The Environment Pioneer Program (EPP) is a highly successful program conducted by the Central Environmental Authority under the guidance of Ministry of Environment, in collaboration of the Ministry of Education in the school education system in Sri Lanka. This program was started in 1984 with a selected group of school children in Maligawatta area. Today EPP is well established in the school education system in Sri Lanka and more than 6000 schools have already been involved with more than 100,000 environment pioneer members.

The Environment in which we live is degrading day by day. Those who should contribute to the process of preventing this should emerge from our society itself.

The main objective of this program is to produce group of people who can lead the society towards the protecting and conservation of the environment by providing guidance and leadership.

The Teachers who have been nominated by the Principle of the school as the Officer in Charge of the Pioneer Groups leads the groups in school level. Two teachers should be nominated for a pioneer group and one teacher should be a female teacher if female students are included.

The Officer in Charge of the group is responsible for the management of the group as given in the Teachers Guide. They are responsible for conducting programs and activities, encouraging and directing students, coordinating with CEA and District and Zonal Environment Pioneer Commissioners.

District, Zonal and Deputy Zonal commissioners are selected from the Officers in charges of the respective area with the consultation of Provincial and Zonal Directors. They are responsible for conducting the EPP in their respective area.

Each pioneer group consists of 25 students including a Leader, Deputy Leader and three Assistant Leaders selected from the group based on their performance. There can be many groups in one school.

The duties and responsibilities of all these officers are given in the guide book.

• Circular No. 2003/7 and 2008/11, signed by Secretary, Ministry of Education has been issued giving guidance in implement of the program in school system.
  
  
• Holding an Environment Pioneer badge is an eligibility for getting marks for the University entrance.
  
  
• National Steering Committee has been established under co-chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources and Secretary, Ministry of Education to provide all guidance for the implementation of the program.
  
  
  

  Environmental Song, Environmental Pledge & Environmental Theme accepted at National Level, introduced under EP program.

• Environment Pioneer is truthful, trustworthy and kind.
  
  
• He considers it his duty to protect the environment.
  
  
• He is a friend of everybody including the trees and plant life.
  
  
• He values the cleanliness of environment mentally as well as practically.
  
  
• He faces with patience the obstacles caused by others in protecting environment.
  
  
• He leads an extremely frugal and simple life.
  
  
• He is always happy and works for the good of others.
  
  
• He always gives priority to environmental conservation.