Australian High Commission
Colombo
MEDIA RELEASE
_____________________________________________________________________
08 June 2009
Australia celebrates World Environmental Day
The Australian High Commission celebrated World Environmental Day on 5 June with the young girls of the Child Development Centre, Rukmale, Kottawa. A tree planting ceremony and an art competition was organised to mark the event. Ms Sue Lee, Consul at the Australian High Commission was the Chief Guest, with special guests including Mr S S Wijeratne, Chairman, Legal Aid Commission, Justice Hector Yapa, Director General, Legal Aid Commission and Nalin Wijekoon, President, Rotary Club – Colombo West.Speaking at the event, Ms Lee said “Australia has a unique and diverse environment and has a strong commitment to protecting the global environment.
Under this year’s UN campaign theme ‘Communities uniting to combat climate change’ we’ll be doing just that – joining together with the global community to tackle climate change head on”.
The various activities were organised to highlight the importance of environmental protection at a young age, to promote children’s participation in conservation in small yet meaningful ways and to encourage public support for the girl’s home.
In congratulating the participants of the art competition, Ms Lee said: “Unity is of great importance when it comes to addressing the causes of climate change. Each of us can - and does - make a difference. I think we all have a responsibility to protect our planet and there’s no better time to start than now”.
The Child Development Centre, run by the Child Protection Society of Sri Lanka, currently cares fro 30 girls between the ages of 6 to 16. The Child Protection Society was established in 1928 as the first child protection organisation in Sri Lanka and South Asia and is engaged in protecting and promoting child welfare.