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Environment Act to be amended

06 Oct 2020

By Sarah Hannan  The Environment Act of Sri Lanka is to undergo amendments to increase fines and terms of imprisonment against those who violate the Act, Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera revealed. “The fines and terms of imprisonment will be increased by 10 times so as to curb the destruction that is caused to wildlife, forests, and the biodiversity of the country. We are looking to draft amendments to the existing Environment Act and hopefully, we will be able to propose it to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval, after which it would be sent to the Attorney General for approval and enactment,” Amaraweera stated. He further reiterated that speculation on social media about the amount of deforestation around the country within forest reserves was unfounded, and only about four such protected areas were subject to encroachment-related destruction. “Some social media outlets are spreading false propaganda that large-scale environmental damage is being done with the connivance of the Government, which is unfounded. In the past, politicians and powerful people were wronged and freed, but now the common people are being caught and punished for a small mistake. There is no room for that,” Amaraweera elaborated. He added that the law is to be enforced against the perpetrators regardless of their political affiliation or social position, similar to when a politician’s brother was arrested over the destruction that took place in the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary.


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