The inaugural Geoffrey Bawa Moonamal Award is now accepting applications. This initiative, launched in collaboration with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, encourages individuals and organizations nationwide to present projects that effectively balance human needs with the preservation and flourishing of natural ecosystems.
Submissions will be evaluated in two distinct categories. The Built Environment category encompasses areas such as architecture, infrastructure, urban and landscape design, whereas the Public Policy category focuses on policies that foster or incentivize ecological design practices. The Award is open to a diverse array of participants, including individuals, organizations, governmental bodies, community groups, NGOs, researchers, and interdisciplinary teams involved in projects executed within Sri Lanka.
To qualify, projects must have been implemented within the last decade and must have been completed for at least a year, allowing applicants to showcase tangible results over time. Evaluation criteria include the extent to which projects consider the needs of various species and ecosystems alongside human requirements, efforts to reverse or mitigate environmental harm, support for ecological recovery, and the ability to unite communities and expertise from multiple disciplines.
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Examples of suitable projects might include initiatives aimed at restoring damaged landscapes or waterways, constructing biodiversity-sensitive buildings and infrastructure, designing public spaces that integrate existing ecological systems, community-driven efforts addressing habitat loss or erosion, and the formulation of policies that steer built environment design towards increased harmony with nature. Strong applications should be rooted in the specific geography, hydrology, flora, fauna, and socio-cultural context of their respective sites, providing evidence of improved conditions when compared to pre-project scenarios.
Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne, an environmentalist, Chairperson of Preserving Land and Nature (PLANT), and a member of the Moonamal Award Steering Committee, emphasized the Award’s aim to transform the concept of ecological coexistence from theory into practice. He stated, “We seek projects that are attuned to the landscape, address local realities, and foster collaboration among various communities and disciplines. The clarity of thought, demonstrable positive change, and the potential to inform future design in Sri Lanka are more critical than the scale of the project.”
The Sri Lanka Institute of Landscape Architects (SLILA) and the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) are collaborating with the Moonamal Award as supporting institutions, contributing their expertise and professional networks to enhance the initiative’s credibility and outreach. Their involvement aims to amplify the Award’s message, promote applications, and engage a broader audience of professionals, practitioners, and the general public.
Kosala Kamburadeniya, President of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, expressed pride in partnering with the Geoffrey Bawa Moonamal Award, highlighting a mutual dedication to reconceptualizing how engineering and design can address both human and environmental needs. He noted that engineering plays a crucial role in developing resilient infrastructure while protecting ecosystems and fostering ecological recovery. Through this collaboration, IESL aspires to stimulate increased interdisciplinary cooperation among engineers, architects, environmental specialists, policymakers, and communities, anticipating that the Award will inspire innovative, sustainable, and context-appropriate solutions and enhance awareness within the engineering sector about the necessity of aligning development with environmental stewardship for a resilient future in Sri Lanka.
Applications can be submitted online in Sinhala, Tamil, or English from August 31, 2026, until January 15, 2027. The winning project and public policy proposal will be awarded a fellowship along with opportunities for further learning, exchange, and public engagement, with the shortlist and winner to be announced in mid-2027.
For further details on application guidelines and submission processes, please visit www.geoffreybawa.com/moonamal-award. For inquiries, contact awards@geoffreybawa.org.
Source: Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
