Category Archives: News

The Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) Programme, organized by the British Council in collaboration with Earth Lanka, engaged students from the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. This initiative provided participants with the opportunity to connect with the university’s Sustainability Center, gaining hands-on experience in climate action, environmental awareness, and community engagement.

As part of the programme, all students participated in the Climate Spark exhibition, showcasing their community-based climate action projects. Through the programme, students developed skills to address pressing environmental challenges and contributed to fostering sustainable practices, demonstrating the critical role of youth in building resilient and environmentally conscious communities.

1. Project Green Bridge

This project addresses climate change by integrating traditional paddy farming knowledge with modern technology in the Yaggapitiya Division of Kurunegala. The project aims to preserve this indigenous knowledge, develop more accurate and sustainable forecasting methods, reconnect youth with nature, bridge the technological gap for elders, and enhance farmers’ climate resilience.

2. Project Living Roots

Living Roots is a climate adaptation initiative implemented in the Ittapana area of Kalutara, addressing the impacts of seawater intrusion and rising soil salinity on coastal livelihoods. The project involved initial community assessments, including field visits and pre-evaluation surveys, followed by awareness sessions to enhance understanding of climate change and its local impacts. Building on locally available resources, the initiative introduced a nature-based, value-added approach using mangrove apple (Kirala) to demonstrate sustainable livelihood opportunities. By linking mangrove conservation with income generation, the project promotes both environmental sustainability and economic resilience within the community.

3. Project Resurge 

RESURGE is a volunteer training initiative focused on community disaster response and psychosocial support. It empowers young people with practical skills, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose to support communities in times of crisis and recovery, while strengthening resilience, promoting mental well-being, and encouraging youth-led action for sustainable impact. By fostering leadership, collaboration, and preparedness, RESURGE is shaping a generation ready to respond, rebuild, and lead with compassion.

4. Project Waves of Change

The Waves of Change project is an integrated coastal assessment initiative at Calido Beach following the 2017 sandbar breach at the mouth of the Kalu Ganga. It aims to understand how natural coastal changes have affected the environment and the lives of local communities. Findings show that despite significant shoreline changes, the area still supports diverse plant and animal life. At the same time, coastal erosion, altered landforms, and economic challenges, especially for fishers, highlight the real-world impacts on livelihoods. The project emphasizes continuous monitoring and community participation to support sustainable coastal management in the Kalutara region.

The 30^th International Forestry and Environment Symposium commenced on January 23^rd and 24^th, 2026, at the  Waters Edge Battaramulla. The symposium’s theme is “ Sustainability in Action” which aims to discuss critical issues within these realms. Joining the distinguished assembly were Senior Professor Pathmalal Manage, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and Senior Professor Upul Subasinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science, who contributed to the occasion. Dr.  Sandali Dissanayake from the Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences coordinated the symposium, which Prof.  Hiran Amarasekera chaired.

Prof. Piotr T. Nowakowski a distinguished speaker from the University of Rzeszów, Poland, delivered the keynote address at the symposium. He highlighted that environmental challenges demand not only ecological and technological solutions, but also an understanding of governance, human behavior, and social values.

The January 23^rd and 24^th, 2024 symposium featured 178 research papers presented across fourteen distinct sessions as Cooperative Environmental Stewardship and Circular Economy, Sustainable Forest Management, Wildlife Conservation and Ecosystem Integrity, Sustainable Tourism, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Biomaterials and Carbon Storing, Biodiversity Credit Systems, Forest Culture and Science, Climate Change and Resilience, Geology, Soil and Water Resource Management, Integrated Land Use Planning and Smart City Design, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Economics, Citizen Science for Young Environmental Scientist. These sessions occurred concurrently in four parallel tracks at the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science premises.

Securing financial backing is crucial for organizing this event.  Platinum Sponsors are Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC and Control Union Inspections (Pvt) Ltd. Gold Sponsors were Dilmah Conservation and Sisili Hanaro Encare (Pvt) Ltd. Banking Partner was Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and Collaborative Partners were Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and Marga Institute. Elite Sponsors were DAMRO Group, CBL Group, Lalan Group and South Asia Gateway Terminals. Other Sponsors were State Timber Corporation, A Wood Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, GIS Solutions Private Limited and SPAR Sri Lanka.

As per Professor Hiran Amarasekara, one of the founding members, the inception of the International Forestry and Environmental Science Symposium in 1995 aimed to establish a platform for young researchers to showcase their findings. Over the years, the symposium has evolved into the region’s premier and longest-standing event, gaining renown for its significance.

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The Citizen Science Workshop 2025, held on 22nd October, brought together students, educators, and environmental enthusiasts to explore research on human–wildlife conflict, plastic pollution, rainforest biodiversity, and carbon footprint reduction. A collaborative effort toward a sustainable future, uniting passionate individuals to find real-world solutions for environmental challenges. Special appreciation to the DFES staff and YBA Citizen Scientists for inspiring the next generation of changemakers.

The 29th International Forestry and Environment Symposium, held on 17th and 18th January 2025 in the University Premises, was held under the theme “A Multi-Sectoral Approach to a Sustainable Future,” emphasizing collaborative efforts across diverse sectors to address global challenges and achieve long-term sustainability goals. The symposium sessions delve into various aspects of this theme, presenting research findings across 12 key areas. These include Forest and Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity Conservation and Management, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Environmental Economics and Resource Management, Climate Change and Disaster Management, Biomass and Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Land Use and Urban Development, Wood Science and Wood Based Industries, Environmental Engineering and Green Technology, Geology, Soil and Water Resource Management, and a Citizen Science Forum. The conference was graced by Prof. Naohiro Goto of the Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation and Design, Toyo University, Japan as the Keynote Speaker. The Symposium was a beneficial platform for 205 abstracts of scientific studies contributed by researchers from both local and international researchers.