BY Pamodi WaravitaThe Policy Division of the Ministry of Environment has taken steps to formulate the country’s first National Environmental Policy with the aim of ensuring the country’s environmental policies remain consistent despite regime changes, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated. In a statement to the press, Dr. Jasinghe assured that the National Environmental Policy will be drafted based on multi-party consultations, including with all MPs, environmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), experts, environmentalists, and journalists. “If we formulate a national environmental policy based on the views of all, then no one can oppose that policy. Many allege that environmental damage is caused when obtaining the necessary resources for national development projects as well as in the implementation of development projects. Various incidents in recent years have caused environmentalists to be concerned about the nature of development-related projects, including alleged incidents within the Sinharaja Rainforest.

Source: The Nation August 25, 2021 17:01 UTC