Bhagya Abeyratne

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{{Infobox person

| name = Bhagya Abeyratne

| image =

| birth_name =

| birth_place =

| nationality = Sri Lankan

| education = Rahula National School, Godagama

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

| known_for = Environmental activism

}}

Bhagya Abeyratne, also known as Bhagya Abeyrathna ({{Langx|si|භාග්‍යා අබේරත්න}}) is a Sri Lankan environmental activist. In March 2021, she received wide media attention for exposing the deforestation of the UNESCO world heritage site of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.{{Cite web|title=Police questions young environmental activist: Little Bhagya unmoved by undemocratic forces|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Police-questions-young-environmental-activist:-Little-Bhagya-unmoved-by-undemocratic-forces/131-208063|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.dailymirror.lk|language=English}}{{Cite web|author=Staff Writer|date=2021-03-17|title=Girl who made revelation on destruction taking place at SL's Sinharaja forest harassed by state - (Watch)|url=https://newshub.lk/en/2021/03/17/girl-who-made-revelation-on-destruction-taking-place-at-sls-sinharaja-forest-harassed-by-state-video/|website=NewsHub|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317044714/https://newshub.lk/en/2021/03/17/girl-who-made-revelation-on-destruction-taking-place-at-sls-sinharaja-forest-harassed-by-state-video/|archive-date=17 March 2021|access-date=15 July 2023}}

Education

Abeyratne completed her primary and secondary education at the Rahula National School in Godakawela. She completed her Advanced Level examinations in 2020.

Activism

Abeyratne took part in Lakshapathi, a reality television show aired on Sirasa TV and made revelations about the Sinharaja forest.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Forest officials visit Lakshapathi contestant over Sinharaja issue|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/03/16/forest-officials-visit-lakshapathi-contestant-over-sinharaja-issue/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}} She said that the environment surrounding the Sinharaja forest has been subjected to deforestation. Her comments regarding Sinharaja were scrutizined by the relevant authorities,{{Cite web|last=Weerasooriya|first=Sahan|title=Moving to Burqa Governance|url=http://island.lk/moving-to-burqa-governance/|access-date=2021-03-21|language=en-US}} with her residence being raided by police officers to record statements of her remarks.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-15|title=No EIA report for constructions in Sinharaja - CEA Chairman|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/03/15/no-eia-report-for-constructions-in-sinharaja-cea-chairman/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}} The government officials denied the allegations made by Abeyratne and also threatened her to not get involved without knowing the facts.

She became a talking point on social media and was compared to Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Several activists urged the government to stop the investigation and the harassment of Abeyratne.{{Cite web|title='Stop harassing Bhagya & question who destroy the environment' - Clergy & Activists|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/03/17/stop-harassing-bhagya-question-who-destroy-the-environment-clergy-activists/amp/|access-date=2021-03-20|website=www.newsfirst.lk|archive-date=2021-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509061642/https://www.newsfirst.lk/2021/03/17/stop-harassing-bhagya-question-who-destroy-the-environment-clergy-activists/amp/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=FMM condemns harassment of Bhagya Abeyratne, a young female who spoke against deforestation {{!}} Sri Lanka Brief|url=https://srilankabrief.org/fmm-condemns-harassment-of-bhagya-abeyratne-a-young-female-who-spoke-against-deforestation/|access-date=2021-03-20|language=en-US}}

References

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Sri Lankan women activists

Category:Sri Lankan women environmentalists

Category:Sri Lankan environmentalists