The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day”. As of 2003, it has been observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.
'Promoting mountain products' is the theme chosen for this year’s celebration of International Mountain Day. Globalization offers opportunities for mountain producers to market their high quality mountain products, such as coffee, cocoa, honey, herbs, spices and handicrafts at the national, regional and international levels. Though mountain agriculture cannot compete with the prices and volumes of lowland production, it can concentrate on high value, high quality products to boost local economies.
Tourism-related services such as skiing, climbing, cultural heritage or nature trails that allow visitors to discover unique biodiversity are also some of the offerings provided by mountains and mountain communities. If sustainably managed, tourism can provide an opportunity for development in mountain regions.
International Mountain Day 2015 provides an occasion to highlight how mountain communities are protecting biodiversity by producing a large variety of typical products and providing crucial goods and services to all of us.
Sri Lanka's Prabhawa environmental organization of Haputale, Sri Lanka, organized the first International Mountain Day in 2010 at the Haputale mountain peak, 5850. feet above mean sea level. Thereafter yearly they have been observing this day through mountain climbing and other various events.
This year too, the Prabhava Environmental organization together with the old and the young celebrated the International Mountain Day on Dec.06 at Haputale mountain peak. The march started from the Haputale Municipal Council and was headed by the former deputy Mayor Sampath Lamahewa, . Head of Prabha organization Asanka Prabath Ratnayake, Corporate Director Ranjith Kumar, President Gayashan Kumara.
Furthermore, religious events also took place at Sri Muthumariyamman Kovil., Prabhava Akasha Samagi Temple and Suranga Muni Kovil.
