Sri Lanka prioritizes sustainable development with a strict policy against environmental degradation

Sustainable development is a priority for the government and development projects will be implemented adhering to a strict policy against environmental degradation, Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said.

President Sirisena said that not only Sri Lanka, but the whole world has to face the consequences of environmental pollution and further emphasized that the present government follows a very stern policy against the destruction of environment and depletion of natural resources.

Addressing a ceremony to launch “Sri Lanka NEXT – Blue Green Era” policy initiative, held at the BMICH, on Tuesday (18), the President emphasized that if any individual or institution take actions to harm the environment the Government will not hesitate to enforce the laws against the wrongdoers. He also said that as the Minister of Environment recently, he took strong decisions against several incidents of this type reported in various parts of the country.

The President said the state officials and the institutions responsible for the environmental conservation should act in a responsible manner, in this regard and said that he believed the relevant authorities will fulfill their respective responsibilities honorably by taking effective steps against the smugglers.

The year 2017 has been declared as a year of eradication of poverty in the country, the President said adding that all the initiatives in this regard will be implemented giving priority to the sustainable development, one of the main objectives of the Government.

“The Government has understood the importance of moving towards natural resources while resolving issues related to the energy field,” he added.

A series of programs for taking Sri Lanka towards a green era are being carried out from Oct. 17-19 at the BMICH. The Asia Pacific Conference on climate change simulations commenced yesterday with the participation of 500 foreign scientists.

International Research Seminar, film exhibition on environment, exhibition on environmental creations and productions, specialists’ dialog and a global youth society on climate change were held in parallel to this summit. Over 80 Presidential Awards were presented at the main ceremony held today.

The UN Resident Coordinator Una McCauley officially presented the Green Climate Fund’s assistance of USD 38.18 million to support dry zone communities to adapt to climate change to the President at the occasion.

The first copy of the publication on climate change, prepared by the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment was presented to the President.

Source : Colombo Page  http://www.colombopage.com/archive_16B/Oct18_1476800804CH.php

Sri Lanka strives to fight climate change

Sri Lanka, one of the countries hardest-hit by climate change, said on Wednesday it will prepare its third national communication report on the matter while implementing integrated solutions to environment issues.

Sri Lanka ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1993. Under the Convention, UN member states should provide a communication report consisting of information on climate change and Sri Lanka had presented its second report in 2012.

President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Environment has now obtained cabinet approval to implement the project for preparing the third communication report with assistance of the Global Environment Facility of the United Nations Development Programme.

Sri Lanka is taking measures to address environment issues in the country and the UN office in Colombo announced this week the commencement of a new USD 38.1 million project under the Green Climate Fund.

The country is to implement integrated solutions to water management which will achieve higher levels of food, livelihood and water security for communities in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka.

Green Climate Fund resources will therefore be invested in improving the community irrigation water infrastructure and associated agricultural practices, scaling-up decentralized drinking water systems and strengthening Early Warning, forecasting and water management systems to enhance the livelihood and resilience of smallholder farmers, particularly women, from climate related impacts.

The UNDP will work with a number of government institutions to support the government of Sri Lanka to deliver this project, which will be implemented from 2017 to 2024.

Source ;Oct. 19,2016  (Xinhua) :http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-10/19/c_135766819.htm