Ruk Rakaganno Celebrates 50 Years of Environmental Stewardship
On the evening of June 5, 2025—World Environment Day—Ruk Rakaganno, The Tree Society of Sri Lanka, marked a major milestone: its 50th anniversary. The golden jubilee event took place at the tranquil Barefoot Garden Café in Colombo and brought together long-standing members, environmentalists, artists, conservationists, and friends of the organization in a celebration of nature, legacy, and hope. The evening was hosted in proud partnership with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, with Dilmah as the official beverage partner and The Nook Studio serving as the creative event partner. The setting and the programme reflected Ruk Rakaganno’s deeply rooted commitment to the preservation of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.
Honouring a Living Legend
The event was graced by a very special guest—Kala Keerthi Iranganie Serasinghe, the founder and patron of Ruk Rakaganno. A national icon and tireless advocate for environmental protection, Mrs. Serasinghe was warmly welcomed with a powerful drum recital by the renowned Dr. Ravibandu Vidyapathi. A heartfelt felicitation followed, where symbolic gifts were presented in honour of her lifelong dedication to nature. These included:
- A copy of ‘What Tree is This?’ - a Ruk Rakaganno publication by Dr. Sriyani Miththapala, which has educated tree-lovers for over two decades.
- A specially designed canvas bag and shawl commemorating the 50-year journey, created by long-time member Ninel Fernando, featuring the organization’s logo originally designed by renowned artist Laki Senanayake.
- A young ‘Naa’ tree sapling, presented by President Dushy Perera, symbolizing continuity, national pride, and regeneration. These tributes reflected the depth of gratitude felt by the community toward Mrs. Serasinghe, whose vision laid the foundation for the society’s enduring impact.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Ruk Rakaganno President Dushy Perera formally welcomed the guests and shared a powerful narrative of the organization’s journey. From its inception by Mrs. Serasinghe in protest of the felling of Singharajah, he highlighted key milestones across five decades—spanning advocacy, community-led conservation, women’s empowerment, arboretum management, urban tree care, and educational outreach. He also acknowledged longstanding collaborations, including the reforestation of Suduwelipotha in partnership with the John Keells Foundation and the planting of forest trees in partnership with Ernst & Young – GDS, while reaffirming the society’s mission to protect Sri Lanka’s forests and biodiversity.
“Tree Talk” with Dominic Sansoni
A highlight of the evening was a special presentation by celebrated photographer and storyteller Dominic Sansoni, titled “Travels with No Agenda.” Reflective and intimate, Sansoni’s talk combined visual artistry with meditative musings on nature, journeys, and the stories that emerge when we slow down and listen to the world around us.
‘Photograph a Tree’ Competition
The event also saw the awarding of the Ruk Rakaganno Photography Competition—an islandwide initiative encouraging both young and experienced photographers to observe and celebrate trees through their lenses. The competition, themed ‘Photograph a Tree,’ featured Junior and Senior categories and was judged by a distinguished panel led by Channa Ekanayake, alongside:
- Hiranya Malwatta – Photographer
- Poornima Jayasinghe – Interdisciplinary artist & Co-founder of CoCA Symbiosis
- Menika van der Poorten – Cultural producer and visual arts educator
- Shereene Amendra – Chartered Architect & Landscape Environmentalist Prizes were awarded for the top three entries in each category, celebrating visual storytelling that captured not just beauty but ecological meaning. Winners were awarded cash prizes and recognition on stage.
The Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project
One of the evening’s most inspiring segments was the screening of a short video about the Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project—a landmark reforestation initiative in Sri Lanka’s wet zone. Conducted by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, in collaboration with the Forest Department of Sri Lanka and Ruk Rakaganno, this project has transformed 59 acres of degraded land using assisted natural regeneration methods. The results speak volumes: over 20,000 native trees planted, an 85–90% survival rate, and a significant increase in biodiversity—from 92 to 123 native plant species and from 189 to 251 fauna species. With strong community engagement, volunteer involvement, and scientific evaluation, this initiative exemplifies the success of public-private partnerships in conservation. Dr. Kshanika Goonesekera, Director of Sustainability at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, delivered remarks reaffirming the brand’s commitment to sustainable tourism and praised the enduring partnership with Ruk Rakaganno. Attendees were invited to register for an upcoming site visit to the reforestation project on Saturday, June 28, 2025, with 25 spots available for those interested in witnessing the restoration work firsthand.
Tokens of Appreciation and Closing Moments
As the evening came to a close, tokens of appreciation were gifted to key contributors including Dr. Ravibandu Vidyapathi, Dominic Sansoni, Dr. Sriyani Miththapala, Dushy Perera and the photography judges. Simon Lazenbatt, Vice President of Ruk Rakaganno, delivered a warm vote of thanks, expressing the society’s appreciation for everyone who made the evening possible. Guests were invited to purchase special anniversary editions of What Tree is This? and the commemorative canvas bag, and to consider becoming members of Ruk Rakaganno to support its ongoing mission.
