Link Samahan concludes ‘Asiri Surakimu Samanola’ initiative at Sri Pada

Link Samahan - the flagship brand of Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd has concluded its ‘Asiri Surakimu Samanola’ biodiversity conservation initiative. 

This project was implemented in an effort to preserve the rich biodiversity and natural beauty of Sri Pada, which is a UNESCO heritage site and a celebrated pilgrimage destination.         

 Launched towards the end of the annual pilgrimage season, culminating with Vesak Poya, the initiative drew the voluntary support of approximately 450 people. Their invaluable efforts have led to the collection and recycling of more than 1.1 metric tons of non-biodegradable plastic waste, creating a tangible impact on the environment around the sacred site.   

Sri Pada attracts close to five million pilgrims a year, this includes Buddhists, devotees from other faiths and local and foreign tourists. The unfortunate result of this influx is the accumulation of polythene waste and over a million plastic bottles, which threatens the ecological balance of this spiritual landmark.   

Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd recognised and understood the urgent need for environmental intervention and initiated the ‘Asiri Surakimu Samanola’ campaign in 2017, under the Link Samahan banner. The objective of the programme was not only to mitigate environmental harm, but also to foster a culture of ecological responsibility among visitors and pilgrims. 

The ‘Asiri Surakimu Samanola’ initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Norwood Divisional Secretariat, Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha, Nuwara Eliya Health Services Directorate, Nallathanniya Police, Nallathanniya Wildlife Office, and the Ceylon Electricity Board. It also saw volunteers from youth clubs, local schools, a faculty from the Sri Pada National College of Education, and employees of Link Natural. Speaking about the initiative, Raj Kumar, Head of Marketing at Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd, stated: “Recognising the growing environmental concerns, we expanded our commitment through the ‘Asiri Surakimu Samanola’ program. At the close of the season, we return to the sacred site not just to clean it, but to symbolically offer it back to Lord Saman in its purest form. We are deeply grateful to all who joined hands in this heartfelt mission.”   

K.L. Maldeniya, Public Health Inspector of Nallathanniya, praised the brand’s efforts and said that Link Samahan’s initiative has significantly helped prevent non-biodegradable waste from entering nearby reservoirs during the six-month pilgrimage season.