Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Final celebrations of Kelani Nadee Yatra


  
Invitees lighting oil lamp

Kelani Nadee yatra..the journey along Kelani river is over…We had a grand final event on the 15th of September 2011. Thanks to Western province ministry of Environment for organizing such a wonderful final event for us. All the Yathrees (travelers) were felicitated by the ministry by giving a certificate and an award. Senior minister Hon.  A.H.M Fauzi was the chief guest along with the western Province Environmental Minister Hon. Udaya Gammanpila and some other invitees. It was held at the beautiful Beire lake premises and many school children, press, government officers, Cooperate sector, and ECO-V members were among the invitees. They all were there to share the information about the journey. Imala Aberatne from Sabaragamuwa Province was awarded as the best Yathree. All the yathrees came back to Colombo. Thanks to kind permission from Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj. Gen Chandana Rajaguru who personally participated in the event we had both Selva and Newton from North back to Colombo for the event. All Yathrees were with full of energy and some of them have already started their projects which was very encouraging. All were delighted to watch the 15 minute documentary film we made about Kelani Nadee Yatra- a river journey for climate justice. We missed Jim and Pat from Journeys for Climate Justice in Melbourne but we knew that their blessings were with us on that day. 
Hon.Minister Gammanpila Addressing the gathering

Well... thank you for everybody who supported us in many ways to have our journey a success. It was not just a journey along Kelani River but a journey of Youth in their lives with a positive behavioral change.  Also it is a beginning of another journey with a message we take across the country and to the region in coming months! Let’s have our own journeys towards positive attitudinal change to save our Mother Earth from Climate Change crisis. 
Western Province Ministry felicitated ECO-V 
Yathrees and school children sharing experience
Happy Yathrees
Staff of WP environmental ministry & Yathrees


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