Last week, the quiet town of Vavuniya, once a symbol of Sri Lanka’s civil unrest, witnessed something extraordinary — not a protest, not a commemoration, but a celebration of unity, purpose, and environmental action.
The SPOGOMI World Cup 2025 Qualifier for the Northern and Eastern Provinces was successfully held under the leadership of the ZeroPlastic community of the University of Vavuniya. This youth-led event wasn’t just about picking up plastic. It was about picking up pieces of a shared history and creating new bonds of friendship, peace, and national pride.
Trash Picking as a Sport – A Global Concept with Local Impact SPOGOMI — a global movement that turns garbage collection into competitive sport — found its voice in the North and East of Sri Lanka thanks to the vision and commitment of young changemakers. The qualifier was conducted to international standards, with meticulous organization, incredible energy, and unmatched teamwork.
From the first whistle to the last collection, every moment reflected the passion and leadership of youth who are not just cleaning the environment, but also helping heal a nation.
A New Narrative from Vavuniya Vavuniya was once known as a war-torn border between North and South — a place where communities were divided by language, ethnicity, and trauma. But today, it tells a different story. One where Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim youth are coming together not for conflict, but for a cause.
The ZeroPlastic Club at University of Vavuniya has emerged as a vibrant platform for building unity through environmental action. By organizing this qualifier, they created a safe and inspiring space where young people from all walks of life could collaborate, compete, and contribute to a plastic-free Sri Lanka.
This project wasn’t just well-executed — it was deeply symbolic.
Beyond Cleanup: Building National Harmony What stood out wasn’t just the tonnes of waste collected, but the invisible weight lifted — the kind that comes from division, isolation, and misunderstanding. By working side-by-side, youth from different provinces and ethnicities formed lasting friendships, learning that while their stories may be different, their future is shared.
The ZeroPlastic Movement has always believed that real change starts with the youth. And in Vavuniya, that change is happening. Not perfectly, but powerfully.
A Proud Moment for the Nation This event added immense value to the national SPOGOMI campaign and brought pride to the entire ZeroPlastic Movement. It was a clear signal that the North and East are not behind — they are leading.
They are not disconnected — they are building bridges.
They are not waiting for change — they are creating it.
