Friday Jul 24, 2026
Friday Jul 24, 2026
Friday, 24 July 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to strengthen protection of the rapidly developing Northern and Eastern coastlines, ordering tougher legal action against unauthorised construction and closer oversight as part of the Government’s 2027 Budget preparations.
Speaking at the Environment Ministry’s 2027 pre-Budget discussion, the President instructed officials to take the maximum possible measures to protect the coastline and appoint a steering committee to monitor coastal development, warning that illegal construction after development causes significant environmental damage.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of projects funded under the Ministry’s 2026 Budget allocation of Rs. 19,719 million and discussed expenditure and proposals for 2027 across agencies including the Central Environmental Authority, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, Marine Environment Protection Authority and Water Resources Board.
The President also directed the appointment of an expert committee to recommend measures to address coastal erosion along the Oluvil coastline.
Reviewing progress on projects aimed at mitigating the human-elephant conflict, President Dissanayake said delays in implementation posed a direct threat to human lives despite funds having already been allocated. He instructed officials to complete the projects within the stipulated timeframe and fully utilise this year’s budget before year-end.
He also said the location and extent of elephant fences should be determined by the need to protect human lives rather than by the demarcation of wildlife zones.
The discussion also reviewed projects under the “Clean Sri Lanka” program, including water source conservation, the Clean Coastline Project, coastal recreation parks and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities at the Sinharaja and Kanneliya forests.
Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi said the Ministry was formulating a national carbon emissions policy that is expected to create wider investment opportunities.
Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala said overlapping foreign-funded projects across ministries reflected weaknesses in planning, adding that a permanent committee would be established to coordinate future externally funded projects and improve implementation.
