The inauguration ceremony of the program to conserve the catchment areas and ‘Vanaropa’ national tree planting program will be held today (11) near the Kandethenna Tank, Delthota, Kandy, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

These programs have been organized by the Presidential Secretariat and Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry under “Punarudaya” national programme for environmental conservation which aims at protecting the environment.

A progress review report on the projects carried out by the Land Use Policy Planning Department, using the allocations of Punarudaya Environmental Conservation National Program will be presented to the President at this occasion. He also will deliver saplings of fruit plants to school children to symbolize Vanaropa National Tree Planting Program. He will also present documents of financial benefits for soil conservation programs.

Three thousand saplings of mango, guava, pomegranate, lime and stone apple plants will be distributed to mark this program. Caps and bundles of books containing information of environment will be delivered among school children.

A book on catchment areas conservation will be presented to the President.

The Vanaropa National Tree Planting Program is implemented under the concept of President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Environment. The program aims at increasing of forest density up to 32% by 2018.

The month of October has been declared as the National Tree Planting Month. Public awareness programs on environmental conservation are held island wide throughout this month, with participation of all community organizations and school children.