Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that climate change will play an enormous role in shaping ecosystems and livelihoods in Sri Lanka in the decades to come and it is essential to build awareness and resilience to mitigate the adverse effects on ecosystem.
He was participating in a meeting with International Center for Research and Agroforestry (ICRAF) Director General Dr. Tony Simons at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday. “For centuries, Sri Lanka has skillfully harnessed the power of nature through traditional agroforestry practices, and it can set an example by continuing to place a high priority on addressing environmental, food security and social development issues,” Dr. Simons said.
The ICRAF Director General thanked the Prime Minister for the confidence, trust and status bestowed on the ICRAF by the Sri Lankan Government in hosting the ICRAF in Sri Lanka. “We are excited at the prospect of supporting the Government of Sri Lanka in a new phase of renewal and green infrastructure development, leveraging on the human, natural and social capital that this beautiful country has in abundance,” he said.
ICRAF Interim Country Director Laksiri Abeysekera has experience of developing smallholder farmer-focused innovations and technologies that would be offered to adapt to Sri Lankan needs to support livelihoods and improve ecosystem resilience in the face of various kinds of challenges. A low-hanging fruit is improving farmer-centred soil diagnostics in this regard, he said.
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