This CSR collaborative Initiative, themed “Lets Celebrate 40 years with 4,000 Trees”, is part of ongoing reforestation efforts under the WANAROPA program, aligned with the ‘Bonn Challenge’ which targets the restoration of 200,000 hectares of degraded forest land in Sri Lanka.
The implementation of the reforesting initiative which took place this week, was conducted in the Rajawaka area, on the border of the wet and intermediate zones, a region that is host to diverse landscapes and a rich biodiverse biome, including elephants, leopards, bee colonies and other unique fauna.
The reforestation initiative aims to expand forest cover and restore the ecosystem, thereby combatting climate change, protecting biodiversity, preventing habitat loss, enhance water security for nearby communities, enhance carbon absorption, and improve soul fertility.
The program will also undertake community level engagement, providing essential education on conservation and prevention of human-led forest fires and habitat loss.
Jayantha Wijesingha, Chief Coordinator and founding member of the Rainforest Protectors of Sri Lanka lauded the sponsorship and direct participation of CSE staff members commenting that the Balangoda Reforestation project would restore “a 50 acre degraded hill which has been burned twice every year reducing it to merely a grass savannah, and by planting various native endemic trees with fifty different varieties we will improve the biodiversity of the Rajawaka Forest.”
Commenting on the project, Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, CEO of CSE, stated:
“The initiative reflects CSE’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices on both an institutional and market-wide level.
The team at CSE takes pride in participating and promoting such sustainable practices on an inclusive basis, as our staff is eager to engage in such outreach as demonstrated by the high turnout at the initiative.”
CSE is also a member of the global Sustainable Development Stock Exchange initiative and works closely with GRI South Asia to promote sustainability reporting amongst listed companies.
CSE has also introduced a Guide on Communicating Sustainability for listed entities, established a listing framework for Sustainable bonds, expanded sustainable finance products regulatory framework through Green, Social, Sustainability and Sustainability-Linked (GSS+) bonds.
In addition, the top 100 listed companies based on market capitalisation as of 01st January 2025 are also required to adopt the SLFRS S1 and S2 sustainability disclosure standards with effect from the financial year 2025.