100+ Volunteers, 500 kg of Plastic: Sri Lanka Unites for a Cleaner Coast on World Cleanup Day

On World Cleanup Day 2025, the ZeroPlastic Community of the Open University of Sri Lanka led a successful beach cleanup at Wellawatta Beach, bringing together over 100 passionate volunteers. Participants included students from NISD, Ocean University, Kelaniya University, and the Open University, alongside youth club members and corporate representatives from Alumex (Pvt) Ltd.

The initiative showcased strong multi-stakeholder collaboration, with support from environmental activists, local authorities, beach lifeguards, and police officers. Media coverage from Derana News and active social media engagement helped spread the message of collective responsibility for cleaner oceans.

Together, volunteers collected nearly 500 kg of marine waste, directly improving the coastal environment while learning about the dangers of plastic pollution. The activity fostered teamwork, leadership, and youth empowerment, with participants rating it a five-star experience for its impact and spirit.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (13, 14, and 15), this initiative strengthened Sri Lanka’s contribution to the global World Cleanup Day movement — proving that when communities unite, real change happens.

Introducing the ZeroPlastic Commitment Standard – the world’s first certification focused solely on refusing and reducing single-use plastics.

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