A committee report containing recommendations for the establishment of a new Central Highlands Environmental Authority (CHEA) has been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for review.
The proposed legislation, to be introduced as the Central Highlands Environmental Authority Act, is aimed at protecting ecologically sensitive high-altitude regions and the Government expects to finalise the legislation and enact it by next year, according to an official at the President’s Media Division (PMD).
“A committee comprising representatives from all relevant institutions was appointed to study the situation,” a PMD official told The Sunday Morning, adding that the recommendations and proposals formulated by the committee had now been submitted to the Cabinet.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also spoke about the proposed legislation while attending a ceremony on Friday (28) to hand over houses under the Navodayapuram housing scheme, built for families who had lost their homes in the 2023 landslide at Kabaragala Mountain in Poonagala, Bandarawela.
Describing the central highlands as the heart of Sri Lanka, the President warned that the region was being destroyed before the country’s eyes. He said that the area was witnessing mountain collapses, the drying up of natural springs, and the silting up of rivers and canals.
The President stressed that once the relevant legislation was passed, the proposed authority would be vested with the powers necessary to protect the ecosystem.
“Under this programme, some people may lose their homes. Areas currently used as agricultural land may have to be converted into forests. But this has to be done. Otherwise, we will face a major disaster. The powers of institutions will be redistributed, positions may shift from one institution to another, and job titles may change. No one needs to panic,” the President said.
The proposed authority will function along similar lines to the Mahaweli Authority, while its establishment is being supported by a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Its jurisdiction will primarily cover ecologically sensitive areas situated above 5,000 feet.
The PMD official said that the new authority would have extensive powers over forest conservation and land-use decisions within its designated areas, including the authority to halt unauthorised development and other activities that threaten environmentally sensitive areas.
The move to establish a dedicated authority has gained urgency amid growing concerns over climate change and the increasing risk of natural disasters. The official cited recent devastating landslides in mountainous countries such as Nepal as a warning of the potential risks facing Sri Lanka.
President Dissanayake first signalled plans for new legislation during the 2026 Budget debate last year, saying that inhabited areas located more than 5,000 feet above sea level should be protected through systematic reforestation and planned land use. He proposed a blanket ban on constructions in these areas.
However, environmentalists and experts have raised concerns over the proposed 5,000-foot threshold, arguing that a blanket restriction based solely on elevation lacks a scientific basis. Instead, they urged the Government to rely on the data-driven National Physical Planning Policy and Plan 2050 when determining areas requiring environmental protection.
They noted that much of Nuwara Eliya, including the city itself, lay at or above the 5,000-foot elevation mark, warning that rigidly applying such a restriction or relocating established communities could have far-reaching consequences for the tea industry, local businesses, tourism, and livelihoods in the region.
A committee comprising representatives of the relevant State institutions was subsequently appointed to examine the proposal and formulate recommendations.
The committee included officials from the National Building Research Institute (NBRI), Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Urban Development Authority (UDA), and National Physical Planning Department (NPPD), among other institutions.