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St. Peter’s College: Pioneering Ecosystem restoration education to broaden student experiential learning
Embracing Nature, Environmental stewardship, and Ecosystem Restoration education are being prioritized at St. Peter’s College as crucial skills for young Peterites as they embark into a world where nature needs a lot of healing and nurturing, a ews releasing covering this development said.
As a premier Catholic educational institution in Sri Lanka, the foundations for this pioneering vision were put in motion a while back through the acquisition of a largely cultivated 50-acre block of land in Dodangoda, Matugama, which was renamed “The Rock”. As a second step, the construction of accommodation facilities commenced, which will soon enable students to spend a few days in residence and go through an immersive holistic experiential educational which will be a blend of classroom content, nature friendly experiences and hands on exposure to multiple elements around the location,the release said.
In a major pioneering move on this journey, St. Peter’s became the First Educational Institute to partner with WNPS PLANT which is Sri Lanka’s largest Private Sector driven ecosystem conservation initiative, seeking to develop forest corridors within the endemic-rich southwestern parts of Sri Lanka. WNPS PLANT (Preserving Land and Nature (Guarantee) Limited) currently works in over 34 locations, is developing over 50 kilometers of forest corridor, is creating hundreds of acres of new forests and plays refuge to over 1,300 species across its different conservation partnership locations.
PLANT is establishing natural sanctuaries and reserves directly and through partners, to prevent the destruction and harmful commercial exploitation of species of wild animal and plants and is keen to co-operate actively with other persons and organizations in Sri Lanka and in other countries in the interests of nature conservation and to give support for study and research concerning wildlife.
PLANT has access to multiple academic and research-oriented individuals, institutions and initiatives, and will support St. Peter’s by further sharing this knowledge among students. PLANT was established by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), which is Sri Lanka’s largest and most active conservation entity, and is backed by over 40 global and local partners. PLANT will conduct a biodiversity assessment of the location and hopes to develop forest corridors along the perimeter of this property to facilitate seamless wildlife movement and peaceful coexistence with agricultural lands.
Students and members of the college Eco Club will have the opportunity to engage in restoration activities, tree planting, and supportive forms of research engagement. Students also have new opportunities to engage in broader conservation work on outside locations, through the PLANT and WNPS networks. Against the backdrop of the terrible floods and landslides in recent times, St. Peter’s is demonstrating through this partnership, that Ecosystem conservation is the responsibility of all parties and communities in Sri Lanka, and this move will hopefully signal the start of many more educational institutions to foster these values among youth and seek partnership with the likes of PLANT and WNPS in the future.
A budget provision of Rs. 14,400 million has been allocated to the Sri Lanka Transport Board for the purchase of 600 new standard buses with 49-54 seats under the Government Investment program in the year 2026.
After allocation of said provisions, ‘the Road Safety Plan -2025-2026’ has been introduced.
Under the aforementioned plan, the buses used for passenger transport have been identified as safe vehicles. Accordingly, the minimum specifications of the buses suitable for intercity and long-distance services have been identified. According to these specifications, Delux model (air-conditioned) buses should be used for the intercity and long-distance services.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Acting Minister of Transport,
Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps to purchase more comfortable Deluxe model (air-conditioned) buses rather than the standard model new 600 buses for which provisions have already been allocated.
News
Protection of Historical, Cultural, and Traditional Intellectual Property related to the Kandy Esala Perahera
The Committee on Development and Intellectual Property of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has initiated a project called “Promotion of Festival Tourism Development
through Intellectual Property.” The objective of this project is to increase the capacity of cultural festival organizers in the beneficiary countries to use intellectual property rights for the development of festival tourism while respecting local traditions and cultural heritage.
It has been identified the appropriateness to submit a project proposal for the protection of historical, cultural, and traditional property rights related to the Kandy Esala Perahera, comprising traditional art models and knowledge that have been passed down through the centuries.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development to appoint a committee comprising all relevant parties under the co-partnership of the
Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development and the Minister of Buddhism, Religious Affairs, and Cultural Affairs to prepare and submit the relevant project proposal aimed at protecting intellectual property rights of the historical, cultural, and traditional identity and values of Kandy Esala Perahera, with special attention toward ‘Protection of Publication Rights’ and ‘Trademarks and Brand Names.
The Road Development Authority is responsible for the construction, rehabilitation, improvement, maintenance, and management of the national highway systems, which include A and B grade roads, expressways, and related bridges.
Requests have been made by District Coordination Committees and other institutions to take necessary steps to take over the roads that are not under the management of the Road Development Authority and other authorities, that require urgent rehabilitation by the Road Development Authority.
60 roads that are under the Provincial Councils and other Local Government Institutions have been identified.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to appoint a committee of officials comprising representatives from the following institutions to forward the recommendations relevant to the rehabilitation of the aforementioned roads.
• Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development
• Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development
• Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Council, and Local Government
• Finance Commission
• A Chief Secretary to a Provincial Council
• Department of Management Services
• Road Development Authority
• A General Manager of a Provincial Road Development Authority
Purchase of 600 buses for intercity / long distance services of the Sri Lanka Transport Board
Protection of Historical, Cultural, and Traditional Intellectual Property related to the Kandy Esala Perahera
Development of roads which are not under the Road Development Authority
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Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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