“Protect the environmental rights of people and the rights of nature, and promote ecologically sustainable solutions through mobilization, litigation and policy reforms.
Our Dream
Water, air, land, are the basic natural resources for life. The earth is our mother. Oceans, forests, rivers, wetlands, arid zones even deserts are the habitats for living things. Humans, as well as all other living things have a right to nature and its resources. We all have equal environmental rights.
The Natural environment is at risk today. Good environmental governance is far behind our expectations. We believe that environmental protection should be done at all levels. While government has a major role to play, every citizen has a responsibility to care for the environment in which we live.
Centre for Environmental Justice is a new initiative to protect the environment, to ensure equal environmental rights for all people and to promote ecological sustainability by supporting environmentally sound community activities.
Our Dream is to see a world that does not fight over nature and its resources; to see environmental peace within and across borders and to see and live in environmentally responsible communities. We hope to see a world which shares the remaining natural resources and respects the environmental rights of all. Our task is to protect and conserve these natural resources; to preserve the ancient wisdom that enabled us to live in harmony with nature; to fight for better environmental governance for a sustainable future and for a better world which has environmental justice and equity.
Our Strengths
Qualified, active and dedicated full-time staff and associated members that represents different gender and ethnic groups.
National partner organizations and being a member of the environmental organizations’ network builds solidarity in addressing environmental issues. For example the SLCFAN.
Members of CEJ dispersed throughout the country give CEJ the opportunity to work in any area of the country.
The strong network of international environmental activists and organizations not only offer resources, knowledge and experience sharing, but also provides solidarity in facing environmental disputes.
Youth Environmental Network composed of around 1200 members that actively participate in CEJ youth training camps, campaigns and field activities.
Media network composed of 20 individual journalists that participate in every press conference and reports CEJ news. National and private media reports.
Digital communication tools such as the CEJ app, “ejustice”, and the CEJ hotline “0710396000” for reporting forest destructions.
Strong social media networks; FB with 7,867 followers, twitter with 62 followers, a web page and a CEJ news page.
Strong working relationship with government institutions/ officials that participate in CEJ awareness and training programs and work closely in implementing ground level community activities.
Vigilant groups dispersed throughout the country to communicate forest and other environmental damages that report environmental destructions to CEJ with immediate effect.
Rapid response system to address reported environmental destruction earlier possible.
CEJ is the recognized private organization in Sri Lanka for conducting EIA training for both government and private institutional officers.
Director Board
Ravindranath Dabare
Chairman HNDE.MECH.Eng Attorney-at-law
Dilena Pathragoda
Executive Director
B.Sc. Management (sp) / Diploma in HR
Hemantha Withanage
Director
B.Sc.gen. Degree with zoology
botany.chemistry 1981-1985
Chandana S. Jayakody
Director
Linux System Administrator
Nilmal Wickramasinghe
Director
L.L.B. Degree at the open university
Attorney at Law
Kokila Konasinghe
Director
L.L.M. (Rotterdam), Ph.D.(Keele)
Attorney-at-Law
Our Staff
Dilena Pathragoda
Executive Director
B.Sc. Management (sp) / Diploma in HR
Shanika N Lokuruge
Accountant
Chalani Rubesinghe
Project Planning and Mgt. officer Instructor on chemical contamination
(Bsc. Nat. Sc., MSc.Env.Sc)
Janaka Withanage
Advocacy and Campaign Officer
Madushani Sendanayaka
Project Coordinator
Gamini Piyarathne
Field Coordinator
Indika Rajapaksha
Environment Officer
Ranjan Karunanayake
Media Officer
Thushini Jayasekara
Legal Officer LL.B (Hons.)
Attorney-at-Law & Notary Public