The foundation stone was laid today for the state-of-the-art Planet Green Force (PGF) Centre, a new eco-friendly learning lab at Ananda College, Colombo incorporating the four pillars of UNESCO Green Academies and the latest sustainable features. 

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha laid the foundation stone at the school premises along with Dr. Benno Boer, Chief of the Natural Sciences Unit at UNESCO New Delhi, Principal D.M. Lal Dissanayake, PGF Founder Harith Wickrema and Yohan De Silva (Head Prefect 1974). 

During the event, Minister Premajayantha highlighted the importance of protecting the environment. He also emphasised that the United Nations gives special attention to climate change issues.

"In every UN-sponsored programme, international meetings and forums, climate change is a major area of discussion," the Minister said. 

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Boer stated, "Mother Earth’s ecosystems provide air to breathe, water to drink and food to eat. We must do our part to ensure that this relationship continues by learning to live in harmony with nature." 

"UNESCO would be happy to be your partner," he added.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Wickrema, founder of Planet Green Force and Head Prefect of Ananda College in 1975, highlighted the importance of English language learning. 

"The next generation of change-makers and world leaders tackling issues such as global warming and food security must be able to communicate in English, the global language," he said.