(UTV|COLOMBO) – President Maithripala Sirisena says that he had not taken many high positions entrenched with money and power and selected the Ministry of Environment to ensure the right to life of all the creatures including the human beings.
Even though the previous Presidents had taken the Ministry of Finance under their purview as soon as they came to power, he had taken steps to shed excessive powers of the Executive Presidency and devolved them to the Parliament, he pointed out.
The President made these remarks addressing the National Environmental Conference held at the Mannar Urban Council Ground, today (05).
President Sirisena, expressing his views further said that the damage caused to the environment is a threat to the survival of the human beings, and it is an essential task to protect the environment for the future survival of all creatures.
The President emphasized the importance of protecting the environment as a child, which ensure the right to life of the human beings and further said that no one will be allowed to destroy the environment.
The President said that all the public servants in a respective district will be liable for the environmental damage occur in that particular district and further requested to inform him if there is any political influence when enforcing the laws against environmental damage.
Today, Sri Lanka has adopted all the international conventions implemented to protect the environment, and important programmes have been implemented to achieve the sustainable development goals.
The President said that this kind of environment conferences are being held covering all the districts to solve the environmental issues at the district level and further emphasized the need of fulfilling respective duties by everyone in this regard.
The National Environmental Conference commenced after every person taking the environment pledge and the President initiated the programme to distribute saplings among the school children.
President Sirisena presented awards to the students who won the competitions held at the school level to mark the Environment Day.
Ministers Mahinda Samarasighe, Mahinda Amraweera, Rishad Bathiudeen,State Minister Sriyani Wijewickrama,Weerakumara Dissanayake,Deputy Minister Angajan Ramanathan, Kadar Masthan,Member of Parliament, Charles Nirmalanathan, and ministers of the area, Secretary to the President Udaya. R. Seneviratne, Secrertary of Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment Anura Dissanayake, District Secretary of Mannar and other State officials, and officers of the Security Forces were present in this event.
Meanwhile the inaugural ceremony of the National Ruk Ropana Day 2018 proceeded under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at Thampanakulam, Madupara, Mannar today (5).
The “Wana Ropa” National programme is conducted under the “Punarudaya” National Environmental Conservation programme conducted by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment under the instructions of the President with the objective to promote a broad Environmental Conservation Programme Island wide.
The objective of this program is to increase the forest cover of Sri Lanka to 32% and to take forward the country towards a blue green era.
The month of October is named as the National Ruk Ropana Month while empowering this project through the participation of the public and the contribution of the organizations.
The Department of Forest Conservation has conducted, distributing 2 million plants to Areas Island wide simultaneous to the National “Wana Ropa” program 2018.
Planting a Neem plant, the President inaugurated the National Wana Ropa Program 2018.
Simultaneously a program to plant saplings with the participation of the school children was held and the President engaged in a friendly conservation with the students.
Courtesy : pmdnews