A nature loving president’s battle at home

Sri Lanka president Maithripala Sirisena (extreme right/back row) pictured with distinguished invitees at the 4th session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly which was held this month in Kenya. - (AFP)

Sri Lanka’s growing population and the ambitious construction projects of politicians have eaten into Sri Lanka’s forest reserves

President Maithripala Sirisena knows where to score points as a statesman. His efforts to preserve the environment back at home came in handy during his recent visit to Kenya where he was an invitee at the United Nations Environmental Assembly. Kenyan President Uhara Kenyatta commended Sirisena’s speech made at the assembly and also admired the initiatives taken by the Sri Lankan president as a leader who loves the environment.   
Sirisena has a nice programme on paper with regards to the protecting of the environment, but there are so many negative reports about deforestation and environment damage which challenge his efforts. The bottom line is that deforestation takes place in Sri Lanka with zero concern. 

"But hidden from all the ‘beauty’ is a statistic which would make environmentalists frown; the island’s forest cover which was at 49% in 1920 had dropped to 18% by 2017"

Sri Lanka’s growing population and the ambitious construction projects of politicians have eaten into Sri Lanka’s forest reserves. Much criticised is the illegal land clearing projects taking place inside Wilpattu National Park. There has also been considerable environmental damage done due to the Port City and Uma Oya Projects. 
Sirisena hails from Polonnaruwa and has shown through his actions that he is a man of nature. Early this year his brother Dudley Sirisena distributed plants under a project initiated by the President himself. This project was initiated to make the people love the environment. 
Despite President Sirisena’s efforts there is much destruction happening in the name of development. Records reveal that between the years 2000 and 2016 the rate of deforestation in Sri Lanka has taken place at an average of 1.46% per annum. The reasons for the environmental destruction have come in the form of massive development projects, large scale plantations and resettlement programmes. 

"Despite the destruction at home he promised the audience in Kenya that he would continue with the environment projects at home which will have access towards greenery"

The problem seems to be that Sri Lanka doesn’t have a clause in the Constitution that forces people to protect their environment. But there are countries which do. For example the Bhutanese Constitution states that the country has to ensure that it maintains its land under forest cover at 60% at any given time. The conservation of the environment is one of the four pillars of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Philosophy. 
Foreigners flock to Sri Lanka to take a look at the country’s 751 species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles. 21.7% of those mentioned here are endemic. The country also boasts of 3314 species of vascular plants of which 26.9% are endemic. 
Sri Lanka is rich in biodiversity and boasts of a sunny environment and also a chilly atmosphere as you move to the central part of the country. But hidden from all the ‘beauty’ is a statistic which would make environmentalists frown; the island’s forest cover which was at 49% in 1920 had dropped to 18% by 2017. 
The country’s environment also takes a beating from unscrupulous individuals who have scant respect for nature. Recently there were reports about certain areas in the historic Nilgala Medicinal Forest Reserve in the Galoya Valley National Park being set on fire. This often happens during the drought season. We have also read about the environmental damage caused due to the Moragahakanda and Kaluganga projects. Much of the damage has been caused due to land being cleared to make roads for the work of these projects. The lands cleared thus have been identified as virgin forests. 

"The reasons for the environmental destruction have come in the form of massive development projects, large scale plantations and resettlement programmes"

Sirisena’s battle to save the country’s environment has faced much obstacles. Despite the destruction at home he promised the audience in Kenya that he would continue with the environment projects at home which will have access towards greenery. 
Sirisena is well aware that whatever environment destruction that takes place in Sri Lanka will aid global warming. As the head of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, President Sirisena has taken a number of important decisions to protect the environment. What should be commended is that he came into praise for these efforts in Kenya during an event which was held under the theme ‘Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production’. But have our people understood the value of his efforts to protect Sri Lanka’s environment? 

"The bottom line is that deforestation takes place in Sri Lanka with zero concern"