Top priority for environmental concerns - President

Chaminda PERERA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the Government, as a policy is giving top priority to environmental concerns. He said the Government has accepted the National Action Plan for Haritha Lanka program and Government policies with regard to the environment should be based on that.

The President made these comments at the inaugural meeting of the National Council for Sustainable Development at Temple Trees yesterday.

He said this plan should be effectively implemented in the town planning and other future development activities effectively. "The people should also be educated on this subject."

The national action plan for the Haritha Lanka program formulated through interactive process to integrate environmental concerns into the economic and social development in the country under 10 guidelines was presented to President Rajapaksa by Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka. .

The Action Plan has focused on 10 main areas including saving the fauna, flora ecosystems, meeting the challenges of climate change and greening the industries. Plantations Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Urban and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa were among those who participated in the inaugural Council meeting.