Sea level rise will affect Lanka's marine ecosystem

Sri Lanka's marine ecosystem will be affected due to sea level rise around its coastal zone due to melting of the Himalayas. Therefore, the problem related to Himalaya is a regional phenomenon, Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawake said.

The Minister was expressing his views during bi-lateral discussions with Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the Prime Minister's Office on September 1 during a Regional Climate Change Conference in Katmandu. The theme was 'A vision for Addressing Climate Change Risks and Vulnerabilities in the Himalayas - From Katmandu to Copenhagen.' Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Nepal Thosapala Hewage and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Nepal joined in the discussion.

The Nepali Prime Minister said serious negative impacts have been occurred on the Nepalese nation due to global warming and melting of the glaciers of the Himalayas which has already started.

There is a problem of the glacier lake outburst due to melting of these glaciers that has been in existence over millions of years, he said.

There is also another threat of serious floods arising due to over flowing of the mighty rivers of Indu, Ganga, Sianyan, Muntushun and Brahmaputra etc., which originate from Himalayas, he said.

Scientists have warned that there is a high risk of transforming the Katmandu city which has the highest population density, in to a glacier lake as the city has been located in a plateau valley surrounded by a ring of mountains.

South Asian Himalayas are the source of the mighty rivers of the region that supply the world's most populated flood plains.

The Nepal Prime Minister said civilization of Nepal which existed over 10,000 years will be swept out due to drying up of all rivers once the glaciers, the main source of rivers in the country are melted.

Minister Ranawake explained that Sri Lanka is approaching a new era after defeating terrorism that lasted over 30 years.

The Minister also explained steps taken by the Sri Lankan Government, under the direction the President, to speed up the process of sustainable development of the country. A 10-year program titled Haritha Lanka has been planned spanning from 2010-2020 to secure sustainable development in the country without depending on an oil based economy, the Minister said. Minister Ranawake conveyed President Mahinda Rajapaksa's wishes to the Nepalian Prime Minister and extended an invitation to the Prime Minister on behalf of the President to visit Sri Lanka.

The Minister also had bi-lateral discussions with Nepalian Environment Minister Ganesh Sharma and Ministry Secretary.