7 October 2024, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. To celebrate World Habitat Day 2024, UN-Habitat Sri Lanka in partnership with the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council organised an art competition for youth in Nuwara Eliya on the theme “Your City in 2025”. The prize distribution for the winning entries was held on 7^th October at the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council.

Winners of the “Your City in 2025” art competition with their certificates. The winning entries are in the background.

The theme for the 2024 World Habitat Day was Engaging youth to create a better urban future. The art competition “Your City in 2025” encouraged youth to visualize their city in 25 years. The objective of this competition was to encourage youth to identify the current issues in their city and suggest solutions from their perspective through the medium of art. Four hundred and fifty (450) youth from schools and technical colleges in Nuwara-Eliya submitted entries and participated in the art competition.

The Zonal Director of Education for Nuwara Eliya District, Ms. Suvineetha Podimenike Pihillegedara was the Chief Guest at the prize distribution event, while the Commissioner of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council, Mr. K.K.G.I.D.P. Wijethilake was the Guest of Honour. The Deputy Principal of the Nuwara Eliya Technical College, Mr. A.R.W.M.M.J. Amarakoon, prize winners and commended youth, teachers and senior UN-Habitat staff attended the event.

During the event, the United Nations Secretary General’s message for World Habitat Day 2024 was read in Sinhala, Tamil and English Languages. The message emphasized the vital role of young people in creating a better urban future and the importance of tapping into the energy of young people to turn urban challenges into opportunities. Addressing the gathering, the Zonal Director of Education stressed the importance of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and expressed her gratitude to UN-Habitat and the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council for organizing the art competition, thereby encouraging creativity of young people. Cash prizes and certificates were handed over to the prize winners and seven youth were awarded certificates of commendation for their artwork.

The Zonal Director of Education addressing the gathering