'Protective environment vital for development'

Hemanthi GURUGE

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that Development would be lost if no action was taken to protect the environment.

He was addressing the launching ceremony of Environment Resources Profile and Strategic Environment Assessment in the Gampaha district held at the Central Environmental Authority(CEA) yesterday.

The Minister said development does not only mean economic development. Therefore environment protection should be added to development. Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said a number of environmental problems were created due to urbanization. Subsequently, there will be a conflict between the public and industrial owners. But development should take place protecting the environment. Therefore the solution would be to conduct industries under a systematic plan, the Minister added.

The CEA faced difficulties in protecting the environment and carrying out development. Environment protection and development are contradictory pathways.

The Environment Resource profile in Gampaha included social geography, wildlife, water and forests. Information will be useful for many people and institutes including environmentalist, Scientist, Development Strategy planners and Public institutes to make a decision. Datas for some districts have been collected by the CEA. A CD with regard to datas for rest of the districts will be launched later.