The History of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka

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Policy lobbying and advocacy

Corporate crime watch

Vigilance on policies of donor agencies on mega-projects

Conduct Alternative People's Tribunals(APTs) to get address real community problems

Campaign for sustainable development and environment management

Provide legal aid to poor and marginalized communities

Strengthen institutional linkages and strengthen local networks for lobbying

Build international linkages and assist in international lobbying

Document and preserve indigenous knowledge systems

Promote sustainable farming systems

Enhance community resilience through strengthening environment friendly livelihoods

Lobby for consumer rights

Work towards community based disaster risk reduction

Work on adaptive and reductive methods for ensuring climate stability

Work for the empowerment of women, youth and children

Rebuild disaster damaged communities

Work for peace through reconciliation processes

Lobby for the rights of persons with disabilities

Lobby for the rights of small scale farmers


For centuries our forefathers lived in harmony with the land. If they had to build, they first made sure that the earth could bear the weight of their efforts, if they had to destroy they made sure that what was lost would be reborn in greater and better form. They never lost sight of the fact that to harm the earth was to harm themselves. Therefore they preserved it and that which sustained it . In all human endeavor, that was sacrosanct. That, was not negotiable. Enter the economies and financial bullying of an ideology that has almost made a desert of this earth. Enter their "yes men". Enter their henchmen. They hack, cut, kill in the name of "development". With scant respect for life they leech the very blood of our nation. It is into this background of dust, darkness, greed, selfishness and malice that we were born...	"The earth has changed. I can taste it in the water. I can feel it in the earth. I can smell it in the air. Much that once was is now lost for few now remain who remember." (J.R.R. Tolkien) we refuse to forget!

Late 1970's	A market oriented economic system is introduced to Sri Lanka causing many environmental and social problems.
mid 1980's	The widespread social, environmental and economic damage of mega scale development projects such as dams, highways, industrial parks, cash crop plantations, mining and logging pave the way for the establishment of environment movements.
	Two distinct schools of environmentalists emerge. The first, elite and middle-class group had a romantic vision for conserving fauna and flora whilst preserving the destructive and anti-environment economic paradigm. The second was made up of academics and activists who wanted the economic paradigm changed to a human and environment friendly one. This group has a political vision as well as a conservation ideology.
late 1980's	Many environment campaigns emerge against destructive market economy practices. The displaced communities for mega scale projects, the victimized communities of development projects and environment activists led these campaigns.
early 1990's	Huge social mobilization, resistance campaigns lobbying and advocacy with relevant authorities and pressuring the government for changing of policies and campaigns against unsustainable and environmentally unfriendly projects were launched.
mid 1990's	These movements slowly and steadily develop. At the time there was a trend for environment friendly consciousness within the communities. However, it is not developed and still in the form of a movement of environmental friendly community organization and mobilization.
11th March 1998	The Green Movement is formed advocating the sustainability of the livelihoods of the low income generating majority and the conservation of the environment.
2000	Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) introduced and the GMSL sees the devastation that the plans will bring. The movement works with many other organizations and forces the PRSP implementation to be greatly reduced.
2003	The Disaster Management and Information Program (DMIP) is formed by the GMSL to counter threats of floods and droughts. The Green Brigade is formed to empower the youth of Sri Lanka
2004	The tsunamis devastate the coastal area and the GMSL's DMIP and Green Brigade spring into action for emergency response
2005	Community reconstruction and rehabilitation in the post-tsunami era begins with four housing schemes by the GMSL in various tsunami affected areas of the country
2006	Post-tsunami work winds down, there is a change of government and the GMSL gears itself to work towards a more fruitful era for the marginalized communities of the country
2007	The GMSL restructures itself and is the first environment organization that is recognized by the government as an incorporated charity. The GMSL launches income generation activities through "Siyathra Media" and formulates a five year plan to address the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in earnest.