack of correct waste disposal whilst parallelly encouraging and educating Sri Lankans to ‘clean up their act’, MEPA, which is under the aegis of the State Ministry of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness, commenced the community-led Corporate Social Responsibility program ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’ which was inaugurated by Sri Lanka Rugby and Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC (Dialog) with a beach clean-up at Sarakkuwa beach in Ja-Ela. 

The ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’ Facebook (FB) page and campaign was also launched at the beach clean-up by State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness Dr. Nalaka Godahewa MP, MEPA goodwill ambassadors Bhathiya and Santhush (BnS), Environment Protection Agency (MEPA) Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura and MEPA General Manager Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara. 

Sri Lanka has ranked poorly according to a global pollution study conducted by the World Bank in 2015, with plastic emerging as the chief culprit. On average, a Sri Lankan produces 500 g of non-degradable waste per day resulting in a mammoth amount of 100 million kg of solid waste added into Sri Lanka’s coastal waters, according to 2017 records. Sri Lanka despite taking pride in its turquoise seas, white sandy beaches, lush virgin forests and extensive lakes and rivers is one of the biggest polluters of non-bio-degradable waste in the world, especially in terms of plastic. 

“I hope ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’ generates the necessary traction that will educate the public to take the much-needed steps to help turn the fate of Sri Lanka’s coastline around so that future generations too can enjoy and savour its beauty,” stated State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness Dr. Nalaka Godahewa MP.

“Being an island nation, with 510,000 square kilometres of sea under its belt as an Exclusive Economic Zone, which is eight times the size of the country’s land mass, it’s critical for Sri Lanka’s economy that we safeguard our primary national asset, our marine resources from pollution and lead the way in sustainable economic growth within the South Asian region,” Dr. Godahewa further added. “Sri Lanka’s national wealth is the sea and as Sri Lankan citizens we should take responsibility in protecting our natural assets for the future generations to come,” MEPA Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura said. “I would like to thank MEPA’s goodwill ambassadors, renowned musical duo Bathiya and Santhush for producing our theme song, Dialog Axiata for the overall support they have given towards MEPA and Sri Lanka Rugby who joined us for the inaugural beach clean-up project at Sarakkuwa Beach,” she further said.

The FB page can be found by simple typing ‘Sayura Rakina Ralla’ on FB search – https://www.facebook.com/SayuraRakinaRalla. 

If you would like to contribute your efforts towards the Marine Environment Protection Agency (MEPA) please contact MEPA Operations Manager Thalatha Ranasinghe on 076 6599088.