We won’t subjugate environment - President

Rasika Somarathna

President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted yesterday that he would never subjugate environment in the name of ‘development’.

The President stressed he would tread on the path set by the ancestors who established a balanced attitude towards environment and development to ensure healthy co-existence between man and environment.

Addressing the gathering at the Fourth President’s Environmental Awards Ceremony to felicitate medal winning Environmental Pioneers at Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa said “Our forefathers lived very closely with environment.”

“They never harmed plants, animals or water. They knew the value of maintaining a healthy bond between the man and environment. As a result the environment too provided their requirements.”

“Later some development instruments adopted globally changed the balance between the man and nature resulting in adverse effects. Protecting animals and trees is part of development.”

“However, certain elements out of greed even planned to sell the Sinharaja forest which was later prevented.”

“That is why green villages are coming up. This is why we are building eco friendly airports like Mattala. We have been very sensitive to protecting nature. That is why we changed the location from Veeravila to Mattala,” the President said.

He also noted that by ending terrorism, Sri Lanka had also eliminated the biggest threat to its environment, in addition to many others.

“They destroyed, trees, animals and water resources. in addition to human beings. They also dug up earth mounds, destroyed dams, killed animals with utter disregard to its impact on nature for over three decades,” he added.

The President observed that he hoped that the country’s future flag bearers would take examples from all these and would usher in an environmentally friendly generation.

During the ceremony 90 children from 27 schools were presented medals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to protecting nature.

Environmental and Natural Resources Minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka said the objective of the creation of a National Environmental Pioneer Brigade is to instill in the hearts, mind and soul of the schoolchildren the importance of environment and sensitiveness to environment.