Japanese Minister briefed on Govt’s waste management programme

COLOMBO: Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka met his Japanese Counterpart Wakabayashi Masatoshi and discussed matters of mutual interests during the ECO ASIA 2007 in Fukuoka, Japan on September 08.

Minister Ranawaka briefed Wakabayashi on the programmes, the Sri Lanka Government has embarked on Solid Waste Management and the Government’s approach to handle the Climate Change.

Ranawaka appreciated the Japanese Government’s assistance to manage solid waste in the country and solicited further assistance for the implementation of the Pilisaru the national solid waste management programme of the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry.

The discussions were focussed on the approach of the Government to face the climate change challenges, particularly adaptation and promotion of CDM activities in Sri Lanka.

Ranawaka invited the greater involvement of the Government of Japan in the CDM activities in Sri Lanka and extended the Government’s commitment for a post 2012 carbon mechanism proposed by the Japanese Government. The Minister during his return from Fukuoka met Japan’s peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yashushi Akashi at his office in Tokyo.

Ranawaka briefed the outcomes of the ECO ASIA 2007 and enlighten Akashi on the Government’s programmes for the environmental preservation in the country while pursuing the economic development efforts. Akashi showed his interest on the Government’s programme for handling the human-elephant conflict in the country.

Ranawaka also explained the JHU’s holistic approach to the LTTE problem and its position in the APRC process.

The 3D approach of the JHU, ie. De-militarisation, Democratisation and Development is being considered as the best option to the problem in the aftermath of the liberation of the East.

The unit of devolution should be decided by the public at a referendum as per the provisions of the Constitution.

Any process outside the Constitutional provisions is not encouraged by the Party.