President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his address to the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations Organization made a number of points regarding the steps taken by the Government with regard to environmental protection in our country, states Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe in a special press release.
The release added: "The steps taken by the President in recent times with a special focus on the environmental protection of our country are the commendable taken for the country's future well-being as well as on the health of the planet, as he himself mentioned. I think the health of the planet is a very timely term. It is no secret that the Earth is now getting sick due to human activities.
"As man-made disasters wreak havoc on the planet the entire animal and plant community including man will have to suffer the consequences. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic is currently crippling economic, social and human relations around the world.
"The President addressing the United Nations General Assembly and as well as the Energy Summit mentioned the benefits to world some programme carried out by the Government for the environmental protection.
"Sri Lanka is a country with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Our country is also a country that works for the conservation of the environment by implementing the recommendations of the United Nations as well as the Commonwealth Charter.
"Upgrading Sri Lanka's total electricity needs through renewable energy to 70 percent, deciding not to rebuild coal power plants that adding the highest percentage of carbon to the atmosphere, achieving 100 percent of Sri Lanka's total electricity supply, installing 7,000 solar-powered projects, Reducing fossil fuel use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, opening largest win power plant in our country, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to promote the use of clear fuels, as well as to give priority to electric cars in the importation of vehicles are some of the measures taken by the present Government. "The Government also focuses on nitrogen pollution management by 2030. In particular, the Government have been taken steps to mitigate the discharge of urban wastewater into wetlands as well as wetlands and to conserve mangrove systems.
Sri Lanka has also contributed to the global effort to reduce pollution by adopting the Colombo Charter on Nitrogen Waste Management.
"We have launched a management on single use polythene and plastics products in our country. Our country has made great strides under the program to manage the use of polythene and plastic products. Accordingly, the production of certain plastic products has dropped significantly. "The Husma Dena Thuru Programme launched to uplift the tree population in our country, the identification of sensitive ecological zones, and the conservation of Muthurajawela, the amendment of the National Environment Act and the formulation of a permanent national environmental policy are some of the major measures adopted by Sri Lanka to prtect the environment.
"The support received from Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Government in this regard is immense. Therefore, in his address to the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President said that the programmes initiated for the conservation of the environment in our country should be appreciated by all.
"The programmes implemented on his commitment with a vision for the environmental security of Sri Lanka should be appreciated by all."
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