The Ministry of Environment with the Tokyo Cement Group recently kicked off the ‘Ivura Rakina Pawura’ program at the Mahaweli river bank in Manampitiya. The far-reaching initiative was launched by Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Environment, with the participation of a few key government officials and representatives of the Tokyo Cement Group.
The project aims to plant Kumbuk and Mee saplings on the banks of the 335-kilometre path of the Mahaweli River, under the patronage of Tokyo Cement Group.
Manager, Corporate Sustainability of Tokyo Cement Group, Salinda Kandapola and A.G. Madduma Bandara of Madduma Distributors, Polonnaruwa, representing the Tokyo Cement Group Dealer Network presented the first batch of Kumbuk saplings to Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera at the inaugural tree planting event. The minister also distributed tree saplings among a few community representatives in the area, who will support the sustainable management of the sensitive water catchment areas of the Mahaweli River.
The ‘Ivura Rakina Pawura’ endeavour by the Ministry of Environment is an extension of the National Tree Planting Program ‘Husma Dena Thuru’, that aims to add two million trees to the country’s natural forest cover.