Nature, Art & Culture
SLT, FOGSL and Students - Preserving Heritage for Tomorrow
Conservation and protection of nature is a facet of life that is closely interwoven with life of SLT. Accordingly, we seek every avenue to inculcate knowledge and good practice amongst all Sri Lankans, particularly the younger generation who will soon be at the helm of such initiatives themselves. In this light, SLT has identified its responsibilities in leading a next generation of citizens to be mindful of the country's heritage by launching a nature project together with the Field Ornithology Group (FOGSL) of the University of Colombo. The first programme of the series was held recently involving the students of Gurukula Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.
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| Acknowledging the importance of the natural environment, SLT with FOGSL organised several educational tours for students in the Sinharaja forest |
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This programme, gives students the opportunity to visit the Sinharaja Forest and learn/study about forestation and deforestation, endemism of plants, birds and creatures, diversity of the forest and the history and conservation of nature.
SLT believes that through these awareness programmes, future generations will be aware of our rich heritage and help preserve it for tomorrow. We also hope to uplift the capabilities and creativity of students in a multiplicity of directions, while providing awareness on preserving our heritage for tomorrow.
Renowned zoologist, Prof. Sarath Kotagama, together with his team at FOGSL conducts these monthly programmes where 20 students and five teachers are taken on a 3-day field trip through the Sinharaja Rain Forest. Prof. Kotagama has more than 35 years of experience with the Sinharaja Forest, especially on research related to birds in Sinharaja. The project involves schools islandwide without discrimination or bias. Participants are provided with accommodation, food and a project pack that includes a souvenir t'shirt, cap, stationery and at the end of the programme, with the completion of required case studies, participants will be awarded a certificate of participation.
The SLT Calendar Tells the Story
Each year, the Company's calendar espouses a strong theme in keeping with our ethos of preserving our heritage. SLT spares no pains to make it informative and artistic. In most cases the calendar deals with the topics of environment protection and conservation. In the year under review SLT put out its calendar for 2007 featuring endemic freshwater fish of Sri Lanka. The Company has successfully maintained a strategic balance between introducing global conveniences to discerning customers in Sri Lanka while giving pride of place to all that is culturally, environmentally and socially valuable to the Sri Lankan people. This equilibrium has paved the way for the brand Sri Lanka Telecom to be hailed as a much loved telecommunications brand of the people. SLT's 2007 calendar, which is in the form of artist's impressions in full colour, offers the beholder a magnificent and rare insight into the little known yet absolutely spell binding world of freshwater fish, that are endemic to Sri Lanka.
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| Maintaining a link with the country's natural heritage, SLT's 2007 calendar focuses on a theme based on Sri Lanka's rich diversity of freshwater fish |
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Sri Lanka is categorised as one of the few countries in the world with a rich diversity of freshwater fish. Artist Shantha Jayaweera who has spent many hours studying their habitats and eco-systems, has illustrated the endemic fish featured in this calendar. The text for the calendar was written by much renowned scholar in fishery biology Prof. (Ms.) Ruchira Cumaratunga, Dean, Faculty of Fisheries & Marine Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
SLT's calendar for 2007 is a privileged journey into their world - a 'preview' that illustrates in detail, their exquisite beauty and the importance of helping to protect them and their habitat for future generations. It is truly an echo of SLT's passion and commitment to preserve nature's heritage for tomorrow.
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