Dialog Axiata and Ministry of Environment Launches ‘Husma Dena Thuru’ Environmental Song

Photographed left to right: Attorney Buddhika Iddamalgoda - Private Secretary to the Minister of Environment, W.D.S.C. Weliwatta - Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana – Advisor to the Hon. Minister of Environment, Bhathiya Jayakody, Dr. Anil Jasinghe - Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera - Minister of Environment, Her Worship Rosi Senanayaka - Mayoress of Colombo, Roshanie Dissanayake - Municipal Commissioner, Colombo Municipal Council, Amali Nanayakkara - Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, and Harsha Samaranayake - Senior General Manager - Brand and Media, Group Marketing - Dialog Axiata PLC

Photographed left to right: Sanka Dineth, Bhathiya Jayakody, Santhush Weeraman, Umariya Sinhawansa, Tharani Anoja Gamage - Director, ‎State Ministry of Cultural Affiars, Her Worship Rosi Senanayaka - Mayoress of Colombo, Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera - Minister of Environment, Sarath Chandrasiri Vithana – Advisor to the Hon. Minister of Environment, Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer - Dialog Axiata PLC, Roshanie Dissanayake - Municipal Commissioner, Colombo Municipal Council, and Harsha Samaranayake - Senior General Manager - Brand and Media, Group Marketing - Dialog Axiata PLC

The ‘Nakethata Palayak’ programme, initiated to assimilate reforestation and conservation into the Sri Lankan culture, launched its environmental song titled ‘Husma Dena Thuru’ and held a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at Independence Square. This national environmental effort is driven by Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC (Dialog), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment.

The progress of the Na tree planting at Independence Square was updated on the Thuru app by the Minister of Environment and key personnel. Thuru is a social media app for tree planters to update the progress of their urban forestry efforts, including those conducted under the ‘Husma Dena Thuru’ initiative.

An ode to reforestation and conservation, the ‘Husma Dena Thuru’ ballad was penned by Roshini Disanayakage and brought to life by the country’s prolific artistes Bathiya Jayakody, Santhush Weeraman, Umaria Sinhawansa, Sanuka Wickramasinghe and Sanka Dineth.

The "Nakethata Palayak" programme under the aegis of ‘Husma Dena Thuru’ initiative aims to promote urban forestry at homes during this Sinhala and Tamil New Year, where if one home plants one seedling during the designated ‘tree planting’ auspicious time at 6.40 AM on 16th April, 5 million trees would be planted across the nation simultaneously. This initiative strives to invoke a sense of motivation, further uniting the citizens of Sri Lanka to work towards a common environmental goal for the betterment of the nation.

With climate change posing as a growing global threat, the 'Husma Dena Thuru' campaign was implemented by the Ministry of Environment, to increase the country's forest density to 30% and with the objective to reduce the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while creating a healthy, habitable environment. The two initiatives aim to pave a path towards a greener community and healthier lifestyle for generations to come.