Mihisariya 2025: How a Student-Led Movement Transformed Mihinthale Through Unity, Awareness, and Action
On the 12th of June 2025, the ancient city of Mihinthale witnessed a historic movement led not by officials or institutions, but by the students of the Open University of Sri Lanka. Mihisariya 2025, an ambitious environmental cleanup and awareness campaign, was spearheaded by the ZeroPlastic Community of The Open University of Sri Lanka, and proved to be a shining example of youth leadership, unity, and commitment to preserving Sri Lanka’s sacred heritage.
This initiative was born from urgency. Mihinthale, a revered pilgrimage site, had been suffering from the rising burden of plastic and polythene pollution. With no initial funding and only the blessing of the Mihinthale Municipal Council, the organizing team dared to take action. Planning began nearly two months in advance, and despite many members facing final university examinations, their dedication to the cause never wavered.
One of the key turning points was the partnership with Manusath Derana, whose media support brought national visibility to the campaign. Building on this momentum, the Public Relations team worked tirelessly to secure corporate sponsorships. The campaign soon received tremendous support: meals for 200 volunteers from Perera and Sons Manumehewara, noodle packs from Prima KottuMee, milk packets from Kotmale Dairies, gloves from Midas Safety, financial assistance from Swisstek Aluminium, and full media coverage by Hashtag Photography.
Volunteer registration opened four weeks before the event and filled within a day—clear evidence of the student community’s enthusiasm for environmental action. Participants came from across the island, representing regional centers including Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Jaffna, and Anuradhapura. Transport, accommodation, and meals were arranged, and buses set off from Colombo and Kandy in the early hours to bring the volunteers to Mihinthale by dawn.
The organizing committee, many of whom arrived in advance, worked tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the event ran smoothly. Safety and coordination were paramount. Support was received from the Sri Lanka Police, Public Health Inspectors, Mihinthale Municipal Council, and Mihinthala Rajamaha Viharaya. Volunteers were divided into 10-member teams and assigned to 20 locations, where they collected over 1,000 kilograms of waste. The garbage was properly segregated and transported in two rounds by collection trucks.
A key feature of the event was an awareness session at the start of the day, followed by live social media updates that expanded the campaign’s reach far beyond Mihinthale. As volunteers cleaned the surroundings, local residents and pilgrims spontaneously joined the effort—a heartening testament to the power of collective action and youth leadership.
Throughout the day, a dedicated logistics team ensured the distribution of refreshments, a first aid and hygiene team was on standby, and photographers captured the journey of change as it unfolded. The event concluded with a heartfelt closing ceremony attended by the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Bursar of the Open University, who commended the volunteers for their remarkable efforts.
Mihisariya 2025 stands as a milestone for the ZeroPlastic Community and student activism in Sri Lanka. It was more than just a cleanup—it was a movement. It unified regions, bridged disciplines, and reminded everyone that even with zero funding, extraordinary change is possible when vision, commitment, and teamwork come together.
As students returned to their hostels that night, tired but proud, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose. Mihisariya 2025 is now etched in history—not just as a successful project, but as a powerful example of what young people can achieve when they rise together for a cause that matters.
