President instructs CEA officials to swift action over Willpattu deforestation allegations

President Maithripa Sirisena instructed officials of Central Environmental Authority and the Environmental Council to constantly focus on the environmental damages and also explained the need of quick enforcement of laws against those who cause damages to the environment including recent controversy over deforestation of Wilpattu forest, President Media Unit said.

Expressing his views regarding the media reports published repeatedly about the Wilpattu reservations, the President said that it is the responsibility of the relevant institutions to look into the allegations immediately when they receive such information. The President also said that if there is any mistake, it should be corrected promptly, otherwise the correction should be done in those media reports.

The President said that any public servant should not fear to take decisions within the limits of National Environmental policy and said that as the President of the country he took the Ministry of Environment under his charge in order not to allow anyone to challenge any decisions taken regarding environment conservation.

He also pointed out the need of constant vigilance when issuing licenses by the Environmental Authority and its relevant agencies and said it is the responsibility of all relevant institutions not to allow any racketeer to destroy the environment.

During this meeting Prof. U.A. Chandrasena of the University of Kelaniya was selected as the new Chairman of the Environmental Council.

President Maithripala Sirisena emphasized the need for fulfilling the responsibilities and duties by everybody towards the environmental conservation for the future of the nation, and pointed out the importance of working within a national plan to achieve these goals.

He made these remarks addressing the 13th Session of the Environmental Council held at the auditorium of the Central Environmental Authority. The President instructed the officials to promptly formulate the relevant policy plan to actively and effectively implement the initiatives of the Environmental Council.