The United Nations and the Ministry of Education, in partnership with Hatton National Bank launched the ‘SDG Action Campaign’ at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday in celebration of the 72nd UN Day.

The ‘SDG Action Campaign’ is a campaign to educate and encourage students from across the country to design and implement an SDG based project in their communities.

Addressing the media, Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam stated that “Education is the key that will allow many other SDGs to be achieved, this campaign will educate and empower the youth of Sri Lanka to help the country progress.”

Highlighting the importance of youth in achieving the 2030 Development Agenda, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Sri Lanka, Una McCauley stated, “We need Sri Lanka’s youth to be actively engaged as sustainable development leaders if we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030.”

This campaign will support student-led initiatives towards achieving the SDGs in Sri Lanka by educating students on the SDGs, calling for project proposals and empowering 25 selected school projects across the island with seed funding and mentoring to kick start their sustainability projects.