On the morning of June 28, 2026, a group of university students knelt along the stone pathways of Pothgul Viharaya, clearing away debris and discarded wrappers from the temple grounds. The Poson Poya season was approaching its peak, and thousands of devotees would soon walk these same paths. The students wanted to make sure that when they did, the temple would reflect not only spiritual purity but environmental responsibility.
This was the opening act of Haritha Dansala, a two-day community initiative organized by ZeroPlastic, University of Peradeniya, under their broader ZeroPlastic Movement. The project, running on June 28 and 29, set out to do something deceptively simple: prove that Sri Lanka’s cherished religious traditions and environmental sustainability can exist together without compromise.
Young Hands Building a Greener Symbol
After the temple clean-up, the day’s focus shifted to a group of Dhamma school students who gathered for a hands-on workshop. Under the guidance of volunteers, the children began constructing an eco-friendly Mihinthalaya model using sustainable materials. The choice was deliberate. Mihintale holds deep significance during the Poson season, marking the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Building its replica from environmentally conscious materials carried a quiet but powerful message: reverence for heritage does not require harm to the natural world. The students worked with visible concentration, cutting, assembling, and problem-solving together. For many, it was their first experience connecting environmental conservation with their own cultural identity.
Words That Stuck
The following morning, June 29, began with a 15-minute environmental awareness session delivered to devotees and community members at the temple. Volunteers spoke plainly about the harmful effects of single-use plastics, offering practical al…
