🇱🇰 SACEP Opens Sustainable Regional HQ in Colombo, Backed by World Bank 📈

• The South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP) inaugurated its new regional headquarters in Colombo 05, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s role as the host and a strong advocate for the green economy and regional environmental collaboration. • The modern 1,610 sqm facility, funded partly by The World Bank under the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) Project, adheres to LEED gold certification standards for sustainability. • The building features solar panels that generate 20% of its total energy needs, alongside state-of-the-art meeting spaces for regional dialogue. • Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Chief Guest, highlighted the urgency of a collaborative, unified response to escalating environmental crises, especially plastic waste, marine litter, and pollution in the region. • SACEP unites 8 member nations (including India, Pakistan, Maldives) to collectively address critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste management, and transboundary pollution. The new permanent base aims to strengthen environmental stewardship across South Asia.