Long-term plans vital to overcome natural disasters - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa while pointing out that the cause for natural disasters in the country is the damage caused to the environment, emphasizes that long-term plans and not temporary arrangements were necessary to overcome such disasters.

The President was speaking at the Disaster Management Committee Meeting held at Temple Trees yesterday evening. President Rajapaksa pointed out that the reason for such disasters in the hill country was the non-implementation of environment laws by the responsible Local Government bodies. "Unlawful constructions and cultivations have resulted in natural disasters," the President said.

"Action will be taken to tighten environmental laws in the near future and the relevant officials will have to answer for such disasters, if they do not implement those laws, President Rajapaksa said.

The President explained that it was necessary for the authorities to get the knowledge and know-how of the scholars in Universities and similar institutions.

President Rajapaksa instructed the relevant officials to provide relief to about 497 families in the Nuwara Eliya District who have been affected by earth-slips and landslides.