The Hon. Asoka Sapumal Ranwala

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, when we consider the Head of Expenditure of the Ministry of Environment, its mandate distinguishes it from others. While other Ministries build and push development forward, the Environment Ministry bears a different charge: to safeguard vast endowments of natural wealth and manage them responsibly for human needs while bequeathing them to future generations. To discharge this, we must clearly understand the institutions under the Ministry.

¶ 02 Previously, administrations shuffled environmental subjects across different Ministries and dispersed agencies, causing a fragmented journey. With collective Cabinet consensus, aligned with the President’s vision, we have consolidated the 12 institutions relevant to environment under one canopy within the Environment Ministry. This has empowered environmentalists—moving from dispersed struggles to targeted protection and management with unified purpose.

¶ 03 Globally, environmental systems are tightly interlinked. While we may define Sri Lanka’s systems for management and comprehension, it is complex. Even so, there are at least eight key unique factors that demand attention. Briefly:

¶ 04 - Sri Lanka is anchored by a central highland massif; wherever we live, we should sense the great mountain ridge above us. - Rainfall arrives in three regimes: Northeast monsoon on one flank of the hills; Southwest monsoon on the other for another four months; and inter-monsoonal thundershowers twice a year delivering rains to both sides. - From the central hills, rainfall feeds 103 rivers and 40 major tributaries that flow across the land. Rain percolates into the ground, building aquifers that slowly release water, like a sponge, toward coastal plains, ensuring perennial baseflow to the sea. - When such massive surface and subsurface flows move seaward, the coastal rim faces risk. Our living coral reefs serve as a protective ring. However, rising sea temperatures and rapid thermal variability are stressing these reefs.

¶ 05 Within short horizontal distances in Sri Lanka, temperature drops dramatically with elevation—for instance, from Welimada to Beragala to Haputale—leading to pronounced changes kilometer by kilometer, meter by meter, even centimeter by centimeter. Consequently: - We find sharp turnover in fauna—ground-dwellers, fliers, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians—and plant community density gradients across tiny scales. - Our country straddles roughly equal day-night length—12 hours light, 12 hours dark—supporting a vibrant, living mosaic of ecosystems and high biodiversity.

¶ 06 Specialized communities of environmentalists have formed around these unique systems, establishing indicators and practices. Under the leadership of Minister Dr. Dammika and Deputy Minister Dr. Anton Jayakody, we have brought these environmentalists together within the Ministry to strengthen regulation and craft a shared, results-driven approach not seen for many years. We hope this will enable students, environmentalists, and advocates to accomplish vital tasks for conservation.

¶ 07 Hon. Deputy Chairperson

¶ 08 Your allotted time is over, Hon. Member. Please conclude.