ZeroPlastic at the University of Peradeniya has just pulled off something incredible!
On May 25, 2025, the iconic Edmund Silva Grounds in Kandy came alive with a powerful purpose: to clean the Earth, compete for glory, and unite a community around sustainability. This wasn’t your typical clean-up. It was SPOGOMI; a unique Japanese-born sport that combines “sports” + “gomi” (trash). It’s fun, fast, and fiercely eco-friendly!
So, what happened? We cleaned. We competed. We conquered.
Over 100 participants formed 30 energetic teams, each guided by 30 referees. In just one action-packed hour, an unbelievable 100 garbage bags were collected. That’s right, 100 bags of waste removed from our public spaces, all while having a blast.
But SPOGOMI isn’t just about trash, it’s about transformation.
Created in 2008 by Mamitsuka Kenichi, SPOGOMI was designed to turn the boring idea of cleaning into an exciting and structured game. With detailed rules, point systems, and environmental impact, it’s now a global movement recognized in the UK, USA, India, Malaysia, and—now proudly in Sri Lanka, thanks to the ZeroPlastic National Movement, our official country organizer.
The Central Province Qualifier in Kandy was a massive success thanks to the collaboration of ZeroPlastic national movement with the help of the Kandy municipal council and the Police.
ZeroPlastic National movement university Coordinator Mr. Kusal Madhubashitha, JICA Volunteers, and countless external volunteers who came together for the cause made the event a great success.
And of course, we celebrated our top eco-warriors:
Plastic Hunters – Central Province Champions
Eco Fix – First Runner-Up
No. 27 – Second Runner-Up
These teams didn’t just clean, they earned their place in the national spotlight, advancing to the next stage of the SPOGOMI World Cup selection on the National level!
This is more than a competition. It’s a mission. A mission to save our Earth, to inspire change, and to put Sri Lanka on the global environmental map.
Let’s make Mother Sri Lanka proud. Let’s clean, let’s compete, and let’s rise.
