Growing a Greener Jaffna

The Faculty of Medicine Tree Nursery advances planetary health through community partnerships

UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA • PLANETARY HEALTH INITIATIVE

A tree-nursery initiative at the Students’ Wellbeing Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, is linking student engagement with practical environmental action. A new request from the Jaffna Municipal Council signals a further opportunity to extend the work through the Healthy City project.

From the nursery to the community

Under the Planetary Health Initiative of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, the Tree Nursery Project was officially inaugurated at the Faculty’s Students’ Wellbeing Centre on 15 May 2026. The initiative was inaugurated by Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Prof. B. Balagobi, Coordinator of the Wellbeing Centre, with participation from the Medical Students’ Union and students of the 47th and 48th batches. A central component is the “Adopt-a-Tree” programme. A total of 2,500 saplings sponsored by Mr. Hariharan of Colombo were made available for nurturing and distribution. The programme aims to prepare young trees for later planting at educational institutions, public spaces and roadsides across Jaffna, working with local authorities and community partners.

From Green Nallur to Green Jaffna

The nursery supports the wider Green Nallur and Green Jaffna initiatives by helping move saplings from the Faculty to community planting activities. The supplied field photographs record roadside and green-space maintenance carried out by Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha workers, including vegetation clearance and site preparation near paddy-field and waterlogged areas. These activities form part of the wider effort to prepare and maintain suitable spaces for greening. The work illustrates the complementary roles of the partners: the Faculty’s nursery supports the preparation and provision of saplings, while local government teams undertake field activities in the community. Collaboration
with the Jaffna Healthy City Project, IMPACT Association, Green Layer Organization and Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha helps connect institutional environmental education with practical local action.

A new request: 300 Pungai trees

In a letter dated 26 October 2026, the Office of the Medical Officer of Health, Municipal Council, Jaffna, requested 300 Pungai trees from the Tree Nursery at the Faculty of Medicine Wellbeing Centre. The letter states that, following a decision at the Health Committee meeting, Jaffna Municipal Council plans to plant 300 Pungai trees within the Municipal Council area under the Healthy City project. This request marks a potential next step for the nursery and its community-facing role. The letter is a request for saplings; it does not by itself confirm that the 300 trees have already
been handed over or planted. Once arrangements are confirmed, the proposed distribution could extend the initiative’s reach into additional public spaces across Jaffna.

Why this matters for planetary health

Tree planting and the care of young trees can support shade, biodiversity, environmental awareness and healthier public spaces. The project also offers a practical way to connect student wellbeing with planetary health, encouraging shared responsibility for the local environment. The initiative aligns with the Faculty of Medicine’s broader environmental work, including institutional greening, roadside planting, urban mini-forests and restoration of environmentally important spaces. It demonstrates how a university, local government and community partners can work together to translate planetary-health principles into visible action.

Growing a lasting green legacy

Long-term impact will depend not only on distributing saplings but also on choosing appropriate planting sites and ensuring watering, protection and monitoring after planting. Continued coordination among the Students’ Wellbeing Centre, Jaffna Municipal Council, Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha and other partners will be important to help the trees survive and mature. From a faculty nursery to community planting plans, the initiative reflects a simple but important idea: a greener Jaffna is built through sustained cooperation, careful follow-up and the shared care of trees.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna Institutional context and field photographs: Students’ Wellbeing Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna. The Municipal Council request is dated 26 October 2026.

Supporting Documents

The following documents provide supporting evidence for the Green Jaffna and Green Nallur activities. The earlier letter from Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha is retained from the original article, followed by the new request dated 26 October 2026 from the Office of the Medical Officer of Health, Municipal Council, Jaffna.

1. Previous supporting letter from Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha

Supporting Document

A supporting letter from Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha is included below as the supporting document for the field activity.