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ITAK alleges President's address to COP26 hypocritical

04 Nov 2021

  • Cites excessive sand mining, ecosystem destruction, dried up wells, deforestation, food crisis
By Pamodi Waravita Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said on Wednesday (3) that it is ironic that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is speaking at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, even though he is unable to prevent a large-scale ecocide taking place within the country. “The President has been seen at the Climate Change forum in Scotland, which is ironic as there are allegations against the President and the Environment Ministry for committing ecocide in the country. There is massive deforestation taking place in the country. Sand miners are wreaking havoc, destroying the ecosystem,” said Rasamanickam, addressing a press conference. “Our wells are drying up because of the excessive mining of sand. A man who is alleged to commit ecocide and not take action against deforestation and sand mining is preaching about climate change. This is the state of this country today. We must realise the grave consequences that we will have to face, thanks to an incapable President,” he said. He added that the President has also boasted about how Sri Lanka is the first country to switch to 100% organic agriculture while Sri Lanka is currently facing a massive food crisis. President Rajapaksa has stated that the ban on the importation of chemical fertiliser has paved the way for innovation and investment in organic agriculture, and that Sri Lanka’s progressive agenda on the environment is being implemented despite the resource constraints it faces as a developing nation. Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera, speaking at the same conference, has praised the Government’s efforts to implement organic agriculture. However, over the past few years, allegations of ecocide have been increasing in the country. Rasamanickam has alleged on various occasions about illegal sand mining that is especially taking place in the Batticaloa District, as a result harming the environment and creating long-term consequences.


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