The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, though I wish to speak on all items before us today, given the number of speakers, I will focus on the environment.

¶ 02 Our submissions are practical proposals aimed at adding tangible value to our country. First, a National Ecosystem Assessment and valuation are essential so that all citizens understand the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services and their direct contribution to human survival and wellbeing.

¶ 03 We must avoid ad hoc, band-aid solutions. Given our geography, we must set clear conservation targets. As a political movement, the SJB and SJN champion mainstream green politics. Sri Lanka is one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots with high endemism and fragile ecosystems requiring sustainable conservation and development.

¶ 04 In the 2019 and 2024 presidential campaigns, we presented environmental manifestos, including national flagship projects: Project Elephant, Project Leopard, and Project Blue (marine). I table those documents for public use.

¶ 05 To strengthen our environment, we need a National Land Use Plan and a National Physical Plan, with broad, nonpartisan consensus. We must value biodiversity and its services, and implement good environmental management: reduce pollution; manage plastics; control soil erosion; and prohibit projects causing illegal deforestation. An integrated approach is needed, together with a transition to a circular economy to align conservation and development. Community-centric conservation is vital; create economic stakes for communities and stakeholders in wildlife and forest conservation.

¶ 06 Climate change is a global reality. We have acceded to multiple conventions—UNFCCC (1992), Kyoto (1997), Paris (2015), Montreal (1987), Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), Ramsar (1971), Stockholm POPs (2001), and Sendai DRR (2015). But how far have we met targets? As a bankrupt nation, we still have international opportunities—Carbon Funds and other green finance—to build environment-based industries, especially eco-tourism.

¶ 07 I agree with the Hon. Minister’s cultural remarks and hope they become reality. Why not operationalize ecotourism to draw in foreign exchange? Learn from India’s “Project Tiger” launched by Indira Gandhi in 1971/72: tiger conservation plus tiger tourism increased populations and boosted local economies.

¶ 08 We must address human-wildlife conflicts—especially human-elephant conflict—through evidence-based, consistent mitigation plans using new technologies, AI, and diversified cropping. Our conservation apparatus lacks adequate human and physical resources, and there is no proper insurance for life, property and crop losses. Plans change government to government and minister to minister. This must end.

¶ 09 Animal welfare must be central, reflecting a humane and cultured society. We must leverage COP and other summits, maximizing benefits for our sustainable development. We also believe in establishing an international environmental university in Sri Lanka via a public-private partnership, anchored on our national parks, making Sri Lanka a regional hub for environmental studies and research.

¶ 10 I also note the plight of long-serving volunteers in wildlife: stabilize their employment quickly. Similarly, thousands of multipurpose development officers, paid Rs. 22,500 monthly while guarding fences and supporting DWC operations, should be made permanent, as the Hon. Kins Nelson also highlighted.

¶ 11 Wildlife censuses must be systematic and multidisciplinary across agencies. While no census is perfect, scientific data are essential for policy. Government should support and integrate high-quality private initiatives (e.g., leopard monitoring in Wilpattu, Yala, etc.) into national frameworks to both improve science and expand eco-tourism for sorely needed foreign exchange.

¶ 12 I wished to speak more on religious and cultural affairs, but I will allow time for others. I reiterate the environmental manifesto and the three national projects. Let us, Government and Opposition, commit together to sustainable development and a stronger motherland.

¶ 13 Thank you.