The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, countless millions of years after Earth’s formation, humankind appeared, and within roughly 250 years has consumed over 50% of vast terrestrial resources. Peoples and governments worldwide now confront existential questions about Earth’s future—climate disruptions, sea-level rise, frequent natural disasters, carbon emissions heating the planet, air pollution challenging all life systems, and plastics and polythene dumped into oceans at unconscionable levels. We live on a small island especially exposed to these crises.

¶ 02 As a State and as a Government in power, we bear an immense responsibility to shield our country from these global environmental destructions. The Ministry of Environment carries a heavier social duty than any other, holding the future of humanity itself in its hands. In the past, there was no integrated plan; those without scientific understanding led the Ministry. We have now, for the first time in history, consolidated all environmental institutional systems under one Ministry: the Forest Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department, National Zoological Gardens Department, and National Botanic Gardens Department are now under one roof. Additionally, the Central Environmental Authority, Marine Environment Protection Authority, and Water Resources Board, as statutory bodies, are together; plus the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, GSMB Technical Services (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka Climate Fund (Pvt) Ltd, and State Timber Corporation. Five other public-funded institutions also come under this umbrella.

¶ 03 Environmentalists long suffered because decisions were not taken within a single institution, endangering ecosystems and fauna. For the first time we have addressed this by creating ten committees that bring together environmentalists, field experts, and activists. The Government’s and the Ministry’s expectations align with those of environmentalists: to protect Sri Lanka’s ecosystems for future generations. Going forward, for all development projects requiring environmental clearance, the Ministry’s officers will undertake site inspections before Environmental Impact Assessments are finalized—so that guidance can be given in advance on whether land is suitable for development, requires protection, or should be used differently. We are moving from ad hoc, reactive interventions to a planned regime, enabling the Ministry to adopt strong policy decisions.

¶ 04 Forests are our most critical ecosystem. Environmentalists say only about 16% of land remains forested, though Ministry data suggests 29%. We must conduct a new survey to establish the true figure; funds have been allocated to the Forest Department for this in the current Budget. In Gampaha District, only 1.6% of land area is forest; in Colombo, 3%. Our air is deteriorating. We must rapidly reverse this. On the basis of these policy decisions, the Ministry and we, as members of the Advisory Committee, stand ready to work. Thank you.