24 August 2021 08:31 am Views - 506
The Environment Minister instructed the officials to formulate a National Environmental Policy (NEP) that would not change the policies of certain ministries even during government or ministerial change.
Addressing the media, Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the NEP was initiated for the first time in the country for the protection of the environment.
"By formulating the NEP, all parliamentarians, NGOs, environmental organizations that are interested in the environment, environmentalists, environmental journalists and other experts will be consulted to formulate a policy that will not change even the government or minister portfolios change.
He said the Minister had instructed him to draft and finalize the policy before the end of this year.
"If we formulate the NEP, based on the views of all stakeholders, no one can oppose to it. Many allege that there are environmental damage in obtaining the necessary resources for national development projects as well as in the implementation of development projects," Dr. Jasinghe said.
Therefore, it is our responsibility to implement development projects in a manner that does not harm the ecosystems and to plan for the future by managing the existing limited resources to obtain the necessary natural resources, he said.
Initiating the new policy, it is our responsibility to formulate a policy that is acceptable to all. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)