President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today insisted that environment protection and development must go hand in hand.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Surakimu Ganga’ program, the President said that he has taken steps to protect the environment.

However, he said that environment protection policies cannot be implemented separately while isolating development policies.

The President said that a livable environment is needed for the people to live in.

Rajapaksa said that he is being attacked on social media these days saying he is destroying the environment. 

He said that it is the people in Colombo who often raise concerns over the environment.

However, he said that they must also ensure their part is done to protect the environment.

The President recalled that when he was the Defence Secretary he and then then Government took steps to ensure Colombo was a clean and beautiful city.

He recalled the development work undertaken in Colombo, the facelift given to some parks and other steps taken to make Colombo one of the cleanest and environmentally friendly cities in the region. (Easwaran Rutnam)