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.
Otara Foundation in collaboration with Reforest Sri Lanka assisted in planting 500 Kumbuk trees in Kadawatha on Friday 3 March.
The Katunayaka Free Trade Zone (FTZ) attracts millions of rupees in foreign direct investments to Sri Lanka. However, as Otara Foundation recently discovered, the living conditions of the employees of the companies in this zone are unfortunately substandard, with many still living difficult lives,made worsedue to lack of access to
Gampaha is currently facing a severe water shortage. Wells have dried up and the people have to purchase water for daily use. The water shortage is directly resulting from unsustainable development projects and activities that have been going on in the area for the last few years. Over exploitation of
Otara Foundation visited the Runakanda Rainforest Conservation Center and met with its founder Udaya Chanaka, who single-handedly planted 5 acres of rainforest in the buffer zone of the proposed Runakanda forest reserve. Today this is home to over 60 species of birds, of which 16 species are endemic and many
A project to bring Thimbiri back to Thimbirigasyaya was launched recently by the Otara Foundation in partnership with the Colombo Municipal Council. Thimbiri trees once lined the road from Narahenpita to Havelock Town giving Thimbirigasyaya its name and the Foundation hopes to plant as many trees as possible to restore
The second Animal Defenders event for the ages of 11 16 organized by the Otara Foundation saw the participation of over 180 animal defenders from many areas across the island. It was a morning of education and interaction to understand the importance of preserving our precious wildlife, forests and ending
Members of the Otara Foundation conducted an education program on the Dehiwala Zoo, as the animals in the zoo live in cages and have very little freedom. The interactive session with the students and parents of Lavanya Pre-School also covered the importance of being kind and compassionate towards all living
Otara supported a tree planting programme organized by the students of the Department of Economics, University of Colombo together with the UDA and Sri Lanka Tourism. Promoting and encouraging each one of us to be partners of the planet, 320 trees were planted at the event which was held at
The very first children event organized by the Otara Foundation saw the participation of over 200 animal defenders from areas as far as Polonnaruwa, Ambalangoda and even further Focused on educating the younger generation on protecting our wildlife and environment; the importance of living in harmony with animals and ending
It was with great enthusiasm that the Otara Foundation teamed up with the Colombo Municipal Council to start a tree planting project that would increase the tree-cover around Colombo city, mainly around main roads where they are much needed. The project started on the 30th of August in celebration of
