Conducts the All-Island Schools Art Competition in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Central Environmental Authority

Nestlé Lanka’s All-Island Schools Art Competition named ‘මිහි මව රකින්නට තිළි තුඩක් මවන රූ රටා’ (Preserving Mother Earth through the Expression of Art) concluded last week, awarding the winners of the Junior and Senior categories. This competition was organized in celebration of World Environment Day together with the Ministry of Education and Central Environmental Authority (CEA) as an extension of the School Waste Management Programme, an initiative which helps create awareness on responsible waste disposal in the future generation of Sri Lanka. The programme reached approximately 400,000 students in over 800 schools around the country this year. The art competition also received a striking 80,000 entries from students representing schools across the island.

“The School Waste Management Programme is an important initiative in our journey towards creating a waste-free future. Educating school children on responsible waste management helps strengthen the segregation and collection of waste and inspire positive behavioural change. In this journey, we remain steadfast in our commitment of ensuring 95% of our plastic packaging is designed for recycling by 2025, taking continuous action to make our plastic packaging recyclable and reusable. We are delighted to have helped organize the Art Competition which not only served as a platform for showcasing the creative skills of emerging artists, but also helped reinforce the importance of taking action towards a greener and cleaner tomorrow. My heartfelt congratulations to all the participants and the winners!” said Mr. Bernie Stefan, Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka.

An event was held on 13 June 2024 at the Gothami Balika Vidyala, Colombo, to recognize and award the winners selected. The event was graced by the Honourable Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education; Mr. Venura Fernando, Chairman of the CEA and officials representing the partnering entities and Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, including the Principal, Mrs. Sunethra Wickramasinghe.

“This art competition has not only offered a platform for students to express their commitment towards environmental stewardship and sustainability but have also created budding artists and innovators with the talent to artistically portray their ideas. We, at the Ministry of Education firmly believe in cultivating a sense of environmental responsibility among children right from their early school years, and this event is an ideal outlet to create awareness and foster a collective responsibility to protect and preserve our planet” said Honourable Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education.

Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Venura Fernando, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority said, “We are thrilled to see the participation from talented young artists across the island. Given that plastic pollution is a pressing issue at present, this initiative is an ideal platform to engage and empower children, raising awareness on responsible waste disposal through their artistic talents. I sincerely hope that this art competition will ignite a passion for environmental conservation amongst the younger generation and foster a mindset that would shape a greener and more prosperous future for our country.”

Winners of the two categories are below;

Junior: First Place – E.G. Kavithma Induvaranee, Mahamaya Girls’ College; Second Place – Hettiarachchige Lakmini Madurangi, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya and Third Place – N.G.K.V. Kithmal Namalgamuva, Eheliyagoda Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya and G.A. Jithuli Yumalya, Musaeus College.

Senior: First Place – M.A. Nethmi Methsala Manamendra, Luxapana M. Maha Vidyalaya; Second Place – B.K. Rachika Rinusha Biyanwala, Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya and Third Place – H.M. Samadhi Weerasooriya, Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya Gampaha.

Driven by its purpose of ‘unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come’, Nestlé has nourished generations of Sri Lankan families with high quality food and beverages from early childhood to old age. Having started its operations in Sri Lanka in 1906, today, Nestlé has become an integral part of Sri Lankan lives. The company manufactures over 90% of its products sold in Sri Lanka locally at their state-of-the-art factory in Kurunegala, employing strict safety and quality controls.

Ruvini Jayalath (Assistant Director, Ministry of Education), Sujeewa Perera (Senior Executive, Central Environmental Authority), Shamini Periyapperuma (Director – Promotions, Central Environmental Authority), Sunethra Wickramasinghe (Principal, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya), Venura Fernando (Chairman, Central Environmental Authority), Hon. Susil Premajayantha (Minister of Education), Bernie Stefan (Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka), Hemantha Jayasinghe (Director General, Central Environmental Authority), Ruwan Welikala (Director – Corporate Affairs & Communications, Nestlé Lanka), M. Siverkumar (Deputy Director General, Central Environmental Authority)

Winners from left to right: G.A. Jithuli Yumalya, Musaeus College (Third Place), E.G. Kavithma Induvaranee, Mahamaa Girls’ College (First Place), Hettiarachchige Lakmini Madurangi, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya (Second Place), N.G.K.V. Kithmal

Ruvini Jayalath (Assistant Director, Ministry of Education), Sujeewa Perera (Senior Executive, Central Environmental Authority), Shamini Periyapperuma (Director – Promotions, Central Environmental Authority), Sunethra Wickramasinghe (Principal, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya), Venura Fernando (Chairman, Central Environmental Authority), Hon. Susil Premajayantha (Minister of Education), Bernie Stefan (Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka), Hemantha Jayasinghe (Director General, Central Environmental Authority), Ruwan Welikala (Director – Corporate Affairs & Communications, Nestlé Lanka), M. Siverkumar (Deputy Director General, Central Environmental Authority)

Winners from left to right: B.K. Rachika Rinusha Biyanwala, Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya (Second Place), M.A. Nethmi Methsala Manamendra, Laxapana M. Maha Vidyalaya (First Place), H.M. Samadhi Weerasooriya, Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya Gampaha (Third Place)