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Dilmah Launches Grey2Green: A Call to Greening Our Urban Spaces

Published

2 months ago

2025/12/7

A guided walk through the One Earth Urban Arboretum — the place where Grey2Green finds its inspiration

Colombo’s built-up areas have warmed by up to 4°C over the last two decades, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, emphasising the urgent need for more green spaces in the city.

In response to this growing ecological and social challenge, Dilmah Conservation and the United Nations Global Compact Sri Lanka launched Grey2Green on 22nd November – a transformative national movement inviting individuals, communities, organisations, and students to turn concrete “grey” areas into thriving green spaces,, a Dilmah new release said.

Unlike traditional greening efforts, Grey2Green is not a tree-planting campaign; it is a grassroots, citizen-powered movement seeded by Dilmah. The initiative empowers the public, universities, environmental groups, and institutions to identify neglected rooftops, unused land, industrial sites, and degraded pockets of the city and convert them into ecological oases.

To support participants, Dilmah will provide training in urban forestry, tree ecology, landscape planning, and ecosystem management through its expert network, ensuring that each site is restored using sound, sustainable science, it added.

The launch event outlined the programme’s vision, goals, and long-term roadmap, opening the door for widespread public involvement.

Grey2Green draws its inspiration from the success of the One Earth Urban Arboretum, where an industrial garment-waste dump was transformed into a green sanctuary, now home to more than 300 trees and shrubs. This pioneering project demonstrates how even the most degraded urban spaces can become biodiverse, restorative landscapes. Grey2Green aims to replicate this model in other parts of Colombo and its suburbs,th release said.

At the event, Dilmah Conservation presented its structured six-step method for community-led urban greening that will move from skill development, identifying locations, conducting baselines, greening, and long-term monitoring and maintenance. Speakers stressed that meaningful urban greening extends far beyond planting trees: it is a long-term, data-driven process integrating ecology, engineering, design, and community use.

Environmental lawyer Dr Jagath Gunawardana highlighted the ecological and human value of urban green spaces, describing them as vital refuges for wildlife in an increasingly fragmented city. Encouraging the public to treat urban gardens as “living laboratories,” he noted that four decades of his own observations – from migrant birds to invasive species to dragonflies – were simple yet powerful acts of citizen science. “If we stop seeing green, we will slowly lose our balance,” he reminded the audience. “Nature is not a luxury. It is a necessity.”

Plant taxonomist Dr Himesh Jayasinghe emphasised the need for careful plant selection, community engagement, and the use of data to identify heat islands and low-canopy areas. “Everyone wants green spaces, but we must also protect them. Leave only footprints,” he advised.

Representing the Central Environmental Authority, Dr Ajith Gunawardena emphasised that urban greening is now a national priority.

“This is not just planting trees. It’s science in action,” added Rishan Sampath, Manager, Conservation and Sustainability at Dilmah Tea, who highlighted opportunities for university students and citizen scientists to participate in monitoring, research, and long-term ecosystem management.

Speaking on the global significance of the initiative, Treshan Galappathy of the United Nations Global Compact Sri Lanka noted: “Urban greening is deeply aligned with global sustainability priorities, particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13: Climate Action. Initiatives like Grey2Green demonstrate how collective action can reshape our urban future.”

Ultimately, Grey2Green invites the public to co-create and safeguard vibrant, restorative urban spaces that enhance both environmental resilience and community wellbeing. Dilmah welcomes all who wish to learn about urban greening and contribute to healthier, greener cities to join the movement.

To learn more or get involved, contact Dilmah Conservation at 011 4 822 490 / 216 or email info@dilmahconservation.org

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya extended

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

The landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation have been extended till 0600 hrs on 15th February 2026.

Accordingly,
The Level II [AMBER] warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwar Eliya district and the
Level I [YELLOW] warning issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara in the Kandy district have been extended.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 11.30 a.m. 14 February 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 14 February 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Badulla and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 1.00 p.m. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.

The General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

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Teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions – PM

Published

23 hours ago

2026/02/14

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the forthcoming two teacher recruitment examinations will be conducted in accordance with the relevant court decisions pertaining to the ongoing legal proceedings and further noted that, taking into consideration the requests received, steps have been taken to make a request to Court’s approval to revise the conditions of the effective date of degree completion.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a meeting held at Monaragala Royal College to brief education authorities of the Monaragala District on the new education reforms.

Under the new education reforms, Smart Boards will be provided to 132 schools in the Monaragala District as part of the program to equip secondary schools with modern technology. As a symbolic step under this initiative, Smart Boards were presented to 10 secondary schools under the Prime Minister’s patronage. This program is being implemented with the intervention of the Digital Task Force operating under the Prime Minister’s Office. It was also emphasized that a new digital policy, formulated with special attention to child protection, will be introduced in April.

As part of her visit to the Monaragala District on the 13 th of February, the Prime Minister observed the implementation of the new learning methodologies introduced for Grade One under the new education reforms. She visited Kumbukkana Sri Shanmugam Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya in Monaragala to observe the educational activities of Grade One students.

Considering the increase of student numbers and the development of infrastructure facilities, the Prime Minister also approved a proposal submitted by the School Development Society to rename Maduruketiya Maha Vidyalaya as Monaragala Dharmaraja Maha Vidyalaya.

Teachers briefed the Prime Minister that the new education system, supported by revised workbooks and activity-based learning methods, has proven to be effective, with students participating enthusiastically.

Addressing education officials further at the meeting held at Monaragala Royal College, the Prime Minister stated:

“Although this will not provide a complete solution to the existing teacher vacancies, these examinations can offer considerable relief. According to the Court’s previous determination, the effective date of degree completion had been set as 30.06.2025. However, considering numerous requests and following the cabinet approval we have sought Court’s consent to revise this date. We will act in accordance with the decision granted.

Funds allocated for school infrastructure must be utilized transparently and in line with proper planning, and progress must be reported accordingly. We cannot move forward by dividing ourselves along national, provincial, rural, or urban lines. As education authorities, you must make swift and accurate decisions based on correct data.

Further, discussions are already underway within the Piriven Committee of the Ministry of Education to develop Piriven education and to address the issues faced by Piriven teachers.”

The event was attended by the members of the Maha Sangha, Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ajith Agalakada, Uva Provincial Education Secretary Nihal Gunarathne, and several officials from the education sector.