The Rumassala Nature Field Centre, which was established on 01st May 2008 through a pioneering public‑private partnership between the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and John Keells Foundation (JKF) and underwent extensive renovations earlier this year under the aegis of JKF, was officially handed over to the CEA on 8th July 2026.
The event was graced by Professor Tilak Hewawasam, Chairman of the CEA, the Director and Assistant Director of CEA – Southern Province, Nayana Mawilmada, President of the John Keells Group Property and Leisure Sectors; Hishan SInghawana, CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts; Isuru Gunasekera, Chief People Officer of the John Keells Group; Carmeline Jayasuriya, Group Head of CSR; and officials representing John Keells Foundation and Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
Over the past 18 years, the Centre – located on the historic and scenic Rumassala hill – has served as a flagship facility for experiential learning, welcoming over 23,480 schoolchildren, government officials, and community members. Recognised by the CEA as its flagship nature field centre in Sri Lanka, the upgraded facility will serve to further strengthen its capacity and effectiveness in promoting environmental education and biodiversity awareness among school children and adults while exploring means of enhancing the self-sustainability of the Centre.
In his remarks, Prof. Tilak Hewawasam, Chairman of CEA said, “It is a great pleasure to participate in the handover ceremony of the renovated Rumassala Nature Field Centre. This Centre was established in 2008 with financial assistance from JKF. It was again renovated and handed over to the CEA [today]. The Centre will continue to serve as a source of both experiential learning and positive attitude development among schoolchildren, nurturing future generations with a deeper respect for the environment. Looking ahead, the CEA plans to make the Centre a more self‑sustaining model, ensuring its long‑term impact and resilience. Our ultimate aim is to create a society that is very responsible for the environment. Environment protection is protecting the future!”
The renovation project reaffirmed JKF’s commitment to biodiversity conservation towards enhancing quality of life for all through the conservation and promotion of natural resources, habitats and wildlife, while underscoring the importance of public‑private collaboration in environmental conservation and biodiversity awareness promotion in a sustainable manner.
Carmeline Jayasuriya, John Keells Group’s Head of CSR, said, “Today marks a significant milestone in John Keells’ commitment to biodiversity conservation. The Rumassala Nature Field Centre has long stood as a model of experiential learning, and with the recent extensive renovations, we have strengthened the Centre’s capacity and sustainability. We deeply appreciate the admirable efforts of CEA in conducting programmes for the benefit of thousands of school children and officials over the years amidst various ground challenges. We also wish to recognise the wider stakeholder support of Cinnamon Nature Trails, Cinnamon Hotel Engineering, and Cinnamon by Hikka Tranz in project implementation and the valuable consultancy services of the Department of Architecture of the University of Moratuwa in the initial design and construction as well as the recent renovation. We look forward to seeing the Centre continuing to inspire thousands of students and community members in the years ahead, and assure our cooperation in optimising the facility to become more self-sustainable.”
The reopening ceremony included the ceremonial unveiling of the plaque, a documentary on Rumassala developed by JKF, a way forward plan presented by the CEA, and a formal exchange of the handover document between the CEA and JKF. A guided walkaround of the facility followed the event, offering participants a firsthand opportunity for observation of the upgraded centre and discussion on current and prospective collaboration between the parties.
Education, Community & Livelihoods, Social Health & Cohesion, and Biodiversity are the four focus areas of John Keells Foundation – the CSR entity of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), largest company listed on the CSE in terms of market capitalization operating over 80 companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. With a history of over 150 years, the John Keells Group provides employment to over 18,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected Entity’ for the last 20 Years by LMD magazine. JKH has placed first for the fourth consecutive year in the ‘Transparency in Corporate Reporting Assessment’ by Transparency International Sri Lanka. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a participant of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its CSR vision of `Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow’ through John Keells Foundation and through the social entrepreneurship initiative, ‘Plasticcycle’, which is a catalyst in significantly reducing plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.
