About Us
Our Vision
The Lanka Environment Fund is a registered not-for-profit organization which was established in June 2019 in Sri Lanka. The aim of the Fund is to support existing conservation and environmental initiatives with their work and to foster a sense of stewardship of the island’s exceptional beauty and natural value. The cornerstone of our mission is the empowerment of local communities, backed up by investment in the local environment.
Our Way
We strongly believe that supporting local environmental and conservation groups can make a positive impact and bring about long-lasting change.
To do so, we raise money from individuals all over the world, as well as from local businesses that care and see the value of protecting Sri Lanka’s natural resources. We ensure funds are directed appropriately and are dedicated to supporting the most effective conservation projects and campaigns carried out by local organizations, experts, individuals and initiatives already established in the Island.
The Lanka Environment Fund also seeks to build bridges between international and local communities and between NGOs, businesses and public entities, to develop networks that can play a key role in decision making and policies.
Our people
We are a group of local and international friends of Sri Lanka, driven by the confidence that the island has an incredible opportunity to evolve in a positive way and conserve the Island’s unique geographical history and environmental heritage while maintaining it’s appeal as a global tourist destination.
LOCAL TEAM
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Vinod Malwatte
Executive Director
A conservationist from Sri Lanka, Vinod has worked in several roles within the environmental field. He co-founded the Parrotfish Collective, a group of conservation communicators; operated as the project coordinator for the Rewilding for Tourism (RFT) project under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA); as the co-founding project manager for Waste Less Arugam Bay (WLAB); and as project manager for the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka. Vinod has a masters degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Environment with a focus in community engagement and sustainability planning management and an undergraduate degree in Geography and Anthropology from Macalester College, USA.
In addition to his work with the LEF, Vinod is currently Co-Chair of the Mangrove Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods (MCSL) Forum which comprises of several local conservation organizations working to conserve mangrove ecosystems, sits on the Policy and Advocacy committees of the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), Sri Lanka and is on the judging panel for the Best Sustainability Projects awarded by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) at their annual Corporate Citizen Awards.
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Hafsa Jamel
Programme Manager
Hafsa is a marine conservationist from Sri Lanka pursuing a career in research. They have an academic background in International Development from the University of London and professional experience working in gender and fisheries, economic empowerment, and disaster risk reduction and reconciliation. Hafsa has a keen interest in intersectional environmentalism and hopes to follow a path in understanding resilient communities in the face of climate change.
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Mehak Sangani
Mangrove Officer
Mehak is a conservationist from Sri Lanka currently pursuing an International Masters in Marine Biology with a specialisation in Applied Marine Ecology and Conservation. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology from New York University Abu Dhabi, Mehak brings a strong academic foundation to her work.
She has gained diverse professional research experience in the field of conservation, including roles as Extern at the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, Project Assistant at Environment Foundation Ltd, Strategy Analysis Extern at Greenpeace USA. Her research experience includes studying vision of deep sea cephalopods, coral spawning and larval growth, and genetic and phenotypic divergence in mangrove species.
Passionate about the environment, Mehak is dedicated to making a positive impact on the conservation and sustainable management of Sri Lanka’s ecosystems.
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Leah Marikkar
Ambassador
Leah is a leading creative communications specialist delivering cutting-edge campaigns, cultural collaborations and experiences, with a background in journalism and media/publishing. Driving innovative campaigns and high revenue targets for award-winning agencies and brands such as Adidas, MasterCard, MTV Europe Music Awards, Google, Honda Power of Dreams, Virgin, Greenpeace, Durex and Diageo across Sri Lanka, London and Dubai. She has served as the only Sri Lankan juror for the London International Awards (Las Vegas) while leading the charge at Dentsu Communications Sri Lanka since 2011. Following that she was Director of Brand for Vogue Arabia and WIRED M.E. Today she runs Sri Lanka’s first local music management and talent agency, Boom.
Key environment fundraisers (6 years) for Greenpeace at Glastonbury creating experiences highlighting key annual campaigns and driving donations and sign ups.
Core lobby group against Sampur coal power plant, including media education workshops.
John Keells Group conceptualised and launched their countrywide Plasticcycle Initiative including extensions into RDA and Govt depts.
Leah believes in having a greater purpose with everything she does, with a focus on making a positive impact on her island nation Sri Lanka and has worked on critical sustainability mandates for local and global corporate and philanthropic initiatives.
