Environment conservation plays a key role in a country’s Sustainable Development, said Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary and Central Environment Authority Chairman Dr Charitha Herath.
“It is not practical to force people to practise for environment conservation by implementing rules and regulations.
“So environment friendly attitudinal change is the most productive way to direct people towards environment conservation. It is necessary to enhance knowledge about the environment to change attitudes of the general public,” said the Secretary.
He said the Central Environment Authority successfully achieved this purpose covering all parts of the island through the Environmental Pioneer Programme.
The Environmental Pioneer Programme is a wide environmental network conducted by the Central Environmental Authority under the guidance of Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in the school education system in Sri Lanka.
This programme was started in 1984 with a group of 25 schoolchildren in the Maligawatta area. Today it is well established in the school education system and more than 6,500 schools have already been involved in it.
The Central Environment Authority annually organizes a national environmental pioneer camp with the objective to provide a wide range of knowledge about the environment for environmental pioneers through various experiences. The 10th National Environmental Pioneer Camp will be held in Randenigala from September 21-24 under the patronage of Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Central Environment Authority chairman Dr Charitha Herath.