Five forests were declared reserved forests on June 5 during the national commemoration of World Environment Day 2026 held at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The national event was held under the theme, “Let us take action to mitigate the impacts of climate change”.
Climate Week and Environmental Initiatives
The government also marked the conclusion of “Climate Week”, which was observed from May 30 to June 5 in conjunction with World Environment Day.
A series of environmental programmes were conducted across the country with the participation of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, government institutions, private sector organisations and civil society groups.
Several environmental measures were announced during the event. These included the introduction of enhanced National Green Reporting Guidelines, the declaration of the Magama Sand Dunes as a sensitive area and the designation of the Kuda Bubula Spring and Kapurella Hot Water Wetland as protected areas.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation also announced the clearance of the Elephant Pass area.
Publications and Awards Presented
During the event, authorities launched the first 2026 edition of the environmental magazine “Soba”, the “Soba Ketha” environmental publication and a resource book on plastic waste management.
A certificate confirming that the national World Environment Day programme was conducted as a carbon-neutral event was also presented to the President.
The President later presented prizes and certificates to winners of environmental competitions organised by the Climate Change Division and the Central Environmental Authority before joining environmental researchers for a commemorative photograph.
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Last modified: June 9, 2026
