The Otara Foundation is committed to responsible, sustainable progress in Sri Lanka. We work toward the common goal of co-existence through empowerment, activism and strategic investment. The Foundation believes in fostering harmony with the natural world, protecting the environment and respecting life and liberty in all its diversity. We believe in Compassion as a guiding principle, and we defend the rights of the voiceless while adhering to our own example of mindfulness in progress.
In keeping with World Environment Day, the Otara Foundation recently sponsored a workshop on the incredible freshwater fish found in the Sinharaja Rainforest which was conducted by the Runakanda Rainforest Conservation Centre. It was a 3-day project on biodiversity, with a special focus on freshwater fish and reforestation.
Otara was Chief Guest at a recent tree planting event organized by the University of Colombo, Faculty of Law. A website was launched, a beautiful mural done by the students was unveiled and many new tree saplings were planted. The activities were held to celebrate World Environment Day which will
Otara was recently featured in an article by the Sunday Observer which discussed the animal cruelty that took place during Sinhala and Tamil New Year, where captive elephants were used in an elephant race and other games like Tug of war. Speaking to the Sunday Observer Otara said, When the
Otara was Chief Guest at a Car Wash recently organized by Care for the Voiceless to raise funds for a Sterilization and Vaccination program in Anuradhapura. Among the celebrities who joined her in this noteworthy cause included; Actresses Dhamitha Abeyratne, Anuradha Nandasiri and Malkanthi Nandasiri. Otara’s first job was to
Carol Buckley from Elephant Aid International recently visited Sri Lanka to give her input on implementing a chain-free lifestyle with positive reinforcement for the elephants of the Dehiwala Zoo and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Carol met with the teams while they explained the daily routine and processes of over 70+ captive
Delysia Gunewardence, Otaras mother, recently launched her book, the Chitra Lane Way which encompassed 50 years of hands-on knowledge and experience of working with special needs children in Sri Lanka It was a proud day for our family. We have lived our entire life watching our mother’s dedication to give
Speaking to the Daily Mirror in an interview recently, Otara said that the time is right to set these innocent animals free. A large number of people are now aware of the suffering we have caused these animals over the years and a great change is taking place across the
Otara participated in a tree planting program on Independence Day conducted by Aurora Sri Lanka. This initiative was carried out to replace the trees that were cut down for the highway in Balummahara, Kadawatta. This was the second phase of this program. Click here to watch more; https://www.facebook.com/otaradel/videos/10155421422142183/ https://www.facebook.com/otaradel/videos/10155416427592183/
Otara Foundation commemorated Sri Lankas 70 th year of Independence with the concept Let Not Limit Independence to a Day. This explored the idea that freedom should not just be celebrated only on February 4, but through the year and it should be shared by all lives. As a truly
Otara recently attended a tree planting program along the Kadawatha/Nittambuwa Highway organized by Aurora Sri Lanka together with the Wildlife Department, Road Development Authority and many caring citizens. All saplings planted are endemic to Sri Lanka, while most are fruit-bearing trees that will provide; food for birds and animals, and
