Sri Lanka’s internationally acclaimed Pekoe Trail will soon become the stage for a major fundraising campaign titled 500K Steps.

Beginning on 2 July, a team of Sri Lankan endurance walkers will cover the full 323 kilometre trail in five consecutive days. The goal is to raise Rs. 20 million to support trail upgrades, sustainable tourism, and community-led development across the Central Highlands.

A journey with purpose

Funds raised through the 500K Steps campaign will go toward: Enhancing trail infrastructure, including signage, rest areas, and accessibility improvements; supporting community-based tourism businesses and youth hospitality training; protecting biodiversity through low-impact, environmentally conscious tourism; positioning Sri Lanka as a world-class destination for eco-conscious travellers; and driving long-term investment through global media attention and campaign storytelling.

Why it matters

The Pekoe Trail is Sri Lanka’s first long-distance walking route. It winds through 22 stages of the island’s Central Highlands, linking tea estates, forests, villages, and sacred sites across 323 km.

Since its launch, the trail has been featured by Time, National Geographic, The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveller, CNN Travel, and Lonely Planet, praised for its natural beauty and cultural depth. Time Magazine named it one of the World’s Greatest Places to Visit in 2023.

Despite this recognition, large sections of the trail still lack basic infrastructure and community access. The 500K Steps campaign is designed to bridge that gap- making the trail more inclusive, better protected, and a stronger driver of local livelihoods.

The walkers

Walking the entire trail are people with deep ties to enterprise, development, and conservation in Sri Lanka:

• Arj Samarakoon: Entrepreneur in technology, outsourcing, and tourism.
• Vinoth Kumar: Consultant in ERP and supply chain logistics, and board member of ShoreTree Holdings.
• Rajendran Divagaran: Veteran in sustainable sourcing and rural enterprise.
• Niro Cooke: Group Director at The Capital Maharaja Group, an advisor at Plus 94, and a board and advisory council member of CWEIC.
• Chandi Dharmaratne: Chief Growth Officer at ShoreTree Holdings- formerly Chief People Officer at Axiata Digital Labs and Chairperson of the Lankan Angel Network.
• Ayesh Buddhika: Experienced Pekoe Trail guide with over 200 guided trips.

They will be joined and supported by volunteers, local creatives, and conservation advocates throughout the journey.

“This walk is about reconnecting with the land, with people, and with purpose. We want to use each step to inspire belief in Sri Lanka’s potential and turn that belief into lasting, measurable outcomes,” said Samarakoon.

How you can be part of the change

The campaign is open to all. People are invited to: Donate through ‘www.500k-steps.cc’, with every rupee going toward trail improvement; pledge to walk a stage between 2-6 July; spread the word via social media using the hashtag ‘#500KSteps’; and partner as a brand, organisation, or sponsor.

What’s next?

The entire walk will be documented in real time with updates, video, and photography. After the event, the team will release: A YouTube documentary chronicling the journey; a cinematic short film celebrating the trail; a limited-edition hardback photography book; and a print magazine with interviews, maps, and trail features.