The Tokyo Cement Group teamed up with the Police Department to host two successful tree-planting events in Handaganawa in Minipe and Meedumgama in Ududumbara recently.
Over 600 participants, including state and local government employees, farming communities and schoolchildren, came together to plant 7,000 saplings of diverse local plant species such as Kumbuk, Jackfruit, Damba, Ingini, Laolu (Egg Fruit), Mango, Tamarind, Mee, and Bulu (Bedda Nut), in the Mahaweli catchment areas.
The events were sponsored by Tokyo Cement Group with the objective of restoring the region’s natural ecosystem, while fostering environmental stewardship among local communities. The company envisions creating a forest belt comprising native flower and fruit-bearing trees that benefit local farming culture and boost natural biodiversity, whilst preventing soil erosionin the riverbanks. Through this long-term engagement Tokyo Cement anticipates the participating community groups and school children to become patrons of the trees, until such time they become an intrinsic part of the Mahaweli catchment areas. Officers and staff of the Police Department attached to the Hasalaka and Ududumbara Police Divisions, under the aegis of the Central Province DIG Office which were instrumental in organising these tree planting programs, ensuring the participation of all state institutions and schools in each area.This collaboration between the Sri Lanka Police Department and Tokyo Cement Group strengthens the collective efforts to create a greener, healthier environment for our future generations.