The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has extended the deadline for applications for the “Presidential Environment Awards – 2026” to May 15, following requests from prospective applicants.

In a statement issued yesterday, the CEA said the extension was granted to enable a wider pool of participants to submit entries across multiple sectors that recognise environmental excellence and sustainable practices in Sri Lanka.

Applications are open under three main categories — Industry, Projects, and Institutions, Media and Social sectors — each encompassing a broad range of sub-sectors and disciplines.

The Industry Sector is divided into Large Scale and Small & Medium Scale segments.

The Large Scale category accommodates 16 industry types, including waste management facilities, chemical plants, vehicle servicing centres, food and beverage manufacturing, hotels, textile processing, pharmaceuticals, hospitals, rubber-based industries, animal farms, apparel, tea processing, packaging with printing, mineral industries, timber manufacturing, and metal and machinery-related industries.

The Small & Medium Scale category mirrors these, excluding hospitals and packaging industries with printing.

Under the Project Sector, applicants can submit entries in Renewable Energy Generation Projects, which include Mini Hydro, Solar Power (excluding rooftop systems), and Wind Power projects — areas seen as critical to Sri Lanka’s transition toward cleaner energy.

The Institutions, Media and Social Sector features eight sub-sectors, including schools, government and private institutions, local authorities engaged in solid waste management, police environmental units, non-governmental environmental organisations, and environment-friendly innovations from schools, universities and open categories.

The Media Sector, a key component in promoting environmental awareness, includes Mass Media and Social Media categories, with further divisions for individual and institutional contributions, as well as Facebook pages and YouTube channels. Evaluation will be conducted across all language media collectively.

The CEA noted that applications and detailed guidelines are available via its official website, while further assistance can be obtained through designated contact numbers and officers.

An expert panel representing relevant fields will evaluate submissions, with their decisions deemed final. Winners will be awarded Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Merit accolades under the Presidential Environment Awards scheme.

In line with sustainability principles, the awards themselves will be crafted from recycled aluminium cans, reinforcing the programme’s environmental ethos.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in October 2026 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), under the patronage of the President.

This year’s programme will align with the government’s policy vision, “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”

CEA Chairman Professor Tilak Hewawasam urged stakeholders across sectors to seize the opportunity to showcase initiatives that contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne requested the High Commissioner of Pakistan to facilitate bringing to Sri Lanka the statue depicting the Buddha’s austerities (Fasting Buddha Statue), currently housed at the Lahore Museum in Pakistan, so that Sri Lankan devotees may have the opportunity to view and pay homage, the Parliament Media Division said.

The request was made when the newly appointed High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Major General (Retired) Dr. Nayyar Naseer, called on Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament on April 21.

Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Zunaira Latif and Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera were also present.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner said it was a “great pleasure and honour” to serve in Sri Lanka for the first time, describing the country as a friendly nation with a rich cultural heritage. He reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening long-standing bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation to a more productive level.

The Speaker congratulated the High Commissioner on his appointment and expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Pakistan for their continued support to Sri Lanka during challenging periods. He recalled Pakistan’s assistance during critical moments, including the war period and the devastation caused by Cyclone “Ditwah,” describing such support as a true expression of friendship.

He also commended Pakistan’s role as an active contributor to fostering global unity, noting that the Sri Lanka–Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Association has opened new avenues to deepen engagement between the legislatures of both countries.

Responding to the Speaker’s request regarding the Fasting Buddha Statue, the High Commissioner indicated his willingness to explore the matter.

He also highlighted Sri Lanka’s potential for further development in tourism, citing its natural beauty and hospitality, and expressed Pakistan’s readiness to share expertise in modern, technology-based agriculture.

During his visit, the High Commissioner also met Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, where discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, including expanding educational scholarship programmes and enhancing knowledge-sharing among parliamentarians.

He later called on Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake, with whom he held discussions on a broad range of bilateral matters.

The Minister expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support following the Cyclone “Ditwah” disaster and recalled his participation in the International Conference of Regional Transport Ministers held in Pakistan last year. He said plans were underway to complete Sri Lanka’s proposed expressway network by the end of 2028.

Discussions also covered investment opportunities, tourism development, and programmes to promote exchanges between public representatives at parliamentary and local government levels, officials said.

On the initiative of the Kandy National Hospital Director, Dr. Iresha Fernando, two high-tech digital patient treatment machines, worth Rs. 600 million, were installed at the hospital, on the 23rd, thereby addressing a major deficiency there. These units include the ESWL (Urology Unit) and DSA (Interventional Radiology).

Declare opening of the new addition to the Kandy Hospital

The ESWL machine, valued at Rs. 200 million, allows for the easy removal of kidney and bladder stones, using state-of-the-art technology. Specialist doctors of the unit noted that from the large number of patients registered for these treatments, suitable candidates can now undergo treatment for kidney and bladder-related conditions without the need for surgery.

Additionally, a new machine worth Rs. 400 million, equipped with modern digital technology, was installed to replace the DSA machine which had been inactive for over three years. It was noted that this machine can instantly identify and treat disorders ranging from the brain to the veins, and can also successfully perform advanced technological treatments for cancer-related conditions.

Expressing her views, the Director of the Kandy National Hospital, Dr. Iresha Fernando, stated that she extends her gratitude to the government for providing these medical devices, which had been a significant requirement for the hospital. A group including Specialist Doctors Manjula Herath, Sohan Perera, and Sujith Rupasinghe, who are in charge of the respective treatment departments, also participated in the event.

Text and pix by S.K. Samaranayake