Teachers Seminar

The Teacher’s Seminar was organised to educate those who are handling the educational activities of Grade 5 in the selected schools of Colombo, Gampha and Kaluthara under the above program for the eleventh time commencing form 2005 onwards. It was held on the 30^th of May 2015 from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm at the ground floor of the Green Cross Office Building. On the invitation extended by Green Cross Sri Lanka, a total of 25 teachers attended the Seminar.

The Resource Persons at the occasion were the following prominent environmentalists of Sri Lanka.

• Kanchana Weerakoon – The Founder Chairmen of Environment Friendly Voluntary Organization of Sri Lanka.

• Pandula Adagama – Former Deputy Director of the Central Environment Authority

The program on the Teachers’ Seminar ended at 2.00 pm. The participants were provided with lunch on the day and before they left the program certificates were issued by the organization.

Drama Competition

On the commencement of the Program, the Traditional Oil  Lamp was lighted by  Dr.  Jagath  Seneviratne, President of  Green  Cross  Sri Lanka followed by Mr. Wimal Gunarathna, Director of Provincial Education, Western Province, Ms. Ayomi Warnakulasooriya representative of  Mitsubishi  Corporation,  Colombo  Branch who graced the occasion as a  special guest,  Mr. Sahan Ranwela, Ms. Chandani Senevirathne and  Ms. Sriyanai Kalansooriya, who were present in their capacity as the member s of the  Panel of  Judges, teachers and by two students on behalf of school children.

Speech and Essay Contest

After the evaluation of the written diaries, a total of 100 outstanding students were selected to be exposed to the next competition on the Speech and Essay contest. This was organization on the 27^th of November 2015 at the premises of the office of Green Cross Sri Lanka at Koswatta from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00  p.m.  The panel of Judges for evaluation of the performance was as follows.

1. Shirani Kalansooriya, Administrative Directress of the Education Department of Western Province.  

2. Tharaka Wasalamudali Arachchi, Prominent Announcer and Writer

3. Soma Jayakody, Popular writer of children’s books.

Annual Award Ceremony

Green Cross Sri Lanka have accomplished a decade of environmental activities from 2005 onwards for the benefit of the people of Sri Lanka with special emphasis on the school children conducted the Commemorative Ceremony on the 14^th of November 2015 at the Auditorium of KAATSU International University, Sri Lanka the Annual Award Ceremony under the “Green Lane” Competition among the school children of selected schools of Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara districts.

The Ceremonies were graced by Hon. Anuradha Jayarathna, Deputy Minister of Environment and Mahawali Developments a as the Chief Invited Guest and Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Former Secretary to His Excellency Former President participated as the Guest of Honor. Mr. Wimal Gunarathna, Director of Education, Western Province, Mrs.Shirani Kalansooriya, Administrative Directress of the Education Department of Western Province, Mrs. Ayomi Warnakulasuriya, Executive of Business Unit and Ms. Menaka Seneviratne, Secretary of GM , Mitsubishi Corporation, Colombo branch and other eminent invitees of Sri Lanka were also present at the venue.

The agenda of the ceremonies commenced at 9.00 am and all the invitees were welcomed at the entrance of the hall by Dr. Jagath Seneviratne, President of Green Cross Sri Lanka and they were ushered into the auditorium headed by a group of traditional Kandyan dancers and drummers. Before taking their seats, all the invitees lighted the traditional oil lamps. In Addition the students who won the trips to Japan from 2005 up to 2014 presented two dance items. The Summary of the presentation of certificates, mementos and gifts are indicated below,

1. Five Air Tickets, certificates and gifts to the for winning children and the teacher to visit Japan and December

2. Six Outstanding Merit Certificates and gifts for excellent performance

3. Ninety Merit Certificates and gifts for selection on writing satisfactory diaries

4. Four Hundred and fifty certificates and gifts to winners at school level

5. Eighty Five certificates and Mementoes to teachers for assisting the program

6. Participating Certificates to all participants of 2014 program

Yearly Tour of Japan

On completion of the activities of the program the following team visited Japan from  9^th of December 2015 to 14^th of December 2015.

• 1^st Place – D.W. DIHINI DILMANI, Bandaragama Central College, Bandaragama

• 2^nd Place – D.S.P  IMASHI  KAVINDYA, Army School, Panagoda

• 3^rd Place – K. CHANULI RANDULA SENEVIRATHNE, Dhamapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya,

• 4^th Place – A.  M.  UDULA  METHSARA, D.S. Senanayaka Vidyalaya, Colombo-08

Teacher – Ms. N.V. Mallika of Piliyandala No. 1 Junior School

It is significant that the winners of the program who participated at the GCJ Award Ceremony in Japans held in Tokyo on 13^th December very successfully interacted with the children of other countries. At the conclusion of the Symposium, the winners and the teacher were awarded mementos and certificates. They also were fortunate enough to visit Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan and meet the officials and thanked them for their kind assistance. Furthermore, it was possible for the members of the team to meet Hon. Shoo Iwasaki, President of Green Cross Japan at his office. They had the opportunity to engage in a sightseeing program of Japan before returning to Sri Lanka on 14^th  December 2015.