Cleansy, an initiative spearheaded by the Rotaract Club of the University of Colombo, Faculty of Management and Finance, stands as a testament to the club’s dedication to safeguarding our environment from pollution. Through various phases, the project aims to raise awareness, engage the community, and foster a cleaner and greener Sri Lanka. In this article, we will delve into the first two phases of the project and shed light on their accomplishments.
කොළඹ විශ්ව විද්යාලයේ කළමනාකරණ හා මූල්ය පීඨයේ රොටරැක්ට් සමාජය විසින් ආරම්භ කරන ලද Cleansy වැඩසටහන පරිසරය දූෂණය අවම කර පරිසරය ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට දක්වන කැපවීම පිළිබඳ සාක්ෂියකි. විවිධ අදියරයන් හරහා නොයෙක් පාර්ශව දැනුවත් කිරීම, ප්රජාව සම්බන්ධ කර ගැනීම සහ පිරිසිදු හා හරිත ශ්රී ලංකාවක් පෝෂණය කිරීම මෙම ව්යාපෘතියේ අරමුණයි. මෙම ලිපියෙන් අපි ව්යාපෘතියේ පළමු අදියර දෙක පිළිබඳ තොරතුරු අනාවරණය කරනු ලැබේ.
கொழும்பு பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் Rotaract Club, முகாமைத்துவ மற்றும் நிதி பீடத்தினால் முன்னெடுக்கப்படும் Cleansy, எமது சுற்றுச்சூழலை மாசுபாட்டிலிருந்து பாதுகாப்பதில் கழகத்தின் அர்ப்பணிப்புக்கான சான்றாக விளங்குகிறது. பல்வேறு கட்டங்களில், விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்தவும், சமூகத்தை ஈடுபடுத்தவும், தூய்மையான மற்றும் பசுமையான இலங்கையை வளர்ப்பதையும் இந்த திட்டம் நோக்கமாகக் கொண்டுள்ளது. இந்த கட்டுரையில், திட்டத்தின் முதல் இரண்டு கட்டங்களை ஆராய்வோம் மற்றும் அவர்களின் சாதனைகள் குறித்து வெளிச்சம் போடுவோம்.
Phase 1: Beach Cleanup
To kickstart the Cleansy project and commemorate World Cleanup Day, a beach cleanup was organized in collaboration with prominent environmental organizations such as the Environmental Police, Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, coast guard, and Melting Point. Generously sponsored by Elephant House, the event aimed to create awareness about the importance of keeping our beaches clean.
On the 17th of September, club members and enthusiastic participants gathered at Wellawatte Beach. With the aid of approximately 75 dedicated club members, the cleanup began promptly at 7 am. Participants were briefed on sustainable cleanup practices, ensuring that the project aligned with long-term environmental goals. After five hours of hard work and commitment, the cleanup successfully concluded at Mount Lavinia Beach around 12 pm, achieving the project’s objective of cleaning the designated beach area.
Phase 2: Siripasawiya – Clearing Sacred Grounds
Following the triumph of the beach cleanup, the project expanded into its second phase, named “Siripasawiya.” The focus of this phase was to restore the sanctity of the sacred grounds around Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak). Devotees, visitors, and tourists who ascend the mountain often leave behind litter and pollution, disrupting the serene environment.
On the 24th of February 2023, 35 club members, including current and past members of the club’s executive committee, embarked on a journey to Sri Pada. The team dedicated their efforts to clean five main areas: the entrance, Indikatupahana, Seethagangula, Uda Maluwa, and the Vishrama Shalawa. To support the initiative’s sustainability, 20 bins were donated. Half of these bins were handed over to the authorities, while the remaining ten were strategically placed in the areas that had undergone cleaning as part of the Siripasawiya project.
Cleansy stands as an exemplary initiative, demonstrating the power of collaboration and community engagement in tackling environmental challenges. Through the successful completion of the beach cleanup and the Siripasawiya project, RACUOCFMF has showcased its dedication to preserving and protecting the environment. By fostering a sense of responsibility and promoting sustainable practices, the club has set a remarkable precedent for others to follow. As the journey continues, the club remains steadfast in its commitment to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Sri Lanka for generations to come.
Written By:-
Rtr. Sandasi Senaratne
(General Member 2022-23)