On July 20th, over 160 passionate young individuals from Sri Lanka and across the globe came together at Wellawatte Beach for Wavez 2025, a youth-led environmental initiative organized by AIESEC in University of Kelaniya. The event made a meaningful impact through a combination of awareness-building, education, and direct environmental action.
Wavez 2025 was launched with the belief that young people, when engaged in innovative and hands-on ways, can become lifelong advocates for the planet. The goal was not just to clean a beach, but to cultivate environmentally conscious habits that shape better decisions and spark real change.
The event featured two core activities: an Awareness Walk and a Beach Cleanup.
Before the walk began, participants gathered to hear from Subahsi Tania de Silva, a journalist and climate activist. Sharing her personal story, she encouraged everyone to recognize the power of youth in driving climate action and called for more active public involvement in environmental efforts.
The Awareness Walk kicked off around 9:00 AM near St. Peter’s College, Colombo 04, proceeding along Galle Road and Marine Drive, finally reaching the beach just before the Wellawatte railway station. Carrying eye-catching posters and slogans, participants spread an important message to the public about protecting our oceans and addressing coastal pollution. The walk drew support from AIESEC members, global volunteers, university society representatives, institutional clubs, and the general public.
Once at the beach, participants took part in an introductory session led by The Pearl Protectors, a youth-led marine conservation volunteer organization and one of the event’s Official Community Impact Partners. They educated attendees on the correct and safe way to conduct a beach cleanup, including how to identify and sort waste, maintain hygiene, and follow safety guidelines.
To make the cleanup both fun and informative, The Climate Intelligence Network, another Official Community Impact Partner, introduced their #TrackTheTrash Challenge. This citizen-powered initiative encouraged participants to track and analyze the types of waste collected, helping highlight the most common pollutants and their sources. The campaign also promotes brand audits, creative social media storytelling, and data-driven environmental advocacy. It tackles long-standing issues such as the lack of accountability from polluters and the limited long-term impact of conventional cleanups, empowering youth with tools for real-time reporting and awareness-building.
To ensure the cleanup followed eco-friendly practices, Parley for the Oceans, also an Official Community Impact Partner, generously provided reusable gloves and gunny bags, eliminating the need for single-use items during the cleanup itself.
Despite some sudden and unpredictable weather changes, the energy and enthusiasm remained high. Nearly 1 kilometer of visibly polluted shoreline at Wellawatte Beach was cleaned. The growing pile of collected trash bags was a powerful reminder of both the scale of the problem and the strength of united action.
All waste collected was handed over to Neptune Recyclers, the event’s Official Recycling Partner, for responsible processing. The total waste amounted to approximately 161.3 kilograms, broken down as follows:
- PET Bottles: 45.0 kg
- Glass: 76.0 kg
- Other Plastics: 38.5 kg
- Aluminum: 2.0 kg
- Other Mixed Waste (non-recyclables): 17.8 kg
Wavez 2025 was also supported by public figures such as Miss Sri Lanka Earth 2022, Udani Senanayake, Miss Earth Water Sri Lanka 2024, Tushani Vidurangi, and Public Speaking Coach and Stand-up Comedian, Mr. Anderson. Their presence helped rally public attention and amplify the message of ocean and climate conservation.
The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of Alliance Finance Company PLC, Aroma Bliss Ceylon, and Freelan Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, whose sponsorship enabled wider outreach and deeper impact.
Participants walked away with much more than just tired feet, they left with knowledge, purpose, and a deeper commitment to protect the environment. Wavez 2025 served as a reminder that while plastic waste may return to the shore, awareness, advocacy, and youth action will continue to ripple outward, creating lasting change.
Wavez 2025 wasn’t just about cleaning a beach. It was about standing up for our future, learning from one another, and taking ownership of the planet we all depend on. Protecting the ocean is not a choice, it’s a shared responsibility.
