Green Lanka for sustainable development

The world is today facing multifaceted socio-economic and environmental global issues. The main reason is the use of limited natural resources to meet the ever-growing unlimited human needs by using modern technology, said Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

He was speaking on the theme "Global warming and Green economy" at the Chamber Auditorium on March 16.

He said with the guidance of the National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) a national action plan called Haritha (Green) Lanka Program was developed to achieve the set sustainable development goals addressing 10 trust areas.

This program is to be implemented from 2010-2016 by 35 Ministries and 68 Government institutions with 82 identified strategies and 375 actions under the 10 missions/trust areas.

Minister Ranawaka said: "Under these circumstances, how far can we go ahead?

"The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry has taken steps to move forward with the sustainable development of the country by establishing National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) with the leadership of the President and the membership of 23 Cabinet Ministers in charge of major economic development related subjects to ensure the environmental sustainability of development programs in the country.

"The way forward is to meet these global challenges: our endeavour is to implement this Haritha (Green) Lanka Program and the concept of Green Economy to ensure sustainable development among the different stakeholders of ever-growing production and consumption process."