Varun Beverages Lanka Pvt Ltd. celebrated World Environment Day 2026 at the Seelawimala Dhamma School, located at the Pore Purana Sri Maha Viharaya in Athurugiriya. The company organized a variety of impactful activities designed to enhance environmental consciousness and advocate for responsible plastic usage among students at the Dhamma school.
The event was themed “Taking action today for a safer, greener and more sustainable tomorrow,” underscoring the company’s unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability, effective plastic waste management, and community involvement.
Participants engaged in educational workshops focusing on sustainable practices for plastic use, the importance of responsible disposal, recycling awareness, and a tree planting initiative. Emphasis was placed on the correct segregation and collection of plastic waste to mitigate environmental pollution and bolster practices aligned with a circular economy. To stimulate creativity and student involvement, an art competition was held, inviting young participants to artistically convey their thoughts on environmental protection, plastic recycling, and responsible waste management.
This initiative also resonates with Sri Lanka’s increasing emphasis on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a new regulatory strategy aimed at enhancing producer accountability for post-consumer packaging waste. EPR requires companies to take a more active role in the collection, recovery, and recycling of packaging materials they distribute.
Mrs. Eresha Kumburulanda, an attorney and the Head of Legal Compliance and Sustainability at Varun Beverages Lanka Pvt Ltd, emphasized the company’s commitment to improving the collection and recycling of PET plastics. She remarked, “At Varun Beverages Lanka, we view PET plastic as a precious resource that needs responsible management. Our initiatives, such as the ‘Clean Green Sri Lanka’ program, enable communities and institutions like Dhamma school to engage in the collection and recycling of PET bottles. This program includes a PET collection effort that involves students and their families across various regions to promote awareness and encourage responsible plastic waste management. By enhancing collection infrastructure and raising awareness, we aim to significantly boost recycling rates. This initiative supports environmental sustainability while instilling a sense of responsibility in the youth, who are the future guardians of our planet.”
During the event, new bins were introduced to facilitate better segregation and collection of plastic waste within the school and temple areas. The PET collection competition was launched to encourage students to take an active role in recycling and to cultivate sustainable practices from an early age. Additionally, a tree planting initiative was carried out on the temple grounds, further enhancing the environmental significance of the occasion.
The World Environment Day observance at Seelawimala Dhamma School epitomizes Varun Beverages Lanka’s ongoing commitment to environmental education, effective plastic waste management, PET collection, and community empowerment. Through such initiatives, the company continues to contribute to Sri Lanka’s journey toward a cleaner, greener, and more responsible future.
