Hayleys Plantations champions nature-positive climate action

Hill Country Green Force advances community-led conservation on World Environment Day 2026

Hayleys Plantations Sector marked World Environment Day 2026 through a series of environmental initiatives across Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC and Horana Plantations PLC.

Bringing together the employees, estate communities, schoolchildren, educators and stakeholders, the sector transformed the World Environment Day into a platform for meaningful action and environmental education. 

Through tree planting campaigns, awareness walks, creative competitions, community outreach programmes and experiential learning, participants gained practical insights into protecting the natural ecosystems and adopting more eco-friendly lifestyles.

Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai stated, “We see environmental responsibility as a shared journey across our plantation landscape, requiring vision, commitment and collective action. Through these initiatives, we are strengthening climate resilience, enhancing biodiversity and creating opportunities for meaningful community participation in conservation. Our commitment remains focused on embedding nature-positive practices across every aspect of our operations.”

A key highlight was the launch of the Hill Country Green Force, by Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, a long-term volunteer initiative to encourage the employees, youth and estate communities to actively participate in waste reduction, water conservation and community clean-up activities. The schoolchildren extended the message beyond estate boundaries through a street drama in the Nuwara Eliya town that creatively communicated the importance of environmental conservation. 

Awareness sessions and trilingual information leaflets further expanded community outreach efforts. The participants also visited the Somerset ECO Material Processing Centre, where they gained firsthand insight into circular economy practices and zero emission recycling solutions. 

The programme concluded with Sri Lanka’s first screening of ‘Becoming Nature Positive’, a thought-provoking documentary, which inspired the audiences through compelling insights into ecosystem recovery and the global movement towards nature-positive development.

Kelani Valley Plantations PLC observed the World Environment Day through its Surakimu Ganga initiative under the Kelani Valley Protectors programme, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to safeguarding freshwater ecosystems that support communities, agriculture and biodiversity. 

Horana Plantations PLC engaged young participants across its estates through tree planting initiatives, environmental awareness programmes and creative competitions designed to inspire the next generation of environmental champions. The students from E-Bridge, the company’s digital learning centre, contributed thoughtfully to the celebrations through drawings, poetry and educational activities that encouraged creative environmental expression.