‘Environment protection: Lanka can be a model to world’

Sri Lanka can be a model to the whole world in taking the lead in achieving sustainable development while protecting the country’s environment, said Western Provincial Council Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industries and Environmental Affairs Minister Udaya Gammanpila.

“The Green Walk” organized by the Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry together with the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka to focus public attention on climate change was held yesterday. The walk began at Kimbulawala Junction and proceed via the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Road to Falk Art Centre. Western Provincial Council Agriculture, Agrarian Development, Minor Irrigation, Industries and Environmental Affairs Minister Udaya Gammanpila, Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake and other invitees participating in the walk. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

He was addressing the Earth Day 2013 celebrations held at the Folk Art Centre (Janakala Kendraya) yesterday.

“Sri Lanka is the only country in the world which has recorded a per capita income of 2,000 US dollars while maintaining the per capita carbon emission of less than 1 MT. Sri Lanka is an eco -friendly country which is blessed with a forest cover of 31 percent,”Gammanpila said .

He also said Nature knows no boundaries. Though, there are several countries on Earth, nature does not consider any of them separately. If a country harms the environment, the whole world has to suffer by the negative outcome of it. So, the world should pay its utmost attention to environment protection.

Minister Gammanpila requested people to protect the environment through meditation. The Green Walk on Earth Day 2013 was held with the participation of school children, State, private sector employers, NGOs, Securtity Forces and Police personnel. Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary B.M.U.D.Basnayake also participated.