Shore Sweep 3.0 Unites University of Kelaniya Students and Community Against Plastic Pollution

The ZeroPlastic Movement at the University of Kelaniya conducted Shore Sweep 3.0, a coastal cleanup and awareness project organized by its Community Engagement Avenue. The project focused on raising awareness about plastic pollution and promoting responsible waste management among both university volunteers and members of the local community.

The initiative was designed to help participants understand the environmental and social impacts of plastic waste. It also aimed to encourage a sense of responsibility toward maintaining cleaner surroundings, with an emphasis on the role individuals can play in reducing plastic pollution in coastal areas.

During the project, volunteers and participants took part in shore cleaning activities while engaging with community members on the importance of proper waste management. The cleanup effort brought together university undergraduates and local residents in a shared environmental activity, allowing direct interaction between volunteers and the surrounding community.

Over 70 university undergraduates and more than 100 local community members took part in Shore Sweep 3.0, with 20 volunteers supporting the initiative. The level of participation reflected a strong willingness among both young volunteers and community members to contribute to environmental efforts at the local level. The project also offered university participants a practical opportunity to engage with communities beyond the university setting.

The activity contributed to the broader environmental awareness objectives of the ZeroPlastic Movement by combining hands-on cleanup work with community-level engagement. For the university volunteers involved, it served as a meaningful opportunity to connect environmental knowledge with real-world action, while local participants gained greater exposure to the issue of plastic pollution in their immediate environment.

The project was conducted in collaboration with Ocean University of Sri Lanka, which supported the i…