The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has begun planting 4,000 tree saplings as part of a landmark initiative carried out in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka in the Rajawaka Forest, to commemorate its 40th anniversary.
This CSR initiative, themed “Let’s Celebrate 40 Years with 4,000 Trees,” is part of ongoing reforestation efforts under the WANAROPA programme, aligned with the global Bonn Challenge, which targets the restoration of 200,000 hectares of degraded forest land in Sri Lanka.
The implementation of the reforestation effort, conducted this week, took place in the Rajawaka area on the border of the wet and intermediate zones, a region known for diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity, including elephants, leopards, bee colonies and other unique fauna.
The programme will also include community-level engagement, offering essential education on conservation and the prevention of human-induced forest fires and habitat loss.
Jayantha Wijesingha, Chief Coordinator and founding member of Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka, said, “A 50-acre degraded hill, which has been burned twice every year and reduced to a grass savannah, will be restored. By planting various native endemic trees with around fifty different varieties, we will significantly improve the biodiversity of the Rajawaka Forest.”
Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO of CSE, stated: “This initiative reflects CSE’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices both institutionally and market-wide. The CSE team takes pride in participating in and promoting such sustainability efforts, as demonstrated by the high staff turnout at the initiative.”
CSE is also a member of the global Sustainable Development Stock Exchange initiative and works closely with GRI South Asia to promote sustainability reporting among listed companies.
Source: Hiru News
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