Tuesday Jun 09, 2026
Tuesday Jun 09, 2026
Tuesday, 9 June 2026 04:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From left: Rotary International Global President for ‘24/25 Stephanie Urchick, Rotary Sri Lanka and Maldives District Governor Delvin Pereira, and ITC Ratnadipa General Manager Keenan McKenzie commemorates World Environment Day by celebrating the planting of the 500,000th tree at ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo – Pic by Upul Abayasekara
Rotary Sri Lanka and the Maldives on Friday marked World Environment Day by celebrating the planting of 500,000th tree at ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo.
“This tree is more than a symbol. It represents half a million acts of service towards building a resilient Sri Lanka,” said Rotary Sri Lanka and Maldives District Governor Delvin Pereira at the celebrations coinciding with the Rotary Conference 2026 in Colombo.
“We have already planted 500,000 trees at our dedicated site in Hatton, in partnership with Hayleys Plantations. But we do not pause, because the challenge before us is growing,” he added.
Project Chair Gowri Rajan said: “El Niño is intensifying across the world, and Sri Lanka is on the front line. We are facing heightened risks of drought, crop failure, and pressure on our water resources. These are not distant forecasts. They directly threaten our agriculture, our water security, and the economic stability of families across the country.”
“Climate shocks do not come alone. They compound the economic pressures our people already face. That is why ecosystem resilience and reforestation are no longer environmental concerns – they are economic and social priorities,” she added.
PR Chair Dr. Rohantha Athukorala said: “Rotary has decided to act, and to act visibly. Tree planting restores cover, protects soil, and cools our environment. But equally important, it raises public awareness that environmental action cannot wait.”
Chief Guest and Rotary Conference 2026 RI Presidents nominee Rotary International Global President for ‘24/25 Stephanie Urchick said: “We call on the Government, the private sector, and civil society to integrate climate adaptation into national planning. We must protect vulnerable communities and the natural systems that sustain them.”
“Rotary’s motto is ‘Service Above Self.’ Today, that means planting trees, speaking plainly about the threat, and inviting every Sri Lankan to join us. If Rotary can plant 500,000 trees, others can emulate and multiply that effort,” Pereira said.
The road to 1 million trees starts with the next one. ‘Let us plant it together’ was the motto as the World Environment Day commemoration came to a close.
