Environment conservation:

CEA to establish society of Presidential Medal Holders

Disna Mudalige

The Central Environment Authority plans to establish a Society of President Medal Holders of the Environment Pioneer Programme anticipating better coordination with them and seek their active participation in environment conservation activities.

The Environment Pioneer Programme is being conducted in schools islandwide by the CEA and the Environment Ministry to create an environmental friendly future generation. The Environment Pioneer Programme was started with 25 students in 1984 at Maligawatta. This programme has now spread over 6,500 schools. Students who join with this programme can vie for medals in five stages namely environment pioneer logo, green medal, silver medal, gold medal and President medal. According to the CEA, this programme has produced about 205 President Medal Holders so far.

The CEA is presently collecting information on President Medal Holders scattered over the island to seek their contribution for the proposed Society. This move will also encourage them to start their careers as environmental friendly entrepreneurs. The CEA requested the schools to send information on President Medal Holders to the Environment Awareness and Education Division of the CEA.