Environmental priorities and people’s livelihoods
Take maximum measures to protect developing Northern and Eastern coastlines
Projects must be implemented in harmony with environmental priorities and people’s livelihoods
President issues instructions at 2027 Pre-Budget Discussion of the Ministry of Environment
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to take the maximum possible measures to protect the rapidly developing Northern and Eastern coastlines.
The President also directed that the strongest possible legal action be taken to prevent unauthorized constructions after coastal development, noting that such activities cause significant damage to the coastline.
The President instructed that a steering committee be appointed to oversee and monitor these efforts.
The President made these remarks during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 budget allocations for the Ministry of Environment and to discuss proposals for the 2027 Budget.
The meeting also extensively reviewed the progress of projects implemented by the Ministry of Environment under the theme “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, A Sustainable Biosphere — A Green Life”, with a total budget allocation of Rs. 19,719 million, as well as the Ministry’s plans for 2027.
Accordingly, the meeting reviewed the progress of recurrent and capital expenditure incurred in 2026 by institutions under the Ministry of Environment, including the Central Environmental Authority, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Department of National Zoological Gardens, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Water Resources Board, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management and the Marine Environment Protection Authority.
The President also instructed that an expert committee be appointed to examine possible measures to prevent coastal erosion along the Oluvil coastline and to submit its report at the earliest opportunity.
The President paid particular attention to the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 Budget to mitigate the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. The President pointed out that the slow implementation of these projects poses a direct threat to human lives and stressed that delays are unacceptable when the necessary budgetary provisions have already been allocated.
Emphasizing the need to be sensitive to the lives and livelihoods of rural communities, President Dissanayake instructed officials to complete these projects within the stipulated time frame and to fully utilize this year’s budget allocations by carrying out the relevant construction and implementation activities before the end of the year.
The President emphasized that the location and extent of elephant fences should be determined based on the need to protect human lives rather than merely to demarcate wildlife zones.
The meeting also discussed the progress of several projects implemented under the “Clean Sri Lanka” program, including: Water source conservation projects; The Clean Coastline Project; The Coastal Recreation Parks Development Project; and A project to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities at the Sinharaja and Kanneliya forests.
Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi stated that the Ministry is currently formulating a high-quality carbon emissions policy for Sri Lanka, which is expected to create broader investment opportunities.
Secretary to the Ministry of Environment K.R. Uduwawala noted that inadequate planning in securing foreign-funded projects has resulted in multiple ministries receiving allocations for similar activities. He stated that a permanent committee will be established to coordinate future foreign-funded projects and ensure better planning and implementation.
Attention was also drawn to upgrading holiday bungalows managed by the Departments of Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation using modern technology to provide improved facilities for the public.
The meeting further focused on developing floriculture as an industry and enhancing the National Botanic Gardens to promote biodiversity conservation.
Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russel Aponsu and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Environment were also present at the discussion.