Sri Lanka Celebrates World Habitat Day 2024 with a National Event in Colombo
Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. A.M.P.M.B Atapattu and UN-Habitat Sri Lanka Country Programme Manager, Harshini Halangode along with officials from the Ministry
7 October 2024, Colombo, Sri Lanka. celebrated World Habitat Day 2024 with a national event at the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development, Housing and Construction in Battaramulla. The event was held under the patronage of Mr. A.M.P.M.B Atapattu, the newly appointed Secretary to the Ministry with the presence of Ms. Harshini Halangode, the UN-Habitat Sri Lanka Country Programme Manager.
The distinguished guests were welcomed and taken through an exhibition of winning artwork submitted as a part of several competitions held by the Ministry to commemorate World Habitat Day. The event commenced following the lighting of the traditional oil lamp and a welcome dance by the winners of a dance competition representing the ‘Rantharu Children’s Community Center’ in Kaduwela.
Mr. W. M Ananda- Additional Secretary, in his opening remarks, welcomed the guests and introduced this year’s theme ‘Engaging youth to create a better urban future’ and highlighted the importance of ensuring youth representation to build a better future.
Dance Performance done by Children from a Community in Kelaniya
The event went on to showcase various cultural performances including a short film centered on this year’s theme, produced by the ‘Siduhath Children’s Society’ from Wadugodawatta Kolonnawa, on how a group of youth in the community helped their neighborhood overcome flooding.
Ms. Harshini Halangode delivered the message on behalf of the Secretary General of the United Nations, which reaffirmed the basic right of shelter and the vital role of young people in creating a better urban future.
The Secretary to the Ministry, Mr. A. M. P. M. B Atapattu addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of World Habitat Day -not only to people around the world, but to Sri Lanka specifically, as the country was instrumental in proposing the commemoration of World Habitat Day. He acknowledged the importance of addressing issues and challenges in the development of housing and settlements and emphasized the need to collectively find solutions leveraging the technological advancements of today in order to uplift the quality of lives of all. He went on to highlight the importance of celebrating this day in the last 38 years along with all UN-Habitat member states and acknowledged the efforts of all who contributed to organizing the competitions and activities that were centered on engaging youth in commemoration World Habitat Day. The event concluded with a prize giving and distribution of awards to all winning competitors.