Sri Lanka's Middle Path to Sustainable Development 'Mahinda Chintana

Sri Lanka’s Middle Path to Sustainable Development through ‘Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future’

Country Report of Sri Lanka United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development / (Rio +20) 20-22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT - SRI LANKA June 2012

I Sri Lanka’s Middle Path to Sustainable Development through ‘Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future’

Country Report of Sri Lanka United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development / (Rio +20) 20-22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2012 edition

ISBN :978-955-567-000-5

Prepared by : EML Consultants (Pvt) Ltd. No 68, Davidson Rd, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka

Printed by : Vistart Advertising (Pvt) Ltd

Published by : Ministry of Environment, 82, “Sampathpaya”, Rajamalwatta Road, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka

Funded by : United Nations Development Programme, Sri Lanka

Cover page : Ayoma Jayasinghe - Sanikna Art House

Sustainable development ensures the prosperity of the earth: the cover page describes the importance of interlinking the land and the ocean ecosystems for achieving sustainable development and conserving inland ecosystems as well as enriching the ocean and marine ecosystems.

ii SRI LANKA COUNTRY REPORT WRITING TEAM

Advisors Mr. B.M.U.D. Basnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and Planning Mr. Gamini Gamage, Addl. Secretary (Environment and Policy), Ministry of Environment Dr. R.D.S. Jayathunga, Director (Sustainable Development), Ministry of Environment Ms. Indu Weerasuri, Dy. Director General, Urban Development Authority Ms. R.H.M.P. Abeykoon, Dy. Director, (Sustainable Development), Ministry of Environment Dr. L.P. Batuwitage, Ex Addl. Secretary (Envt. and Policy), Advisor, Ministry of Environment Prof. W.L. Sumathipala, Ex Director (Climate Change), Advisor, Ministry of Environment

Lead Authors Mr. Thilak Hewawasam, Prof. Krishan Deheragoda, Mr. Kapila Munasinghe, Dr. Susi Perera, Mr. Palitha Muthukuda, Dr. T Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, Mr. T. Sooriyagoda, Mr. Rohantha Athukorala, Prof. Raja Gunawardena

Authors Mr. K.A.K. Jayatilake, Mr. S Senarathna, Dr. M Weerasooriya, Ms. P.D Pindeniya, Ms. M. N Wijeyeratne, Ms. D Kannangara, Mr. D Liyanapathirana

Editorial Review Team Mr. S.M. Sathicama, Proj. Manager, Switch-Asia Programme, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Anu Weerasuriya, Mr. S M Banduseela, Mr. Udage K. Sumanadasa

Lead Supports Ms. Navoma Karunarathne, Research Assistant, Ministry of Environment Mr. Asanka Wijewardane, Programme Assistant, Ministry of Environment

Special Assistance Ms. Ambika Tennakoon, Environment Management Officer, Ministry of Environment Ms. H.M.H.E. Herath, Research Assistant, Ministry of Environment Ms. Menik Pradeepa Ranweera, Programme Assistant, Ministry of Environment Ms. Chandima Mohottige, Programme Assistant, Ministry of Environment

Project Manager Ms. P. Dhammi Pindeniya, EML Consultants (Pvt) Ltd.

Coordinator Dr. Kalyani Dias, EML Consultants (Pvt) Ltd.

Secretariat Assistance H. K. Lakma Kushanthi, EML Consultants (Pvt) Ltd.

iii iv Message of H.E. the President of Sri Lanka

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20 – is a significant step in the global initiative for nature friendly progress. Following theRio Principles or Agenda 21 adopted at the Rio Earth Summit 1992 we have now moved to building stronger partnerships among countries and major stakeholder groups on the need for sustainable development.

Sri Lanka is fortunate to be associated with these new trends in protection of the environment and the natural assets of our planet, as we pursue the path of development in harmony with nature. In these tasks we draw much from our past that has established important traditions in the care and protection of nature and the environment.

The Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future, which is the development policy of our government, gives the highest priority to all aspects of environmental protection, caring for nature in the move towards sustainable development in all aspects of social and economic progress.

Our country is now in a better position to pursue these goals in the context of peace that has been restored and the new moves towards social and communal harmony, contributing to governance that is fair and just by the environment and nature.

Sri Lanka looks forward with much expectation to the deliberations of this Rio+20 Conference which will take forward our commitment towards global sustainable development together with all countries that recognize the importance of environmental protection and value the assets of nature.

I wish this Conference every success in the united quest for global sustainability, and trust it will show the path for further progress in this urgent need for a proper and balanced development that does not exploit nature to the point of destruction. May the cause of global sustainability be heard the world over.

Mahinda Rajapaksa The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

v Message of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June this year (2012), is indeed a landmark event on global sustainability in redirecting our common endeavors at harmonizing environment and development nationally, regionally and globally.

Sustainable Development is nothing new to Sri Lanka. It is deeply rooted in our society as a way of life and as an integral part of our economic pursuits. The unique hydraulic civilization which flourished for over 1500 years was the high watermark reached by our forefathers in applying ecological checks and balances to counter nature’s adverse interventions. Sustainable development is a process. There are mainly three conditions to be satisfied before the process is set in motion; namely, changes in thinking, deciding and executing. In thinking, we have to break away from old concepts, attitudes and approaches. Today, our understanding of human development is materialistic. We should now change the direction of our thinking to higher realms of moral and spiritual upliftment. Establishment of an institutional framework for sustainable development is the prime important strategy to achieve its goals and objectives. Sustainable institutions are indispensable providing sound organization, management and motivation to cope with countervailing process in different times. By removing counterproductive traits ingrained in the administrative machinery, a high degree of congruence in policies, programmes and implementation could be achieved to mitigate the damage caused to the environment through incorrect policy regimes. I find the Country Report of Sri Lanka to Rio+20 Conference “Sri Lanka’s Middle Path towards Sustainable Development, through ‘Mahinda Chinthana - Vision for the Future” is a remarkable and comprehensive document which described the national efforts that have been taken during the past 20 years to achieve the sustainable development goals and its’ achievements. It is my belief that the global community gather in Rio de Janeiro will find a concrete solution for multiple global crises and the sustainability of our mother-earth.

D.M. Jayarathna The Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka vi Foreword

Twenty years ago in 1992, when the international community gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development which is known as the “Earth Summit” expectations were raised and commitments made, anticipating change in how countries the worldover manage environmental issues together with economic development. That landmark event put forward the issue of sustainable development backed by the document of “Our Common Future”, the report of the World Commission of Environment and Development. This year, in 2012, when the global community will gather at the same place, Rio de Janeiro, for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to evaluate where we stand today and to decide the kind of future that we wish to have, it would be under significantly different circumstances than in 1992.

Despite the remarkable achievements made during the past twenty years on sustainable development, critical problems such as depletion of natural resources, imbalances of food security, poverty, energy, water and climate change are yet to be resolved, while new problems such as financial and economic crises are emerging globally. Negative impacts of these issues are spreading worldwide irrespective of their origins. In this context, none of the countries will be able to resolve these problems in isolation. Despite these external forces, Sri Lanka was able to make significant achievements in the path of sustainable development. Solving the internal conflict that prevailed in the North and the East for nearly 30 years paved the way to a significant extent to enable this journey towards sustainable development. High economic growth in the country is expected which will enable the government to improve the standard of living of all the communities, while conserving its natural resource base. The document, “Sri Lanka’s Middle Path towards Sustainable Development, through ‘Mahinda Chinthana - Vision for the Future” presents the achievements we made during the past twenty years playing our role as a member of the global community and indicates our way forward in our journey of sustainable development. Successful implementation of the strategies proposed needs mutual understanding of the global community on the need to have equitable access to knowledge and transfer of technology to achieve sustainable and equitable development of the country. The Rio+20 Conference is an unprecedented opportunity for the global community to reaffirm the Rio Principles and take collaborative decisions to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels through integrated approaches, incorporating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognising their inter-linkages, that are minimum requirements to ensure global sustainability. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the stakeholder ministries and other institutions and all other partners for playing their role and providing valuable information to develop this document.

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa M.P. Minister of Environment

vii Preface

Sri Lanka has a centuries-long tradition of caring for the environment and conserving its natural resources. Adopting simple lifestyles and adhering to a “middle path” in using nature’s resources, supported by religious beliefs, was ingrained among the people. In modern times, with the increasing trends of globalisation, unlimited profit-oriented marketing strategies, and an increasing human population, sustaining the traditional practices of caring for the environment poses a challenge to Sri Lanka. The present multiple global crises related to finance, economy, scarcity of natural resources, and the many facets of environmental damage provide ample evidence of the need to adhere to sustainable production and consumption leading to sustainable life styles. In today’s context, no country is able to address these problems in isolation. This document, Sri Lanka’s Middle Path towards Sustainable Development, through “Mahinda Chinthana – Vision for the Future”, is the country report prepared for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) to present the action taken by Sri Lanka during the past twenty years in moving towards achieving sustainable development, and to indicate our way forward. Since 1992, Sri Lanka has made significant progress by establishing new institutions, strengthening existing institutions, and promulgating environmental legislation in line with the Rio Principles. Inter-agency coordinating mechanisms were also developed to facilitate mainstreaming environmental concerns in the development process. Development of the National Action Plan for Haritha (Green) Lanka programme and establishment of the National Council for Sustainable Development with the highest political leadership to administer the programme, are two key examples. It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka, through its development programmes, has achieved social indicators comparable to that of developed countries, with a per-capita income that is many times lower. In the aftermath of a nearly 30-year long internal conflict, the government has two major challenges: (1) ensuring economic prosperity in the country and ensuring that the benefits filter down to all Sri Lankan people and (2) laying the foundation for long-term sustainable development to ensure the quality of life of the people, and that the environment is protected. These challenges must be met in the face of a growing population and a globally shrinking environmental space. Political commitment and positive decision-making by the global community at Rio+20 can provide valuable support to countries such as Sri Lanka in continuing to pursue a course of development with environmental care. I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the stakeholder ministries and other institutions for providing valuable information to prepare this document. The service rendered by the Sri Lanka National Report Writing Team is also noted with high appreciation.

B.M.U.D. Basnayake Secretary Ministry of Environment viii Acknowledgement

At the outset, our great appreciation is extended to Hon. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Environment for the leadership and constructive guidance provided for the preparation of Country Report of Sri Lanka “Sri Lanka’s Middle Path to Sustainable Development through Mahinda Chintana - Vision For the Future” for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Also, valuable directives and enormous encouragement given by Hon. A.R.M. Abdul Carder, Deputy Minister of Environment during the preparation process of this Report are greatly appreciated.

The productive guidance and invaluable inputs provided by Mr. B.M.U.D. Basnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mr. Gamini Gamage, Addl. Secretary (Environment and Policy) , Ministry of Environment to prepare this report are deeply appreciated. Our special gratitude to Dr. (Ms.) L.P. Batuwitage, former Addl. Secretary (Environment and Policy) / the Advisor to the Ministry of Environment and Prof. W.L. Sumathipala, former Director of Climate Change and Ozone Unit/Senior Technical Advisor on Climate Change and Ozone, for their numerous support and valuable comments provided throughout the preparation of the Country Report of Sri Lanka.

Further, our acknowledgement is extended to large number of stakeholders participated in the meetings and workshops representing Ministries, Departments, Intergovernmental Organisations, Civil Societies, Youth Groups and Academic Professionals to enrich the report providing their expertise, information and data. We offer our grateful appreciation to the EML Consultants who undertook the challenge of preparing this report within a period of short time.

We greatly appreciate and acknowledge the United Nationas Development Programme (UNDP) for the continuous encouragement and the financial assistance provided for the preparation of this report. In this connection, Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Assistant Country Director and Team Laeder Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of UNDP in Sri Lanka, is deeply acknowledged and appreciated his continuous support and enormous encouragement to develop this document in the framework of sustainable development.

Finally, it is recorded the fullest support given by the staff of the Sustainable Development Division in this tireless exercise who involve in the whole process of preparation of this document, especially Ms. Pathma Abeykoon, Mr. Asanka Wijewardana, Ms. Navoma Karunarathna, Ms. Hemamali Herath, Ms. Ambika Tennakoon, Ms. Pradeepa Ranaweera and Ms. Chandima Mohottige.

Dr. R.D.S. Jayathunga Director (Sustainable Development) Ministry of Environment

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Earth Summit, Rio+ 10 and Rio+ 20...... 1 1.2 Sri Lanka: Country Profile ...... 2 1.2.1 Sri Lanka’s Commitment to Sustainable Development and Sri Lanka National Report ...... 5 1.2.2 Sri Lanka National Report – Objectives and Structure: ...... 6 2 Overall Progress Achieved in Sustainable Development ...... 7 2.1 Innovative Strategies and Programmes ...... 7 2.1.1 Introduction ...... 7 2.1.2 Haritha (Green) Lanka Programme ...... 7 2.1.3 National Sustainable Development Strategy ...... 8 2.1.4 The National Green Reporting System ...... 9 2.2 Achieving Millennium Development Goals ...... 9 2.3 Regulatory, Institutional and Policy Measures to Ensure Sustainable Development ...... 12 2.4 Private Sector Initiatives in Sustainable Development ...... 13 2.5 Implementation of Multilateral and Bilateral Environment Agreements ...... 15 2.6 Natural Resource Management ...... 15 2.7 Climate Change and Disaster Management ...... 18 2.8 Sustainable Consumption and Production ...... 20 2.9 Food Security ...... 21 2.10 Waste Management ...... 22 2.11 Ensuring Good Governance ...... 23 2.12 Strengthening the Role of Major Groups ...... 24 3 Sector Specific Progress Achieved in Sustainable Development ...... 27 3.1 Energy ...... 27 3.2 Transport ...... 36 3.3 Water ...... 38 3.3.1 Sector Achievements ...... 39 3.3.2 Governance and Institutional Frameworks for Sustainable Water

Utilisation ...... 41 3.3.3 Water Supply & Sanitation ...... 41 3.4 Fisheries ...... 44 3.4.1 Sector Achievements ...... 44 3.5 Agriculture ...... 46 3.5.1 Ancient Wisdom of Sustainability...... 47 3.5.2 Sector Achievements ...... 47 3.5.3 Agriculture Renaissance and Water (The Lifeblood of Farming) ...... 51 3.6 Health ...... 51 3.6.1 Sector Overview ...... 51 3.6.2 Achievements Towards the Health Related Millennium Development Goals ...... 53 3.6.3 Other Achievements Within the Health Sector ...... 53 3.7 Industry and Trade ...... 56 3.7.1 Achievements ...... 57 3.8 Education and Technology ...... 59 3.8.1 Overview ...... 59 3.8.2 Role of National Education system ...... 60 3.8.3 Main Outcomes and Impacts Ensuring Sustainable Development ...... 61 3.8.4 New Education Act: ...... 61 3.8.5 Education participation rates ...... 61 3.8.6 Female Participation in Education and Gender Parity ...... 61 3.8.7 Education in the Estate Sector ...... 62 3.8.8 Provision of education to all deserving children ...... 62 3.8.9 Improvement in Achievement Levels at the Primary Stage ...... 62 3.8.10 Programmes in Schools on Peace and Sustainable Development: ...... 63 3.8.11 Upgrading Schools – Outcomes of the Initiatives ...... 63 3.8.12 Information Technology Education ...... 63 3.8.13 Impact of School Empowering Programmes ...... 63 3.8.14 Public Private Partnership (PPP) ...... 64 3.8.15 Student Development Programmes ...... 64 3.8.16 Technical Subjects for the G C E A/L ...... 64

3.8.17 Outcomes of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) System ...... 64 3.8.18 Higher Education ...... 64 3.9 Tourism ...... 65 3.9.1 Sector Overview ...... 65 3.9.2 Policy Framework Promoting Sustainable Tourism in Sri Lanka ...... 66 3.9.3 Sustainable Tourism, Sri Lanka Accomplishments...... 67 3.9.4 Training and Capacity Development in Sustainable Tourism Initiatives 69 3.9.5 Encouraging Environmental Friendly Concepts in the Hotel Industry ... 69 3.9.6 Other Programmes contributing to the Green Economy: ...... 70 3.10 Shelter and Urban Development...... 70 3.10.1 Sector Background ...... 70 3.10.2 Coordination Mechanism on Permanent Housing ...... 72 3.10.3 Rebuilding Community Infrastructure & Shelter - Post Tsunami ...... 72 3.10.4 Rebuilding Communities in North and East Sri Lanka ...... 73 3.10.5 Early Recovery Shelter for IDPs in Batticaloa ...... 73 3.10.6 Access to Basic Urban Services in Municipalities in Sri Lanka ...... 73 3.10.7 Support to Implement the Sri Lankan Urbanisation Framework ...... 73 3.10.8 Urban Governance Support ...... 74 3.10.9 The Sustainable Cities Programme (SCP) ...... 74 3.10.10 Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP) ...... 74 3.10.11 Climate Resilient Action Plans for Coastal Urban Areas ...... 74 3.10.12 Disaster Resilient City Development Strategies for Sri Lankan Cities ..... 75 3.10.13 Support to Conflict Affected People through Housing ...... 75 3.10.14 Shelter Recovery for Northern IDPs ...... 75 3.10.15 Pro-Poor Partnerships for Settlement Upgrading ...... 76 3.10.16 Support to a National Climate Change Policy for Sri Lanka ...... 76 3.10.17 Livelihood Assessment of Flood Prone Low Income Settlements in the City of Colombo ...... 76 3.10.18 Lunawa Lake Environment & community Development project ...... 76 3.10.19 Clean Settlement Project ...... 77 3.10.20 Sustainable township programme ...... 77 3.10.21 Colombo Metro Regional Plan (CMRP) ...... 77

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3.10.22 Colombo environment improvement project ...... 77 3.10.23 Beria Lake restoration project ...... 77 3.11 Forestry and Biodiversity ...... 77 3.11.1 Progress achieved from Rio+10 meeting to Rio+20 meeting - 10 year Period (2002 – 2011) ...... 79 3.11.2 Access to genetic Resources ...... 79 3.11.3 Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Diversity ...... 79 3.11.4 Impact on Biodiversity ...... 79 3.11.5 Sustainable Use and Benefit Sharing ...... 80 3.11.6 Biosafety ...... 80 3.11.7 Biodiversity Valuation and Economics of Biodiversity ...... 80 3.11.8 Policies, Strategies and Action Plans ...... 80 3.11.9 Monitoring and Coordination ...... 81 3.11.10 Institutional Aspects and Capacity Building ...... 81 3.11.11 Legal Framework on Biodiversity ...... 81 3.11.12 Education, Awareness and Training ...... 81 3.11.13 Assessment, Research and Technology Transfer ...... 81 3.11.14 Agriculture Biodiversity ...... 81 3.11.15 Implementation of Biodiversity Related Aspects of Rio Principles ...... 82 3.12 Concluding Remarks ...... 82 4 Challenges and Opportunities ...... 84 4.1 Background ...... 84 4.2 Emerging Challenges ...... 84 4.3 Sector Specific Issues and Challenges ...... 86 4.3.1 Energy ...... 86 4.3.2 Transport ...... 87 4.3.3 Water ...... 90 4.3.4 Water Supply and Sanitation ...... 91 4.3.5 Fisheries ...... 93 4.3.6 Agriculture ...... 94 4.3.7 Health ...... 97 4.3.8 Industry and trade Sector ...... 101

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4.3.9 Education ...... 102 4.3.10 Tourism ...... 103 4.3.11 Shelter and Urban Development ...... 105 4.3.12 Biodiversity...... 106 4.4 Promising Practices in Ensuring Sustainable Development ...... 108 4.5 Strong Political Commitments ...... 109 5 The Way Forward – Vision for the Future ...... 112 5.1 Background ...... 112 5.2 Framework for Sustainable Development ...... 112 5.3 Strategies and Programmes to Address Key Cross Sector Thematic Issues and Challenges ...... 115 5.4 Sector Specific Sustainable Development Pathway and Programmes of Action ...... 115 5.5 Key Initial Tasks of Way forward Strategy...... 117 5.5.1 Refinement of Haritha (Green) Lanka Programme...... 117 5.5.2 Refinement of Sri Lanka Strategy for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals ...... 117 5.5.3 Establishment of Multilateral Environmental Secretariat (MES) ...... 118 5.5.4 Establish Participatory Green Results Monitoring Mechanism ...... 118 5.6 Institutional Mechanism and Means of Implementation ...... 118

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 Sri Lanka’s Progress in Achieving MDGs ...... 11 Table 3.1 Energy Mix for Power Generation ...... 28 Table 3.2 Grid Capacity Additions in MW and Percentages of Power Generation Technologies (1996 – 2010) ...... 29 Table 3.3 The Annual Demand for Various Petroleum Products ...... 36 Table 4.1 Passenger Transportation in Sri Lanka and Fuel Usage ...... 88 Table 4.2 Increase in Transport Demand ...... 89

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1 Location Map ...... 3 Figure 2.1 Three Pillars of Food Security ...... 21 Figure 3.1 The Demand for Different Petroleum Products ...... 35 Figure 3.2 Health and Sanitation Management (Urban, Rural and Estate) ...... 55 Figure 4.1 Sri Lanka - an Ageing Society 1960, 2000 and 2050 ...... 97 Figure 4.2 Conceptual diagram of non modifiable and modifiable factors contributing to the health profile of Sri Lanka ...... 98 Figure 4.3 Investment for the development of forest cover Monitoring of Air quality and mitigation of human elephant conflict ...... 109 Figure 5.1 Sustainable Development - From Earth Summit 1992 to Rio+20 ...... 113 Figure 5.2 Sri Lanka’s Middle Path towards Sustainable Development through ‘Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future ...... 116

LIST OF BOXES

Box 1.1 Substratum and three pillars of sustainable development ...... 1 Box 1.2 Expectation of Rio+ 20 ...... 2 Box 1.3 The objectives of the Rio+ 20 Conference ...... 2 Box 1.4 Rio+ 20 - Themes ...... 3 Box 1.5 Sri Lanka Profile at a Glance ...... 4 Box 2.1 Novel and Innovative Initiatives towards sustainable development ...... 7 Box 2.2 Ten Missions of Haritha (Green) Lanka ...... 8 Box 2.3 Sri Lanka’s vision for Sustainable Development ...... 8 Box 2.4 National Green Reporting System ...... 10 Box 2.5 Benefits for engaging in Sustainability Reporting...... 10 Box 2.6 Private Sector Initiatives in Sustainable Development ...... 14 Box 2.7 Sri Lanka Carbon Fund Private Limited (SLCF) ...... 20 Box 3.1 Ensuring Energy Security ...... 27 Box 3.2 Increasing Indigenous Energy ...... 28 Box 3.3 Remarkable Achievements ...... 33 Box 3.4 Improving Energy Efficiency ...... 33 Box 3.5 Secure Water through Demand Responsive Approach, and Enhancement of Women’s and Children’s Welfare ...... 43 Box 3.6 Ancient Wisdom of Sustainability ...... 47 Box 3.7 Organic Tea...... 50 Box 3.8 Rural Sanitation Programme ...... 52 Box 3.9 Sustainability Reporting to Track Progress within the Industry Sector 57 Box 3.10 Garment Industries Promoting Sustainable Industry in Sri Lanka ...... 58 Box 3.11 Refreshingly Sri Lanka ...... 66 Box 3.12 Achievement in Goal 7 ...... 71 Box 3.13 Sri Lanka’s 4th RAMSAR Wetland Declared in 2011 ...... 80 Box 4.1 Key Achievements in fulfilling Rio + commitments ...... 84 Box 4.2 Direct outcomes and Impact of Mahinda Chintana Vision 2005 -2009 . 85 Box 4.3 Strong Political commitment for sustainable development ...... 110 Box 4.4 Environmental Priorities and Targets 2016 ...... 111

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Box 5.1 Sustainable Development through Mahinda Chintana ...... 112 Box 5.2 The Goal of Mahinda Chintana: ...... 114 Box 5.3 Sustainable Development Goals...... 117

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ABBREVIATIONS

ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants AirMAC Air Resource Management Centre BCAP Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan CBO Community Based Organization CEA Central Environmental Authority CEB Ceylon Electricity Board CFL Compact Fluorescent Lamps CI Conservation International CMA Colombo Metropolitan Area CMRP Colombo Metro Regional Plan DFAR Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources DOA Department of Agriculture DPRD Disaster Preparedness and Response Division DS Divisional Secretariat DSM Demand Side Management DWC Department of wildlife Conservation EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone ESCOs Energy Services Companies ESD Education for Sustainable Development ESDP Energy Services Delivery Project FMPP Fisheries Management and Protection Program GBCSL Green Building Council of Sri Lanka GDP Gross Domestic Product GER Gross Enrolment Rate GN Grama Niladari Division GOSL Government of Sri Lanka ICJ International Court of Justice ICT Information and Communications Technology IDP Internally Displaced People IPCC International Panel for Climate Change IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IUU Illegal Unreported and Unregulated MC Municipal Councils MCGs Mahinda Chinthana Goals MCUDP Metro Colombo Urban Development Project MDGs Millennium Development Goals MEAs Multilateral Environmental Agreements MoE Ministry of Environment MES Multilateral Environmental Secretariat MIC Ministry of Industry and Commerce MOA Ministry of Agriculture MOH Medical Officer of Health MOP Ministry of Plantation NAP National Action Programme NARA National Aquatic Resources Agency

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NCPC National Cleaner Production Centre NCSD National Council for Sustainable Development NEREC National Education Research and Evaluation Centre NGOs Non-Governmental Organization NGRS National Green Reporting System NRE New Renewable Energy NWSDB National Water Supply and Drainage Board OFC Other Field Crops PPP Public Private Partnership RCL Regional Centre for Lighting RERED Renewable Energy for Rural Economic Development SAARC South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation SACEP South Asian Co-operative Environment Programme SACOSAN South Asian Conference on Sanitation SAM Special Area Management SCCA 2 Sustainable Colombo Core Area SCP Sustainable Consumption and Production SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SLCF Sri Lanka Carbon Fund SLIC Sri Lanka Inventors Commission SLITHM Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management SLSSD Sri Lanka’s Strategy for Sustainable Development SLTDA Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority SMEs Small Medium Enterprises SPPA Standardized Power Purchase Agreement TMC Thousand Million Cubic ft. TRIPS Trade Related Aspect of Intellectual Properties TRU The Tsunami Rehabilitation Unit UGSP Urban Governance Support Project UN United Nations UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UN-HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements Programme USGBC US Green Building Council WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY developing countries to invest in human resources and promote gender equality, The year 2012 marks twenty years since since gaining independence in 1948. In The Earth Summit, held at Rio de Janeiro terms of the UN Human Development where 172 participating countries Index, Sri Lanka is among the best in reached the global agreement, Agenda 21 South Asia, with impressive literacy rates - Action Plan for Sustainable and good health indices. Development. The Government of Sri Lanka has strongly reaffirmed its Under the present political leadership, commitment to the Rio principles and the the country’s development context has implementation of Agenda 21. Sri Lanka changed dramatically in recent years. has already recognised that the The economy grew by 8.2% in 2010, and implementation of the outcome of the it is expected this trend to continue. The summit would bring lasting benefits to country’s per capita income has all, particularly by sustainable increased from US$1062 in 2004 to management of resources. The need for US$2839 in 2011. In view of this addressing social security issues, remarkable economic growth, Sri Lanka changing unsustainable patterns of has been classified as a middle-income production and consumption, addressing country. malnutrition and non-communicable The government of Sri Lanka has taken a disease related issues and protecting and number of innovative initiatives in managing the environment and natural paving the path towards sustainable resources, have been placed high in the development by setting up a very country’s development agenda as the key effective framework at national, regional factors that are vital to achieving and multilateral levels. Among the far- sustainable development. Implementing reaching achievements are the such programs has focused more on the establishments of the National Council welfare of women, youth, children and for Sustainable Development (NCSD) other vulnerable groups. chaired by His Excellency the President In keeping with the salient objectives of of Sri Lanka and formulating and the Rio + 20 Sustainable Development implementing the National Action Plan Summit, the Sri Lanka Country Report for Sustainable Development called aims at presenting Sri Lanka’s ‘Haritha (Green) Lanka’ launched in 2009 contribution to sustainable development. by the Ministry of Environment (MoE). It highlights the strategies of national The NCSD provides policy directions at sustainable development for the next five the highest policy-making level to ensure years. This report has been prepared in integration of environmental concerns line with objectives of the summit as an into the economic and social incentive to harness renewed political development processes throughout the commitments to sustainable country. In order to ensure that Sri development, to assess the progress and Lanka’s macro-economic policies are gaps in meeting the agreed commitments aligned with the imperative need to and to address new and emerging reach high economic growth with greater challenges. equity in a sustainable manner, whilst integrating the process of globalisation, The concept of sustainability has been in rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas practice in all aspects of development in affected by the calamities experienced in the country since historical times. Sri the recent past, Sri Lanka’s Strategy for Lanka has become one of the first xx

Sustainable Development Framework conserving energy in their daily (SLSSD) was approved in 2009. Among consumption. other national initiatives is the launching The transport sector is responsible for of a National Green Reporting System to 50% of the country’s total fossil fuel monitor the implementation of Haritha consumption and contributes 30% of the Lanka Programme (which sets green total urban air pollution in the country. guidelines for the industrial and service Since the transport sector has significant sectors). In terms of adopting favourable impact on the country’s sustainable policies to promote sustainable development, the government development, Sri Lanka has formulated introduced several environmental and carried out considerable number of friendly programmes to minimize policies that ensure environmental environmental ill effects in the transport safeguard in development. Among them sector. The establishment of the Air are the “Caring for Environment” 2003- Resource Management Centre (AirMAC), 2007 and the National Environmental a nationwide mandatory annual Policy of 2002. vehicular emission-testing programme, In pursuing an active role in global fuel quality improvement programmes environment partnerships, Sri Lanka has including removal of lead in petrol and ratified 36 Multilateral Environmental reducing sulphur in diesel are significant Agreements (MEAs) and has adopted milestones. The introduction of electric major declarations in the field of and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) environment that include the Stockholm vehicles for urban transport is seriously Declaration, the Nairobi Declaration, the pursued. Rio-Declaration and the Washington Sri Lanka is very concerned about its Declaration. Sri Lanka also recognises, water security. The country has been among others, the Charter of the United practicing sustainable water resource Nations, the Statute of the International management for over 2500 years. Court of Justice (ICJ) and the 1969 Vienna Although the per capita water supply in Convention on the Law of Treaties. The Sri Lanka is greater than that of many Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) accords other countries, Sri Lanka is cognizant to top priority for the implementation of the fact that the water security may not international legal instruments in the continue to prevail in the future. From country. National focal points the annual rainfall of 118,000 Thousand responsible for decision making and Million Cubic ft. (TMC), around 43,000 implementing respective treaties have TMC is usable. However, from this been designated for each international usable water the country has only been treaty ratified. using about15000 TMC, which amounts Energy generation through Renewable to about 36% of the usable water. Energy (RE) is encouraged in the policy Presently the remainder is discharged in level and the industries are participating to the sea without being used. The target enthusiastically, driving the industry is to increase use to 50% of the usable towards a green power generating water in 2020. Therefore, the current system. The labelling of energy efficient policy strategies are mainly focused on appliances has been introduced to improving water productivity and encourage consumers to participate in irrigation efficiency by rehabilitating national energy saving programmes. The existing systems, investing in new public is encouraged by educating in irrigation systems, watershed

xxi management, improved water allocation in 1996 for better control of land use. systems and small and minor tank Regulations have been introduced to rehabilitation. The prevention of water manage land use practices, especially in pollution and improving the water areas where there are very steep quality has been given high priority. mountains. Sri Lanka is also committed to utilize The Ministry of Industry and Commerce marine resources in its 517,000 sq.km of (MIC) has created an environment exclusive economic zone and its inland conducive for commercially competitive fisheries in an ecologically sustainable manufacturing entities producing value manner. The fishery sector already has added products and a sustainable adequate policy instruments, regulation process capable of contributing to and institutional infrastructure to enhance standards of living. One of the promote the principles of responsible major tasks of the MIC is the provision of fisheries as stipulated in international industrial facilitation and guidance conventions and treaties. In the marine emphasising environmentally friendly sector, particularly with regard to the industries. The Ministry of Environment exploitation of coastal resources, established a Green Job Awards ecological considerations are being Programme in 2009 to recognise and promoted through extension services reward the individuals and organisations predominantly to conserve endangered based on their activities to promote species, mainly through awareness sustainability and their performance. programmes initiated by the National Sri Lanka’s Tourism policy articulates the Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) and use of natural resources, socio-cultural the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic attractions and national attributes to Resources (DFAR).Although there are support sustainable development increasing incidents of Illegal, through niche markets. Some of the Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) objectives of the Sri Lanka Tourism fishing activities taking place by the Development Authority are to improve foreign fishing vessels, which are tourism while safeguarding the detrimental in terms of loss of fishery environment for its sustainability. resources, the country is well prepared to Promoting adequate, attractive and monitor these activities by enforcing the efficient tourist services, integrating existing regulations. green building guidelines on energy and With regard to the Agriculture Sector, the environment, are key initiatives taken to Government’s agricultural policy aims at ensure sustainable development. realising multiple goals that encompass Sustainable urban development is food security, ensuring higher and promoted in Sri Lanka through sustainable income for farmers, environmentally friendly shelter environmental conservation, efficient programmes such as Urban Service farm management techniques and Improvement Project and the ‘Nagamu improved water management. The Purawara’ Programme, which are aimed Department of Agriculture has bestowed at improving the standard of living of the high priority to soil conservation and urban poor. The government of Sri Lanka rainwater harvesting programmes to is also implementing ‘the Urban Vision’ address the issue of land degradation which encapsulates connectivity and climate change. The Soil improvements and the launch of urban Conservation Act of 1951 was amended renewal and green city initiatives in the

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Colombo metropolitan region and its reaching health related Millennium suburban cities. Development Goals (MDGs). Sri Lanka’s schools have been the centre The ecosystem diversity in Sri Lanka is for early environmental education for very significant as it consists of forests, children. The Environmental Pioneer grasslands, inland wetlands, coastal and Brigades programme introduced by the marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems Central Environmental Authority (CEA) include sea-grass beds, coral reefs, in national schools includes creating estuaries, lagoons and mangrove greater awareness on environmental swamps. Sri Lanka has been identified by protection and management and Conservation International (CI) as one of engaging in field studies and observation 25 biodiversity hot spots in the world in tours. The need for Environmental view of the country’s wide range of Education has been specifically topographic and climatic variation which recognised in setting up government contributes to greater biodiversity. Sri policies, and policy directives exist for Lanka is world renowned for its high the incorporation of environmental degree of endemism, which is observed education into mainstream education. in several taxonomic groups. While Formal education has perhaps been the sharing common features with the first to respond to the new awareness neighbouring subcontinent, the fauna about the environment (which came exhibits very high endemism among less about after the Stockholm Conference in mobile groups. The distribution patterns 1972 and the Tbilisi Conference in of the endemic fauna and flora are 1977.)The prescribed school curriculum similar: the wet zone has many more lays emphasis on environmental endemic species than the dry zone. In education throughout the 13 year school terms of mammals, birds and fish, the education span, and the approach at all three major groups that are well levels is essentially multi-disciplinary. researched in Sri Lanka, each group has a different distribution pattern. In order to Sri Lanka’s Health Sector has recorded protect Sri Lanka’s unique biodiversity, impressive progress in terms of almost the GOSL has taken a number of steps, all the health indicators. Maternal and including the establishment of the child mortality reduction, control of Biodiversity Secretariat under the MoE. preventable diseases such as measles, Since Sri Lanka ratified the United diphtheria, whooping cough, pertussis Nations Convention of Biological and tetanus are key achievements that Diversity in 1994, the MoE conducted have contributed to sustainable many activities to implement the development. Sri Lanka's early Convention at country level such as the investment in public health and preparation of a Biodiversity expansion with the free healthcare Conservation Action Plan, which delivery system forming a sound strengthened the key institutes in the foundation enabling all people to access forestry, wildlife and agriculture sectors. medical services, and high Female literacy levels are thought to have In order to address the cross-sectoral contributed to this achievement. The nature of major environmental control of malaria has also contributed to challenges caused by climate change, the the reduction in overall death rates. MOE, which is the National Focal Point Good progress has been achieved in for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

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Change(UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Lankan youths are actively involved in Protocol), has taken the initiative to environmental protection, natural establish a Climate Change Secretariat resource management, social under its purview. The Climate Change development and social safeguard Secretariat in the MoE adopts a activities through Non-Governmental comprehensive national approach to Organizations (NGOs) and public address climate change challenges. The agencies. The Constitution of Sri Lanka MoE established the Sri Lanka Carbon also accords equal rights and privileges Fund (SLCF) to actively participate in the to indigenous communities. Special carbon trading business and to facilitate attention is given to the indigenous Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) people during development initiatives project development within the country. under the National Involuntary Resettlement Policy. As a signatory to the Vienna convention for protection of the Ozone layer and the The Government of Sri Lanka has protocol on substances that deplete the strongly reaffirmed its commitment to ozone layer, Sri Lanka fulfilled the the Rio principles and implementing requirements before the deadlines and Agenda 21, by introducing a was recognised at the 20th anniversary comprehensive sustainable development celebration in 2007 by being presented programme within the current the Implementer’s Award. development framework. As a result, Sri Lanka has already achieved an Appropriate actions have been taken by impressive human development indecies; the government, the private sector and for example, from 2004 to 2011, the civil society to establish a healthy system following achievements have been made. of waste management, including e-waste. Per capita income rose from US$ 1062 to The Constitution of Sri Lanka recognises US$ 2836; Life expectancy from 73.2 gender equality and child rights. This years to 74.9 years; Infant mortality from constitutional pledge has been honoured 11.2 per thousand live births to 8.5; by creating a separate Ministry for the School enrolment from 95% to 98%, Net subject of Child Development and enrolment in primary education from Women's Affairs and the Sri Lanka 96.3% to 97.5%; General literacy from Women’s Bureau, the National 95% to 98%; Computer literacy from 10% Committee on Women, the National to 35%; Adult literacy rate from 91% to Child Protection Authority, the 91.4%; Women's participation in the Department of Probation and Child Care labour force from 32.6% to 34.3%; Overall Service and the Children's Secretariat. human resource index from 0.740 to The prime objective of formulating 0.759; with increased access to electricity national policies is to ensure that the from 75% to 91%; Safe drinking water country’s five million of youth from 80% to 85%; Telecommunication population is gainfully employed and from 23% to 86%; Road access from developed as future leaders by providing 93%to 95%. Unemployment rate is the necessary vocational and technical declined from 7.4% to 4.2%; Poverty is training, improving their entrepreneurial reduced from 15.7% to 8.9%, Population and leadership skills and enhancing their living on less than $1.25 a day is socio-cultural activities. The decreased from 14% to 7%. responsibility lies with the Ministry of Impressively high level of political Youth Affairs and Skill Development and commitment to the Rio principles and the the National Youth Services Council. Sri

xxiv implementation of Agenda 21 has the environment and natural resources in become an integral part of Sri Lanka’s the country. A solid foundation to development since 1992. HE the achieve sustainable economic growth, President of Sri Lanka has reiterated his strongly integrated with social and the country’s commitment to development and environmental sustainable development by formulating protection, while safeguarding the and implementing a comprehensive natural resource base was laid. All the sustainable development programme. country’s sectoral policies and the The political leadership in totality is also national development policy framework strongly committed to achieving the have focused on the protection of the internationally agreed upon environment and the conservation of the development goals, including those rich natural resource base as well as contained in the United Nations social integration and national Millennium Declaration and the major reconciliation. The policy framework, United Nations conferences and based on the Mahinda Chintana – Vision international agreements since 1992. for the future also envisaged to implement large infrastructure Although Sri Lanka has made significant development initiatives (electricity progress in poverty reduction in the generation, the development of sea ports, recent past, the eradication of airports, water supply and irrigation, malnutrition and reduction of non- roads and transport, agriculture and communicable diseases are the main domestic enterprises), strengthening of challenges faced. In addition, several public services and state owned other challenges lie ahead of Sri Lanka in enterprises, promoting private sector and its path to sustainable development. The SMEs and implementation of rural need for up scaling and updating the centric integrated development knowledge base, the provision of initiatives aiming at empowering equitable access to science and villages. technology skills to all sectors of society, the addressing of deficiencies in In the coming years, much effort and technology transfer and adoption, the energy will be directed towards preparedness for climate change and achieving targets that are yet to be disaster management, the creation of accomplished with regard to the climate smart and disaster resilient Millennium Development Goals. It has communities, the mainstreaming of already been planned to take the environmental considerations further appropriate measures that need to be into the development process, skills incorporated into the development development/capacity building, and sectors in this respect. For example, the improved human and financial resources National Energy Policy places renewable are among them. energy development as a high priority and considers it to be a key policy During the past two decades, a better element, setting a new enhanced target of institutional framework was established generating 20% of electricity from New to manage the environment and natural Renewable Energy (NRE) sources by resources. Sound national polices were 2020. In the Industrial Sector, Sri Lanka developed providing opportunities for has signed the Green Industry the implementation of regional and local declaration and will position itself to level projects to uplift the living compete in the global market. In the standards of the people and to conserve Urban Sector, the sustainability of urban

xxv water supply systems is at risk, and Intends to have the characteristics of a water quality needs improvement. The middle-income economy with a knowledge- largest cities, in particular the tourist based society”. destinations, need a sewerage system to The MoE has already taken action to cope with increasing population density. accomplish key initial tasks, such as the Urban transport remains a key refinement of Haritha (Green) Lanka contributor to city-competitiveness. Land Programme, Sri Lanka Strategy for degradation and soil conservation are Sustainable Development and issues to be addressed while increasing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) production in agriculture sector and setting up of the Multilateral The thrust of the vision has been to Environmental Secretariat (MES) and the reposition Sri Lanka in the global arena Participatory Green Results Monitoring as a knowledge-based strong middle- Mechanism. income country with better and Action has already been taken to develop improved living standards which an effective institutional setup at each continues to preserve cultural values and key sector level. This includes the traditions. 'Mahinda Chintana vision for provincial and local government levels, the future' envisages that Sri Lanka'has as well as the private sector and an economy with a green environment and communities to deal with sustainable rapid development; Aspires to be a stable development. The proposed sustainable society with a high quality of life for all of its development institutional mechanism people having access to decent living, would function under the National electricity, water, schooling and health Council for Sustainable Development facilities; Maintains the best of Sri Lankan (NCSD) already set up and functioning culture, traditions and long standing global identity; Aims to consolidate as an emerging under the Chairmanship of HE the market economy, integrated into the global President, and convened by the MoE. economy and is competitive internationally;

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In accordance with, and as a follow up to CHAPTER 1 the fundamental principles and programme of action for achieving 1 Introduction sustainable development, the following conventions relating to various issues on 1.1 Earth Summit, Rio+ 10 and Rio+ sustainable development were adopted 20 at the United Nations; The first United Nations (UN) Conference 1 The Convention on Biological on the Human Environment, held in Diversity. Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972, set out the 2 The Convention to Combat principles pertaining to multiple Desertification. environmental issues, including natural 3 The Framework Convention on resource management, pollution Climate Change. prevention and the relationship between the environment and development. In The World Summit on Sustainable 1992, two decades after this ground- Development (WSSD) (Rio+ 10) took breaking event, a landmark global place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in agreement was reached at the UN 2002, ten years after the first Earth Conference on Environment and Summit in Rio de Janeiro. At this Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, summit, Sri Lanka submitted its National Brazil. This international agreement – Report – Sri Lanka’s Middle Path to The Agenda 21 - reflects the highest level Sustainable Development–presenting a of global consensus and political comprehensive analysis of Sri Lanka’s commitment on development and achievements in the field of sustainable environment cooperation. Agenda 21 development since the Earth Summit further reaffirmed that sustainable 1992. This report will also serves as the development was delimited by the future guide line for decision makers in integration of the economic, social and policy formulating for sustainable environmental pillars, as illustrated in development. Box 1.1. The Johannesburg Declaration was the

Box 1.1 Substratum and three pillars of sustainable development “Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs” Brundtland Report

Sustainable Development

Economic Social Environmental Development Development Protection

Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and Consumption, protecting, and managing the natural resources base of economic and social development

1 main outcome of the summit. The Nations Conference on Sustainable Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of Development would focus on two the World Summit on Sustainable themes as illustrated in Box 1.4 below. Development was also agreed upon as an action plan for sustainable development. (See box 1.2) Box 1.3 The objectives of the Rio+ 20 Conference Box 1.2 Expectation of Rio+ 20 “To secure renewed political All countries are expected to commitment for sustainable review: development,  Progress made towards the assess the progress to date as well as accomplishment of sustainable the remaining gaps in the development. implementation of the outcome of the  Difficulties associated with moving major summits on sustainable towards sustainability. development, and,  Assess responses to the newly address new and emerging emerging challenges faced by challenges.” countries. And take action to:  Strengthen political commitments 1.2 Sri Lanka: Country Profile to sustainable development initiatives. Sri Lanka, an island country with a land  Focus on sustainable cities, decent area of about 65,610 sq.km located in the jobs, food security and sustainable Indian Ocean, lies between 5.34N and agriculture, energy, oceans and 9.52N latitude and between 79.39E and disaster readiness. 81.5E longitude. There is a significant  Address underlying themes temporal and spatial variation in the including finding ways to use the island’s climate. The mean annual green economy to foster temperature in the coastal belt ranges sustainable development and from 26.00C to 28.00C, while in the central poverty eradication, and setting up highlands it ranges from 150C to 190C. of an effective institutional The total land area of Sri Lanka is framework for sustainable divided based on the elevation, as low development. country, mid country and up country. The highlands - over 1000m above mean sea level - constitute 3% of the land mass.

The island is divided into three climatic In June 2012, the United Nations will zones, based on the annual rainfall: the convene the United Nations Conference Dry Zone, Wet Zone and Intermediate on Sustainable Development, also known Zone. as Rio 2012 or ‘Rio+20’,' hosted by the Brazilian government in Rio de Janeiro,. The country profile of Sri Lanka is presented in Box 1.5. The objectives of the Rio+20 conference is given in box 1.3 below. The United

Box 1.4 Rio+ 20 - Themes

Green Economy in the context of Institutional Framework Poverty Eradication and Sustainable for Development Sustainable Development

Indicated by: Indicated by: a) Protection and enhancing the natural a) Governance (at local, national, re- resource base gional and global levels) b) Increased resourced efficiency b) Integrated decision making at all lev- c) Promoting sustainable consumption els and production patterns c) Progress monitoring of outcomes of d) Moving the world towards low car- Agenda 21 at all levels bon emission. d) Coherence among these agencies, funds, programmes, and (UN) carbon development.

Figure 1.1 Location Map

Box 1.5 Sri Lanka Profile at a Glance NAME OF THE COUNTRY: Legal - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Conventional short form: Sri Lanka GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE: Location: Southern tip of Indian sub-continent - Strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea-lanes. Total Extent: 65,610 sq.km. Land: 64,630 sq.km. Water: 980 sq.km. Coastline: 1,585 km. Territorial sea: 12 nm. Contiguous zone: 24 nm. Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin. Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm. Climate: Tropical – Mean annual temperature: Low lying areas: 260C to 280C. Central highlands 150C to 190C. Mean Annual Rainfall: 1000mm to over 5000mm. Monsoon: Northeast monsoon (December to March), Southwest monsoon (June to October) HISTORIC PROFILE: Ancient civilisation - "Serendip" / “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” to Arab geographers, the island fell under Portuguese and Dutch rule and finally came under British rule when it was called Ceylon. ADMINISTRATIVE PROFILE: Administrative System: Unitary State with provincial bodies. Provinces -9, Districts -25, DS Divisions - 327, GN Divisions –14500. Capital: Legislative -Sri Jayewardenepura; Commercial – Colombo. Official Languages: Sinhala & Tamil; Link Language: English. DEMOGRAPHIC, HUMAN AND SOCIAL PROFILE: Population: 20.869 Mill. Population in urban areas 15.0% Annual population growth rate: 1.0% Rate of urbanisation: 1.1%. Age structure : 0-14 years: 24.9%, 15-64 years: 67.2%, 65 years and over: 7.9%. Overall adult literacy rate: 91.4% (Male 92.8%, Female 90.0%) Literacy Rate : 91.9%. Educational Enrolment Rate: 98%. Dropout Rate : Primary 1.6%. Secondary14%. Ethnic Groups : Sinhala74.5%, Tamil16.8%, Muslim 8.9%, Others 0.7%. Religions: Buddhist 69.1%, Islam 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, others 10%. Poverty Head Counter Index: (2002): 22.7 (2006/2007): 15.2 (2009/2010): 8.9(b) Education and Health: Free for all citizens Economy: Open Market Contribution to the Economy: Agriculture Sector – 11.2%, Industrial Sector – 30%, Service Sector –58.8%

The concept of sustainability has been 1.2.1 Sri Lanka’s Commitment to providing the building blocks for the Sustainable Development and development of the country since ancient Sri Lanka National Report times. Substantiation is available from The year 2012 marks twenty years since written history as well as from The Earth Summit, held at Rio de Janeiro, archaeological evidence and folk tales on where 108 participating countries how sustainable development concerns including Sri Lanka reached the global were incorporated into the lifestyles of agreement Agenda 21 action plan for civilization. On track to meet most sustainable development - the blueprint Millennium Development Goals, Sri for a sustainable future. Since signing the Lanka has already reached near universal agreement Sri Lanka have taken literacy, with female literacy rates almost extensive efforts to ensure sustainable on par with male literacy. Poverty is still development measures are implemented, an issue in rural areas. However, not only by the government, but also by compared to the rest of South Asia, all stakeholders, including the general poverty levels are relatively low, public. The country has now been able to dropping from 15.2% in 1995 to 8.9% in lay a solid foundation for sustainable 2011. development by establishing a solid Under the leadership of the current framework for economic and social President, H.E .Mahinda Rajapakse, the development duly incorporating country’s agenda for development has environmental and social safeguard changed dramatically in recent years. Sri management. The substratum of this Lanka today emerges as the Wonder of framework would be based on poverty Asia, for a country that is able to enjoy eradication, changing unsustainable peace and development following the patterns of production and consumption eradication of the scourge of terrorism with a well-managed natural resource that lasted for three decades. Post conflict base and human development, without challenges that the country encountered compromising the ability of future in the immediate aftermath have been generations to meet their own needs. manifold. Having rescued and resettled Sri Lanka has already recognised that the over 290,000 innocent civilians held implementation of the outcomes of the hostage by the terrorists, with livelihood Summit would bring benefits to all. support within two and a half years, the Furthermore, this implementation should government is presently rehabilitating involve all relevant stakeholders through the ex-combatants and reintegrating active partnerships. them into society, reconstructing the areas affected by the conflict and The Government of Sri Lanka has providing reconciliation for aggrieved strongly reaffirmed its commitment to parties. Amidst these priorities and the Rio principles, the full challenges, and also having faced the implementation of Agenda 21, by devastating Asian Tsunami in 2004, Sri developing and implementing a Lanka has been upgraded its status in to comprehensive sustainable development a middle income country and has been programme within the framework of able to record a Gross Domestic Product ‘Mahinda Chintana’- the vision of H.E. (GDP growth of 8% for 2011. (The the President of Sri Lanka. International Monetary Fund classified Sri Lanka as a middle-income country in 2010.)

1.2.2 Sri Lanka National Report – the Introduction in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 Objectives and Structure: outlines the overall progress achieved at national level and the thematic areas and Sri Lankan Report aims at presenting its cross sector strategies to move towards status in achieving sustainable sustainability. Chapter 3 presents development, specifically the progress made in key sectors in achievements at present and the sustainable development. The results of challenges faced in achieving sustainable sustainable development, including the development within a socio-economic overall outcomes and impact of its context. It also highlighted the way initiatives, issues, challenges and forward strategy for national sustainable promising practices as well as the strong development, integrating combined political commitments are presented in economic and social development Chapter 4. The Way Forward Strategy, together with environmental protection which proposes a pathway for Sri Lanka by eradicating malnutrition and poverty, to realise herself as ‘The Emerging changing unsustainable patterns of Wonder of Asia,' is presented in Chapter production and consumption, and 5. This chapter also presents the protecting and managing the natural strategies to address key cross sector resource base of the country. thematic issues and challenges and a The Report consists of an executive Sector Specific Sustainable Development summary and five chapters. Following Road Map.

and implemented under the title of CHAPTER 2 Haritha (Green) Lanka Programme. Sri Lanka’s Strategy for Sustainable 2 Overall Progress Achieved in Development was developed in 2008, Sustainable Development and the National Green Accounting Mechanism was introduced in 2010. (See 2.1 Innovative Strategies and Box 2.1) Programmes Box 2.1 Novel and Innovative Initiatives 2.1.1 Introduction towards sustainable Sri Lanka has achieved much positive development development during the period of 2005  Established “The National Council For to 2009 with the policies implemented Sustainable Development” (NCSD) under Mahinda Chintana, which are  Developed Sustainable Human aimed at creating a new Sri Lanka. This Development Index (SHDI) in 2008 development in the country has provided  a solid foundation for sustainable Launched “Haritha (Green) Lanka” in development. A strong base has also 2009 been created for achieving high and  Developed “National Environmental sustainable economic growth integrated Action Plan” under the Haritha Lanka with social developmental and Programme environmental protection safeguarding  Developed “Sri Lanka Strategy For the natural resource base. The Mahinda Sustainable Development” in 2009 Chintana Policy framework has focused  Developed “National Green Accounting heavily on the protection of the Mechanism” in 2011 environment and the conservation of the rich natural resource base of Sri Lanka, as  Established “National Cleaner Production well as social integration and Centre” (NCPC) &Sri Lanka Carbon Fund reconciliation at both local and national (SLCF) levels.  Established “Green Job Awards Programme” (2009) and “National Green Within the Mahinda Chintana Reporting System” (2011) development framework, Sri Lanka has taken a number of innovative initiatives in paving the sustainable development pathway for the country by establishing 2.1.2 Haritha (Green) Lanka high political commitment and setting up Programme a very effective framework at the The ‘Haritha (Green) Lanka’ Programme national, regional and multilateral levels. was launched by the MoE in 2009 with Exceptionally effective policy the objective of addressing development and coordination environmental issues in economic mechanisms for sustainable development development, incorporating an were set up with the establishment of the environmental dimension into the National Council for Sustainable economic development process and to Development (NCSD) under the ensure the long term sustainability of Chairmanship of H.E. the President. human development. The Programme With the initiation of the Ministry of was initiated with the establishment of a Environment, a National Action Plan for National Council for Sustainable sustainable development was formulated 7

Development (NCSD), and the comprehensive, achievable and development of a National Action Plan measurable strategies, and 375 actions. for the Haritha Lanka Programme The National Council for Sustainable aiming at greening economic Development (NCSD) obtains policy development within the framework of directions at the highest level and sustainable development. ensures integration of environmental concerns into the economic and social Box 2.2 Ten Missions of Haritha development processes throughout the (Green) Lanka country. The MoE acts as the convener, Mission 1 : Clean Air –Everywhere providing secretariat facilities to the NCSD and coordinating its follow up Mission 2 : Saving the Fauna, Flora recommendations. All cabinet ministers, and Ecosystems representing key sectors with close Mission 3 : Meeting the Challenges of connections to the sustainable Climate Change development agenda, are members of the NCSD. Mission 4 : Wise Use of the Coastal Belt and the Surrounding Sea Box 2.3 Sri Lanka’s vision for Mission 5 : Responsible Use of the Sustainable Development Land Resources “Achieving sustained economic growth Mission 6 : Doing Away with Dumps that is socially equitable and ecologically sound, with peace and stability ”NSDS” Mission 7 : Water for All, Always Mission 8 : Green Cities for Health and Prosperity The successful integration of sustainability criteria into different Mission 9 : Greening the Industries development sectors has been Mission 10 : Knowledge for Right coordinated successfully through this Choices mechanism and these achievements are summarised in the sector report in chapter

The National Action Plan of the Haritha 3. Lanka Programme was developed through an interactive process, involving 2.1.3 National Sustainable all the key ministries. A high-level Development Strategy participatory process was followed One of the challenges facing Sri Lanka as during its preparation to ensure that an emerging economy is the achievement sustainability would not merely remain a of high economic growth with greater concept but translate into practical equity in a sustainable manner, whilst reality. This action plan covers ten integrating the process of globalisation, broader missions (See Box 2.2) and is a rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas product of the concerted efforts of all affected by the recent calamities. A relevant ministries. It includes short sustainable economic growth must not term, medium term, and long term cause irreversible damage to the visions (See Box 2.3) targets spanning the environment. Macroeconomic policies for years 2009 to 2016, with 82 sustainable development need to be

8 developed through an environmentally continually improve their production responsible macroeconomic framework. processes and services, relationship with stakeholders and enhance their image, Sri Lanka’s Strategy for Sustainable while contributing towards the Development (SLSSD), approved in 2009 sustainable development of the country.' seeks to achieve the vision for sustainable development by achieving five goals: Through the Sustainability Report, an organisation will enable to measure,

1. Eradication of poverty disclose and be accountable to both

2. Ensuring competitiveness of the internal and external stakeholders with economy regard to its organisational performance

3. Improving social development in achieving sustainable development.

4. Ensuring good governance The Report should give a balanced

5. Ensuring a clean and healthy account of the sustainability performance environment of the organisation. The National Green These five goals prioritise the challenges Reporting System of Sri Lanka is based that have to be faced in the path to on the Global Reporting Initiatives (GRI) achieving sustainable development. and G3 Guidelines. It suggests the use of Seventeen objectives and 65 strategies ISO 26000 Standard for Guidance on with targets and indicators have been Social Responsibility for the design and identified under the SLSSD goals. implementation of internal sustainability mechanisms. 2.1.4 The National Green Reporting System 2.2 Achieving Millennium Development Goals Mission 09 of the National Action Plan of the Haritha Lanka Programme is Sri Lanka is a signatory to the United ‘greening the industries.’ Under this Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 mission, strategies and actions have been September 2002, which required developed for greening the developing countries 'to do more and manufacturing and service sectors and join forces in the fight against poverty, minimising environmental degradation, illiteracy, hunger, lack of education, while promoting the application of gender inequality, child and maternal sustainable and cleaner production mortality, diseases and environmental practices. In this vein of promoting degradation.' transparency of an organisation’s The Declaration, comprising of 32 sustainability performance, the MoE, resolutions formulated into Millennium being the convener of the NCSD, has Development Goals (MDGs), was established a ‘National Green Reporting expected to reach pre-determined sets of System’ (NGRS), which is the framework targets by 2015 and 2020, with a baseline for enabling organisations to become of 1990. transparent through sustainability reporting. (See Box 2.4 & 2.5) In 2005, the United Nations reviewed the progress achieved thus far in order to The objective of NGRS is to: formulate further measures if necessary, 'Facilitate the manufacturing and service to support the efforts of participating sectors to periodically measure and countries. The achievements of Sri Lanka report their sustainability performance as observed from the Country Study can with respect to economic, environmental thus be summarised as shown in the and social aspects, in order to table 2.1.

Box 2.5 National Green Reporting System Vision: Ecologically sustained healthy and prosperous Sri Lanka. Mission: To promote the integration of environmental aspects into the socio-economic development process encouraging self-monitoring and reporting of the performance. Goals Goal No 1: To raise awareness among the state, and private, manufacturing and service sectors and the community on the need for integrating environmental aspects into socio economic development for their long term sustenance and the importance of taking responsibility and being transparent about their economic, environmental and social performance towards achieving sustainable development. Goal No 2: To build the capacity of organisations/entities in the manufacturing and service sectors of the country in quantifying and reporting on their sustainability performance, to reflect their continual improvement in the journey towards achieving sustainable development. Goal No 3: To promote continual improvement among organisations/entities beyond compliance for sustainability.

Box 2.4 Benefits for engaging in Sustainability Reporting Improved operational performance: Reduction in operating costs, optimum resources utility and improvement in operational efficiency. Improved stakeholder relationships: Building of trust and improved communication through continuous engagement with various interest groups. Improved risk management: Better understanding of and dealing with non-financial risks appropriately saves an organisation’s time, money and loss of reputation. It also leads to a reduction of liabilities through integrated risk management. Improved investor relationships: As a result of a growing demand for ethical investment funds, a sustainability report helps an organisation to reach the aim through its practices of transparency and accountability. Identification of new markets and/or business opportunities: Development of innovative products and services for access to new markets. Improved public value of organisation: Enhancement and maintenance of reputation and brand value.

The summary of each goal and the population below the national poverty reported standing is given below. It is line had shown a sharp decline in the worth mentioning that there is further major urban centers. However, the progress in reaching these goals over the country is seen likely to fall short of last 7 years and an official report is yet to reaching the target of halving the be released. proportion of people below the national poverty line by 2015. Goal 1: Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger: The proportion of

Goal 2: Achieving Universal Primary Goal 6: Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria Education: In respect of this goal, Sri and Other Diseases: Since Sri Lanka is Lanka is seen to be well on track in considered a HIV low prevalent country, achieving the targets with reference to and because of its higher quality of new enrolments in primary schools, health services, the country is well on literacy rates among 15-24 year olds, and track to achieving this goal by 2015. the percentage of pupils in grade 1 who Goal 7: Ensuring Environmental reach grade 5. Sustainability: Sustainability in access to Goal 3: Gender Equality and safe drinking water, basic sanitation, Empowerment of Women: Sri Lanka is on improving the lives of slum dwellers and track in respect of 4 out of the 6 waste management has been the primary indicators, but is expected to miss the considerations of consecutive targets in respect of employment of governments. Hence, progress in respect women in the non-agricultural sector, of these issues is well on track in and in the proportion of women in the achieving the targets. However, the national parliament. following areas are not on track in achieving the set targets: the proportion Goal 4: Reducing Child Mortality: Sri of people using solid fuel, energy Lanka is well on track in achieving the consumption, CO2 emissions and the targets for reducing the under 5-year-old decline of forest cover. While mortality rate, infant mortality rate, and environmental safety has been ensured in the proportion of 1 year old children some areas, there remain some concerns immunised. about achieving the targets in respect of Goal 5: Improving Maternal Health: Sri sustainability in environmental safety. Lanka does not seem to be in a position

Table 2.1 Sri Lanka’s Progress in Achieving MDGs

No MDGs Progress –(2002-2010) Goal 1 Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger On Track Goal 2 Achieve Universal Primary Education On Track Goal 3 Promote Gender Equality and Empower On Track Women Goal 4 Reduce Child Mortality On Track Goal 5 Improve Maternal Health On Track Goal 6 Combat HIV/Aids, Malaria and Other On Track Diseases Goal 7 Ensure Environmental Sustainability Satisfactory Progress Goal 8 Develop a Global Partnership for Satisfactory Progress Development

(UNDP, Sri Lanka) to achieve the target for maternal Goal 8: Developing Global Partnerships mortality rate per 1000 population by for Development: The process of 2015, but achieving the target for the globalisation requires Sri Lanka to proportion of births attended by skilled establish global partnerships to enable health personnel will be reached. the achievement of MDGs. The country is considered currently to be well

11 integrated with global partners, which forestry, wildlife, timber, minerals and should facilitate the achievement of mines, as well as agencies responsible for MDGs by 2015 (Millennium preventing pollution. In addition, the Development Goals – Sri Lanka Country Biodiversity Secretariat was established Report – 2005, UNDP). as recommended in the government's policy document of 1998 (Biodiversity 2.3 Regulatory, Institutional and Conservation in Sri Lanka – Action Plan Policy Measures to Ensure [BCAP]), the Sustainable Development Sustainable Development division 2008 and the Climate Change The implementation of policy measures Secretariat (2008). for sustainable development requires Under the Provincial Council Act (No 42 specific institutional arrangements and 1987) the environment is a concurrent actions. Many changes were introduced subject which assigns responsibility and by establishing regulatory bodies to authority to safeguard matters relating to implement the environment related the environment to provincial councils. policies more effectively. In relation to policy issues, the National There are about 80 laws and other Forest Policy adopted by the Government regulatory measures relating to in 1995 provides an integrated and environmental protection.Of these, the coordinated approach to the most cited legislations are the Fauna and management, conservation and Flora Protection Ordinance (of 1937 with its sustainable utilisation of forests, and subsequent amendments), the Forest provides for their multiple and Ordinance 1907, the National Environment complementary functions and use, and Act No 47 of 1980, the National Heritage recognizes the need for participatory Wilderness Areas Act 1981, the Felling of approaches and development of Trees (Control) Act, the Botanic Gardens partnerships for forestry activities. On Ordinance, the National Aquatic Resources, the other hand the Forestry Sector Master Research and Development Agency Act, the Plan (1995-2020), which was developed to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, the implement the National Forest Policy, is a Plant Protection Ordinance, the Animal comprehensive long-term development Diseases Act and the Customs Ordinance. framework to ensure that the valuable The National Environment Act facilitated natural forests and the related wildlife the creation of the Central Environmental and other biodiversity resources will be Authority (CEA) in 1980. The CEA’s conserved and the forests and agro- mandate is to function as the regulatory forestry systems will provide sustainable and coordinating agency in respect of all environmental services and forest matters pertaining to the protection and products to meet the needs of the people. management of the environment. The In compliance with the Convention on creation of a ministry with the subject of Biological Diversity, which Sri Lanka environment in 1991 was the next ratified in 1994, the government landmark event. This strengthened the provided the basis for a policy government’s commitment to have an framework through the document overriding influence on environmental Biodiversity Conservation – A Framework for concerns by bringing the state Action of 1998. It is relevant to mention at institutions responsible for subjects that this point that in order to accommodate have impacts on the environment, under many new environmental concerns that its portfolio. These institutions include have surfaced since the formulation of

BCAP, the Ministry through its Second government), to readily identify its National Experts Committee on responsibility and to ensure that the Biodiversity, published an Addendum to environment is afforded adequate BCAP in 2007. protection. The National Policy on Wildlife 2.4 Private Sector Initiatives in Conservation (2000) is the commitment of Sustainable Development the Government to conserve wildlife resources, and consequently protect Apart from the innovative strategic faunal biodiversity for the benefit of the initiatives taken by the public sector as present and future generations and for discussed in the previous sections, the purposes of research. private sector has taken a series of novel strategic initiatives to mainstream The National Environmental Action Plan sustainable development by (NEAP) (1998), as a national sustainable incorporating initiatives developed by development strategy, addresses the public sector, and thus proving a true environment-related development issues. public private partnership (see Boxes 2.6 The National Environmental Policy of 2002 and 2.7.) was developed “to achieve a healthy and Through public private partnership pleasant environment sustaining nature (PPP), a policy document with 8 policy for the well-being of the people and the instruments was developed and economy”. Protection and conservation submitted to the MoE. They are as of the integrity of the nation's follows: environment and natural resources through ecologically sustainable  Loans for preparation of bankable development, with due recognition of the projects contribution of natural resources to  Organic fertiliser subsidy economic development and to the quality  Research and Development for of life, are the goals expected to be Sustainable Consumption and achieved. Production (SCP) funding  One of the Action Plans formulated to Industry code of practices implement the National Environmental  Taxes, duties and fees Policy was the document – Caring for the  Preferential government Environment 2003-2007 - Path to procurements Sustainable Development. It is a  Environmental Management comprehensive 5-year sector based Accounting programme of action tailored to each  Corporate environmental institution (government and non- performance rating

Box 2.6 Private Sector Initiatives in Sustainable Development

The Sri Lankan private sector is identified as the engine of growth, propelling the country forward. The combination of sustaining high economic growth rates whilst not compromising on environmental conservation and restoration is one of the biggest challenges facing the country. There have been several initiatives made by the private sector towards making investments in green initiatives and sustainable development. These initiatives, among many others, amply demonstrate Sri Lanka’s leadership position in promoting the concept of ‘P’s; giving equal recognition to the Planet, People and Profit. In fact, all the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects that have been registered so far have been developed by the private sector. Several companies are also adopting ISO 14000 relating to environmental management on a voluntary basis. Most of the polluting companies have obtained environment protection licenses (EPL.) Several companies have adopted Community Social Response (CSR) practices where they engage in projects related to sustainable development such as community development and environment protection. Some have adopted sustainability reporting using the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), voluntarily. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) conducts an annual award scheme to recognise companies and organisations, which report on triple bottom line reporting. A number of private sector institutions participate in these award schemes, which are conducted at the national level based on sustainability reporting and achievements. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which functions as the focal organisation and the spokesperson of the private sector, annually recognises the 10 Best Corporate Citizens. In addition, some companies, including banks, are voluntarily reporting their carbon footprint. The private sector has worked closely with the Ministry of Environment to introduce many Policy Instruments one of which was - the 'National Green Reporting' System. They have ambitious plans of working with the Ministry to launch two more initiatives in a Green Procurement System and a Green Jobs Programme. The Ministry of Environment awarded the 2009 National Green Job Awards to recognise the contribution made by both private and public sector organisations and individuals in protecting the environment and reducing environment pollution. Several leading private sector companies have been recipients of these awards. In addition, the Sustainable Energy Authority conducts Sri Lanka ‘National Energy Efficiency Awards.' This award is granted for activities on improving energy efficiency in organisations in general. This recognises successful implementation of cost-effective, transferable and innovative energy efficiency measures taken by small, medium and large organisations in a variety of sectors such as manufacturing, services, hotels, commercial buildings, state sector office buildings and healthcare.

2.5 Implementation of Multilateral MEAs in Sri Lanka. These include the and Bilateral Environment National Environment Policy, National Agreements Cleaner Production Policy, Renewable Sri Lanka actively participates in the Energy Policy, National Climate Change global-environment-partnerships and has Policy, National Forestry Policy, National ratified 36 Multilateral Environmental Policy on Wild Life Conservation, Agreements (MEAs) over the years. In National Land Use Policy, and the addition, Sri Lanka has adopted major National Policy on Urban Air Quality declarations in the field of environment Management. that include the Stockholm Declaration, 2.6 Natural Resource Management the Nairobi Declaration, the Rio- Declaration and the Washington Land: Sri Lanka ratified the United Declaration. Sri Lanka also recognises the Nations Convention to Combat Charter of the United Nations, the Desertification (UNCCD) on 9th Statute of the International Court of December 1998. The MoE serves as the Justice (ICJ), the 1969 Vienna Convention focal point for UNCCD. The National on the Law of Treaties and the UN Action Programme for combating land resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24th October degradation was prepared in 2002. 1970 on the Declaration of Principles of Degraded catchment area restorations, International Law Concerning Friendly rehabilitation of minor tanks in the Dry Relations and Co-operation among states Zone and tree planting programmes have in accordance with the Charter of the been implemented and are continuing. United Nations. Sri Lanka is an active Several donor-funded projects have been member of the South Asian Co-operative undertaken primarily to address issues of Environment Programme (SACEP), land degradation in the critical South Asia Association of Regional watersheds. Cooperation (SAARC), and the South Though Sri Lanka is not within the range Asia Regional Seas Programme as well. of desert areas specified by the UNCCD, The Government of Sri Lanka accords the country still falls within the scope of high priority for the implementation of the Convention because there could be a international legal instruments in the possibility of deserts developing in the country. National focal points have been future. In 1998, Sri Lanka acceded to the designated for each international treaty UNCCD adopted in 1994 to address the ratified, which are responsible for issue of land degradation and drought. decision making on actions needed for It has also been estimated that with the implementing the respective treaties. The increasing population, the land/man Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of ratio of the island has declined from 0.44 Trade, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean ha/person in 1981 to 0.29 ha/person in Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, 2011. This decreasing trend will continue Ministry of Labour, Department of Wild in the future, as the scarcity of land for Life, etc., are some of the focal points. human use will further be aggravated The respective focal points have taken due to land degradation. However, due several important measures with regard to natural and anthropogenic causes, to legislation, policies and action plans to substantial numbers of hectares of arable implement MEAs in Sri Lanka. land lose its productivity day by day. In addition, several National Policies Improper land management and misuse have been developed to implement of land will also lead to widespread land

15 degradation in the country. Soil erosion; mitigate the land degradation in the over exploitation of ground water, central part of the country. salinisation, water logging and water Adhering to the UNCCD guidelines and pollution have been considered as considering the need for implementing important contributing elements for land the NAP, Sri Lanka has already taken degradation in Sri Lanka. initiatives to formulate the Integrated Considering the critical importance of Financial Strategy (IFS) for Sustainable land as a resource for economic Land Management (SLM.) Sri Lanka development, the need for a state policy would be able to rehabilitate the lands on land uses cannot be overemphasised. already degraded and prevent future The ‘Mahinda Chintana Vision for the land degradation with the Future,' the national policy framework of implementation of NAP together with Sri Lanka and the ‘National Action Plan the assistance of UNCCD. for Haritha Lanka Programme,' the Water: Fresh water is a precious resource national platform to launch and promote in terms of the sustainable development the process of achieving sustainable of a country. The annual water resource development have also emphasised of Sri Lanka is estimated at 50 km3. Water addressing land degradation as a priority extraction for agriculture, industry and area. domestic needs are estimated as 83%, 6% Recognising the magnitude of land and 5% respectively. The government is degradation as well as impacts of aiming to provide safe drinking water drought, the Sri Lankan Ministry of and adequate sanitation facilities to Environment, as the focal point of ensure protection of water sources and UNCCD, has formulated a the environment. Around 80% of the comprehensive National Action population has access to safe drinking Programme (NAP) in 2002 to Combat water of which 30% is through piped Land Degradation and the impact of water supply systems managed by the drought in the country. The main National Water Supply and Drainage programmes of the NAP focused on key Board (NWS&DB.) issues such as soil and water The Sri Lankan government established a conservation on degraded lands, forest Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage decline, forest degradation, conservation for the subject of water supply and of grasslands and mitigation of the drainage in 2007. The NWS&DB under effects of the droughts. ‘Dayata Sevana,' this ministry is conducting awareness the annual tree planting programme, was programmes in addition to implementing launched by the Government of Sri water supply and management Lanka covering the entire island, and it programmes. pays special attention to the degraded lands and hilltops in the country. The MoE commenced a Programme Additionally, the state is currently titled ‘Clean River (Pavithra Ganga)’ in working on developing a project 1998, to keep the nations’ water bodies proposal on the‘ Rehabilitation of clean. One of the major objectives of this Degraded Agricultural Lands in the programme is assisting relevant local Central Highlands of Sri Lanka’ to be authorities to keep the water quality of submitted for financial assistance of the the main water bodies of the country at Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to acceptable levels for human use. In the face of increasing urbanisation, the downstream areas of rivers are being 16 seriously threatened. The river banks are 2004 and consequently the Protocol came eroding and the water quality is into force on 28th July 2004. deteriorating. A multi stakeholder The MoE has taken action to facilitate approach has been initiated to achieve sustainable use of biodiversity through this objective and the onus of benefit sharing mechanisms by implementing the project will lie with the developing a database on marine shells, relevant local authorities. with updating of such data due to the on Forestry and Biodiversity: Sri Lanka has going identification of marine shell been identified by Conservation activities, on faunal observation, and the International (CI) as one of 25 information input by island wide biodiversity hot spots in the world. A surveys. noteworthy feature of Sri Lanka's The National Science and Technology biodiversity is the remarkably high Policy formulated in 2008 by the proportion of endemic species amongst National Science and Technology its flora and fauna; 23% of the flowering Commission for the Ministry of Science plants and 16% of the mammals in the and Technology has developed several island are endemic. Sri Lanka has a wide initiatives for scientific investigations on range of topographic and climatic biodiversity conservation. variation and this contributes to the special features of its biodiversity. Fauna, Flora and Eco Systems: Sri Lanka is world renowned for its high degree of Sri Lanka ratified the United Nations endemism, which is observed in several Convention of Biological Diversity in taxonomic groups. Even more interesting 1994, and has since conducted many is the distribution of endemics. A large activities to implement the Convention. proportion is found in the Wet Zone in These activities include the preparation the South-western region of the island. of a Biodiversity Conservation Action 23% of the flowering plants are endemic Plan, the strengthening of the key and most of them are confined to the wet institutes in the departments of forestry, evergreen and wet mountain forests of wildlife, agriculture and coastal sectors, the Central and South-western parts of the setting up of the implementing the country. The fauna of Sri Lanka is mechanism for coordinating biodiversity also as diverse as the flora. While sharing activities in the MoE, and country common features with the neighbouring capacity assessment for biodiversity subcontinent, the fauna exhibits a very conservation. Capacity assessment at high endemism among the less mobile national level and self-assessment for groups. The faunal endemic species global environmental projects are distribution patterns are similar to that of considered to implement the Rio the flora; the Wet Zone has many more Convention and the preparation of a endemic species than the Dry Zone. Capacity Development Action Plan Mammals, birds and fish, are the three (2005-2007.) major groups that have been studied Sri Lanka signed the Cartagena Protocol extensively in Sri Lanka, and it has been on Bio-safety on 24th May 2000, during found that each group has different the fifth meeting of the Conference of distribution patterns. Parties to the Convention on Biological There is a wide range of ecosystem Diversity in Nairobi, Kenya, when it was diversity in the country. The major first opened for signatories. The country natural ecosystems in the country are ratified Cartagena Protocol on 28th April forests, grasslands, inland wetlands, and 17 coastal and marine ecosystems. Marine The UNFCCC perspective lays firm ecosystems include sea-grass beds, coral emphasis on climate change being due to reefs, estuaries, lagoons and mangrove human activities altering the atmospheric swamps. composition, while International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) definition Coastal Resources: Sri Lanka is a small also embodies natural processes as a island, enjoying a total extent of cause of climate change. In the Global approximately 489,000 sq.km of maritime Assessment Report, 2009, the UN waters, consisting of Internal Waters, International Strategy for Disaster Historic Waters, Territorial Seas, a Reduction (UNISDR) published a risk Contiguous Zone and an Exclusive model that assesses a country’s exposure Economic Zone (EEZ.) The majority of to natural disasters in terms of mortality. the area (437,000 sq.km) belongs to the The assessment is based on historical EEZ. The island has a relatively small data and known vulnerability land area of 65,610 sq.km, which gives a information. A risk classification of 10 land to ocean ratio of 1:7.5. The coastal points signifies extreme mortality risk. zone is therefore of strategic significance On an average, all South Asian countries to the populace due to accessibility to the are positioned above five in the scale. vast resource base surrounding the Bangladesh and India are classified as 9 island, from any point of the 1585 km (major risk) Pakistan and Afghanistan as long coastline. 8 (very high risk), Nepal and Bhutan as Sri Lanka has set up a well-established six and Sri Lanka at five (medium risk.) administrative mechanism to protect the coastal belt and maritime waters under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Sri Lanka is one of the few island states which has a fully operative national Coastal Zone Management Plan. The Coast Conservation Department, by an act of parliament, has full responsibility for the implementation of the plan. The government authorities have undertaken a wide range of projects Flood Disaster with the assistance of international agencies for improved coastal zone management. Although assigned medium risk, Sri Lanka is very vulnerable as a small 2.7 Climate Change and Disaster island state. Different types of natural Management disasters such as floods, landslides, slope failures and rock falls, cyclones, Article 1 of the UN Framework droughts, coastal erosion, ground Convention on Climate Change, settlements, forest fires, tsunami, minor (UNFCCC)(1992) defines climate change earthquakes, lightning strikes, sea surges, as, 'a change of climate which is high winds, rainstorms, etc., are affecting attributed directly or indirectly to human Sri Lanka. Except tsunamis and activity that alters the composition of the earthquakes, all the other natural global atmosphere and which is in disasters are hydro meteorological addition to natural climate variability disasters. Among them, landslides, observed over comparable time periods.' droughts and floods are the most

18 dominant problems. Climate change has SAARC Ministerial Meeting on Climate a direct bearing on most natural Change held in Dhaka in 2008. The disasters, especially of the hydro Action Plan covering 2009-2011 focuses meteorological type (IPCC - Climate on seven thematic areas - from adaption Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and of climate change to a regional stance for Vulnerability Report.) international negotiations. The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka granted the The impact of sea level rise (SLR) is one approval to implement the national of the consequences of climate change in obligations under the SAARC Action Sri Lanka. Over the next two decades, the Plan on Climate Change in collaboration sea-level around Sri Lanka will rise by with the relevant line Ministries and half a meter with dry areas becoming other agencies. The year 2009 Action Plan drier and wet areas becoming wetter, was prepared and submitted to the leading to longer droughts in some areas SAARC Secretariat and 2010-2011 Action and floods in others. The consequences Plans were prepared in collaboration would include: Increased vulnerability of with the line Ministries and Agencies. coastal areas to destruction of mangroves Commitments made under the Thimphu and coral reefs, decline of ecosystems Statement on Climate Change for and marine habitats and damage to implementation in the 10th SAARC shelter, infrastructure and human safety. Summit were communicated to the In addition, the adjacent areas of the relevant line agencies. coastal regions will also experience gradual but intense salinisation of inland Sri Lanka ratified UNFCCC by a cabinet fresh water sources. The most frightening decision in November 1993, becoming prospect for Sri Lanka is in agriculture: one of the first 50 countries to ratify the Studies carried out by the Department of convention. As an obligation of Meteorology have shown increased UNFCCC, Sri Lanka is required to temperatures and less availability of prepare the National Communication on water content. This could result in paddy Climate Change periodically. farming output falling by 20-30 percent Accordingly, the Initial National in the next 20 to 30 years. Communication on Climate Change was prepared and submitted to UNFCCC in In order to address the cross sectoral the year 2000 and the Second National nature of major environmental Communication report was submitted in challenges caused by climate change, the January 2012. MoE, which is the National Focal Point for the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, The Government of Sri Lanka has taken has taken the initiative to establish a the initiative through ‘Strengthening Climate Change Secretariat in 2008, Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation’ under its purview. The Climate Change to develop a National Climate Change Secretariat adopts a comprehensive Adaptation Strategy and to formulate a national approach to address climate Public Information and Awareness change challenges, as these concerns are Strategy. Preparations are on the way for categorised not only as environmental the National Climate Change Adaptation concerns, but also are development Strategy for years 2011 – 2016 for Sector issues for Sri Lanka. Vulnerable Profiles (SVPs) namely agriculture and fisheries, water, human The MoE of all the eight nations of the health, urban development, human SAARC have adopted a three-year settlements and economic infrastructure, Action Plan on Climate Change at the

19 biodiversity and ecosystem service Lanka. The 9th Conference of the Asia sectors in consultation with the Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable stakeholders. Consumption and Production (APRSCP), the regional network of the professionals, These measures are expected to academics and industrialists to promote contribute to developing sector strategies Sustainable Consumption and while ensuring sustainable food security, Production in the region was held in Sri energy security, health and sanitation Lanka in June 2010 under the theme of ‘A and human settlements. These strategies Strategy to meet Global Challenges in are directly related to the MDGs to which Business and Industry. ‘The theme was Sri Lanka is a signatory. elaborated under the main topics such as sustainable production, sustainable 2.8 Sustainable Consumption and Production consumption, water and sanitation, energy, sound chemical management, Sustainable Consumption and sustainable building and construction, Production (SCP) was an age-old new marketing strategies for SCP and life tradition that has been practiced in Sri cycle management of products and

Box 2.7 Sri Lanka Carbon Fund Private Limited (SLCF) Establishing the Sri Lanka Carbon Fund Private Limited (SLCF),registered under the Companies Act No 7 of 2007, as a state owned private company under the Ministry of Environment, is one of the major initiatives taken by the Climate Change Secretariat. SLCF’s main objectives are to be engaged in Carbon trading and to provide technical and financial assistance to the CDM Project developers for the preparation of project documentations. It was also intended that SLCF would facilitate the bundling of small CDM projects and subsequently provide investment capital for said projects. Key Objectives of SLCF: To undertake environment related all commercial activities, such as: 1. Implementation of Kyoto protocol and UNFCCC including CDM and Green House Gas Verification. 2. Provide consultancy services to the private, public and non-government organisations on the CDM project development activities and to facilitate the valida- tion and verification of the CDM projects undertaken by the private and public sectors and to deliver financial resources to greenhouse gas emission reduction projects. 3. Purchase and sell certified emission reductions (CERs) under the CDM project and verified emission reductions (VERs) under any programme including voluntary mechanism. 4. Environmental audits and carbon foot print calculations. 5. Environmental research and studies including environmental valuation. 6. Assist private companies and agencies to improve green reporting. 7. Invest funds in sustainable development activities. 8. Undertake any other activities related to converting Sri Lanka to a Green Economy.

20 services. provincial/regional/district/village levels. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce initiated the SWITCH Asia Programme 2.9 Food Security in 2009, on sustainable consumption and production for the food and beverage Food security is of great importance to sector and the leisure sector among the sustainability; hence at the World Food SMEs to optimise the usage of natural Summit of 1996, it was defined as resources. This programme has follows: ‘When all people at all times encouraged the SMEs to adopt best have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious practices of SCP which has had a food to maintain a healthy and active favourable impact on the environment. life.' Definitive availability and accessibility of food and nutritional and Furthering the effort Sri Lanka hosted the sanitary use of food ensures food SWITCH-Asia sub regional meeting in security. Therefore, the availability, June 2011 at Colombo, Sri Lanka. The accessibility, and utilisation are called the main emphasis of the SWITCH Asia three pillars of food security. Programme is sustainable consumption and production which directly contributes to sustainable growth and the fight against poverty. The major theme of the event was to present the progress of the SWITCH Asia projects and to assess their impact. The Sri Lanka government has ensured its participation to sustainable consumption and production by developing and implementing policies such as National Cleaner Production Policy and Sectoral Cleaner Production Policies for Health, Fisheries and Tourism. Some of the key players of the private sector are voluntarily and actively contributing in SCP efforts. With respect Figure 2.1 Three Pillars of Food Security to consumer/customer education there has been many initiatives at secondary and tertiary level educational institutions Food security is directly linked to the on a small scale. However, it is not four main sectors discussed in later widely shared across these sectors, and chapters: they are agriculture, fisheries, also not with other sectors, such as the health and water. In relation to the three consumption and production sectors. As pillars, ‘availability’ is ensured by the far as capacity building is concerned one sectors of agriculture and fisheries. would notice various efforts taken by the Health and water are mainly concerned government and the NGOs to develop with the utilisation. Accessibility is in institutional capacities with regard to two parts: physical and economic. While sustainable development. However, the sectors such as transport, energy and present status with respect to capacity industry play major roles in making food building efforts appear to be somewhat physically accessible, all sectors satisfactory at the central level and rather contribute to economic accessibility. weak at the

The national policy framework in Sri regarding proper food habits with regard Lanka has given great priority towards to consuming a balanced diet. ensuring food security. The National It is argued globally that the problem lies Agriculture Policy has given deserving not in a shortage of food, but that it is emphasis on the topic of food security by instead a problem of distribution, and making it a policy direction. Also, proper nutritional balance in Mahinda Chintana 2005 and 2010 consumption. Similarly Sri Lanka also emphasised the strategies and has no shortage of food; it is a question of programmes required to achieve nutritionally sensible consumption and sustainable food security. distribution. Sri Lanka has made many Climatic conditions play a major role in accomplishments towards ensuring food food availability, one of the pillars in availability to everyone in the nation by food security. The impacts of climate increasing food production and ensuring change in the form of extreme climatic equal distribution (discussed under the conditions experienced in the country agriculture sector in chapter 3.) As a caused Sri Lanka to lose tons of potential result, the country now has a surplus of harvest in crops. It is therefore rice, the staple food of the nation. Further imperative to have programmes, which initiatives, such as Divi Neguma, are safeguard the food supply against encouraging people to grow their own potential situations of such devastation. home gardens, which is not only Efforts in implementing new technology ensuring an increase in food availability in weather resistant crops, short term but also directly reflects on practicing varieties and storage and processing sustainability by making strides towards technology are avenues to be explored in eliminating the need for product addressing crop losses due to natural transport, thus reducing greenhouse gas disasters. Research in crop biotechnology emissions. and post-harvest mechanisms is very Malnutrition, which is a main theme to important and should be given be addressed in the Rio + 20 summit, precedence in future planning. goes hand in hand with food security. Absolute food security will effectively 2.10 Waste Management eliminate malnutrition. However, it is of Solid waste management is an obligatory vital importance to understand the function of all local authorities in Sri difference between food being available Lanka. The Central Environment in adequate quantities and food not used Authority, in its effort to resolve this in a calorific or nutritionally suitable problem, has planned to take legal action manner. This will not amount to food against local bodies that fail to take security and hence will not fulfil the proper steps to manage solid waste requirements for eliminating disposal. The Government of Sri Lanka malnutrition. has taken steps to ban polythene Successes in complying with proper food products - bags and sheets less than 20 use under the two relevant sectors, microns in thickness. health and water, are discussed in chapter 3. Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in its staple food supply, rice, and has many noteworthy achievements in nutrition. Nevertheless, there are still issues

implementation, this regulation was further amended as the National Environmental (Protection & Quality) Regulation No. 01 of 2008 by Extra Ordinary Gazette Notification in 2009. The National E-waste Management Programme was also developed by the CEA with the active co-operation and assistance of a few leading private companies involved in selling and assembling electronic equipment in Sri Political commitment in Waste Management Lanka. Under this Programme launched in the year 2010, electronic waste (e- Sri Lanka ratified the Basal Convention waste) is collected island-wide in order on the Control of Trans boundary to dispose of it in a proper manner. The Movements of Hazardous Waste and Mobile Phone Waste (m-waste) Project their Disposal in 1992. To implement this was a private sector initiative with the Convention at country level Sri Lanka same objective as the e-waste has developed and published Guidelines programme, launched by a leading for the Implementation of Hazardous mobile phone service provider in Sri Waste Management Regulations and Lanka in 2007 to collect, transport and Harmonised System Codes. Under the store mobile waste within the country as Basel Convention, in collaboration with an extended product responsibility of the Department of Customs, a Guidance company. A few other electronic vendors Manual for Safe and Effective Detection with an extended responsibility initiative and Investigation of Illegal Traffic and offer rebates in exchange for new Trans boundary Movement of appliances to encourage planned Hazardous Waste and Other Waste.. The disposal of used electronic appliances. CEA has established a programme titled 2.11 Ensuring Good Governance 'Pilisaru' which commenced in 2008 to solve the solid waste problem. Under this It is widely recognised that good programme waste management is done governance is essential for sustainable by adhering to a reduction of waste development. Well-functioning legal generation by reuse, recycling and institutions and governments bound by resource recovery to the maximum extent the rule of law are, in turn, vital to good possible, followed by appropriate governance. Governance cuts across all treatment, and finally, the disposal of sectors of development activity. The residual waste in an environmentally current political-administrative sound manner. A leading local cement arrangement for performing public manufacturer uses waste material as a functions is based on central Ministries, source for fuel in its kilns and has Departments and Public Enterprises at developed a strong waste supply the apex operating a decentralised network. district and divisional network of sub- national offices. Provincial Councils Regulations with respect to hazardous waste management were gazetted in provide for a devolved political system modifying the centralised structure. 1996. Having identified the difficulties and draw backs and to facilitate the easy Devolution introduces a multilevel (three-tiered) system of government with 23

Local Government at the third tier. It community, etc., for sustainable allows participatory decision-making development. and a bottom up approach in planning The Constitution of Sri Lanka recognises and decision making regarding service gender equality and child rights. This delivery in respect of devolved functions constitutional pledge has been honoured at the provincial and local levels. by creating a separate Ministry for the Through the process of striving towards subject of Child Development and good governance, Sri Lanka has already Women's Affairs and the establishment taken steps in developing participatory of the Sri Lanka Women’s Bureau, the plans for sustainable development at National Women and Child Protection local government and/or district level Authority, the Department of Probation whilst supporting transparency and and Child Care Service and the accountability, stringent environmental Children's Secretariat. The legal system and social regulations and control. in the country is also supportive of Starting at the third tier and upwards, Sri women's rights, and free legal assistance Lanka’s objectives towards ensuring too is available. The ministry plays a key good governance entails improvement of role in policy and strategy development, the governance framework for planning, coordination and sustainable development with peace and implementation of programmes on child justice ensured for all communities. development and empowerment of The introduction of city consultations women. A Charter for Women has been including all stakeholders of major cities approved by the Government to ensure resulting in implementation of gender equality and freedom from sex participatory planning and budgeting are discrimination. Its provisions can be new and successful approaches of the enforced in the courts of law. This local government sector. The Charter embodies special provisions for establishment of good governance protection against gender-based violence. resource centres, introduction of the A National Women's Committee, Citizens’ Charter, thee establishment of a appointed by the President, continuously Federation of Sri Lankan Local monitors the implementation of all Government Authorities & Mayors provisions in the Charter. The Children’s Forum and social auditing programmes Secretariat and Sri Lanka Children's are some of the achievements towards Authority functioning under the Ministry good governance. This has resulted in are responsible for safeguarding the improved rule of law, gender and equity, rights of children. The school going participation, transparency and children come under the purview of the responsiveness at local levels. Ministries responsible for education. The achievements in the advancement of 2.12 Strengthening the Role of Major women and children are related to Groups health, literacy and educational During the last two decades, Sri Lanka enrolment, all of which are considered has taken a comprehensive programme major responsibilities of the state in its of action to strengthen all major groups, effort to ensure the wellbeing of its covering women, children, youth, people and human development. indigenous people, non-governmental Sri Lanka has a youth population of 5 organisations, workers and trade unions, million, amounting to 26% of the total business, scientific and technological population. Each year about 150,000 and

130,000 students leave the school There are Environmental Brigades in education system after sitting for the most of the schools set up with the GCE (O/L) and GCE (A/L) examinations assistance and guidance of the Central respectively. Hence 92% of the youth is Environmental Authority. Most of the seeking alternative avenues leading to work in relation to these Brigades is productive employment opportunities. performed by NGOs through awareness The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills building programmes and through Development and the National Youth promoting the participation of youth in Services Council are the main decision conservation-oriented activities. Over the making bodies in advancing the role of last two decades the Wildlife and Nature youth and their active involvement in the Protection Society has implemented a protection of the environment and the Programme to Promote School Nature promotion of economic and social Clubs (SNCs.). There are more than 1000 development. The prime responsibility of local NGOs working with youth for the Ministry is to formulate national sustainable development and there are policies and implement youth about 1250 school environmental clubs. development programmes to create The Constitution of Sri Lanka provides youth who will be future leaders by equal rights and privileges to indigenous providing the necessary vocational and communities. With regard to important technical training, developing their matters regarding various aspects entrepreneurial and leadership skills and relevant to the indigenous people of Sri enhancing their socio cultural activities. Lanka, it is the Government of Sri Lanka The Ministry has 18 institutes under its and the Indigenous Communities purview to achieve these objectives. themselves who collaborate in making Youth are actively involved in decisions. There are specific arms of the environmental protection, natural key relevant public agencies in dealing resource management and social with indigenous people. development through NGOs and public Special attention is paid to the agencies. A few such organisations are indigenous people during the the Sri Lanka Wildlife and Nature preparation of any development Protection Society (WNPS), the Young initiatives under the National Zoologists Association, the Field Involuntary Resettlement Policy. The Ornithology Group, the Ceylon Bird Department of Forest Conservation and Club, the Environment Foundation the Department of Indigenous Medicine Limited, the Ruk Rakaganno (Protectors under the reforestation programme of Trees), the Sri Lanka Wildlife Trust, encourage indigenous communities on the Wildlife Heritage Trust, the reforestation and growing medicinal Environmental Journalist Forum, the Bio- herbs and plants. The Department of diversity and Elephant Conservation Wild Life Conservation is following up Trust, etc. These organisations are on these activities in collaboration with capable of acting as conduits of public local administrative authorities and opinion. In addition, there are hundreds nongovernmental organisations. There is of NGOs at grass root level having information available in this regard with programmes focused on awareness the Department of Wild Life creation and activity implementation in Conservation and also with the conservation. Divisional Secretaries in the relevant areas. Any interested party could gain

25 access to the information required within their own agendas and not been through the Sri Lanka Government able to educate and involve other Information Department as well as stakeholders, including non- through the National Museum. The environmental NGOs. This could be due indigenous communities have now been to the lack of a holistic understanding of allowed access and participation in the the subject and also because such an religious ceremonies and festivals at approach requires socio, economic and national level with their cultural political integration of the solutions. In practices also being incorporated. There fact, most NGOs have been under the is a vast range of literature on the various impression that Sustainable aspects of the life style and social Development is merely an environmental organisation of these communities and issue and concern. Hence, the interest by there is a great deal of interest on non-environmental NGOs has been indigenous communities in Sri Lanka. extremely limited in sustainable development. On the initiative of several The MoE has recognised the contribution environmental and development NGOs, of the NGOs in the decision making a multi-stakeholder dialogue has process of sustainable development commenced for the first time in the issues and included a NGO participation country. provision in the National Environmental Action Plan, Biodiversity Action Plan, The workers and their trade unions have Forestry Sector Master Plan, Solid Waste been identified as one of the social Management Strategy, National Wildlife groups with immense potential to Policy, National Forestry Policy, etc. undertake promotion of sustainable development needs. They are placed in a The Central Environmental Authority tripartite structure premised on the has registered around 3000 principles of tri-partisn, constituting the environmental NGOs. Many workers, the employers and the environmental NGOs in Sri Lanka have government. This influential link can be been involved in discussions, debates beneficial in awareness programmes and and activities related to sustainable assistance in legislation formulation with development at local, national and stakeholder participation. international levels. However, a strong understanding and conceptual modelling In this field, decision-making is largely for sustainable development exists only done by the Ministries of Industry and among a few environments based NGOs Commerce, Economic Development, in the country. For many it has become a Science and Technology as well as the part of environmental activism and thus, National Science and Technology the concept of the essential integration of Commission (NASTEC), the National the other two broad dimensions of Science Foundation (NSF) and the Sri economic and social aspects have been Lanka Association for the Advancement neglected. There is also criticism that of Science (SLAAS), the premier non- environmental NGOs have kept the governmental scientific body. subject of sustainable development

CHAPTER 3 power generating plants and grid connected renewable energy plants are 3 Sector Specific Progress operated and owned by the private sector. Achieved in Sustainable Development Box 3.1 Ensuring Energy Security 3.1 Energy Sri Lanka progressed well to provide the basic energy needs of individual Overview citizens by extending the national grid to 92% of homes by end 2012. The primary energy supply in Sri Lanka Widespread use of efficient fuel wood is approximately 268,440 TJ/year, stoves has contributed to averting dominated by biomass, accounting for a cooking fuel shortages in all regions of share of 46.5%, followed by petroleum the country. Integration of the whole and renewable forms such as value chain in renewable energy hydropower and other renewable energy generation and utilisation is being sources. Electricity is a main secondary attempted on two major technological source of energy, which accounts for 9%. fronts. The highest energy consumer categories are household and commercial A net metering scheme is in operation businesses, which is approximately throughout the country, paving the 157,557 TJ/year, a share of 45.3%. The way to wean away the buildings from balance is consumed by transport, 97,847 electricity supplies and to making TJ/year, 28.1% and industries, 92,653 buildings energy generators. TJ/year, 26.6%. A Long Term Renewable Energy Firewood is an important form of Development Plan (LTREDP) and a cooking fuel in the household sector. The Long Term Energy Efficiency use of firewood in the urban sector is Improvement Plan (LTEEIP) were 42%, while it is 88% in the rural sector. developed, setting the pace for a full The use of LPG is 46% and 10% in the 2 scale sustainable energy drive from sectors respectively. With the increase in 2010 onwards. Since 2012, the energy economic activities and income sector performance is closely generation within families, it is expected monitored and reviewed in an annual that the usage of firewood would further publication of the National Energy decrease, while the latter would increase. Balance which is available in a web The use of kerosene as a cooking fuel is portal: 1% and 10%, in the economic and http://www.info.energy.gov.lk. household sectors respectively. Box 3.1 highlights the current status of the energy sector succinctly. The overall annual electricity demand Electricity Supply Industry grew at an annual average growth rate of The industry that supplies electricity is 7.5% over the last 3 decades and is dominated and largely owned by the expected to grow at 8-9% in the future. Government, which owns a large The gross generation of electricity is segment of the plants that generate 10,800 GWh. The rate of electrification electricity. A small number of thermal was 92% by 2011. The total installed capacity of the grid is approximately 27

4,000 MW, while the maximum peak of New Renewable Energy (NRE) to 20% demand was 1954 MW. The system load by 2020. factor is 63%. The Government has taken measures to maintain an uninterrupted New Renewable Energy Industry electricity supply 24 hours a day, 365 The renewable energy industry days a year. supplements over 50% of power Grid generation is dominated by non- generation in the country. Although indigenous resources, which include oil there were several hydro power capacity based petroleum products, and additions, the share of this form indigenous resources such as mega continued on a reducing trend since the hydros. Due to its geo-climatic settings, mid-1990s, due to the accelerated Sri Lanka is blessed with several forms of development of all economically feasible renewable energy resources, such as major hydropower resources. The second hydro, biomass, solar and wind. Some of oil crisis in the 1980s renewed the interest these renewable energy resources are in small-scale hydropower, as a response widely used and developed to supply the to the rising cost of grid electricity. energy requirements of the country. ‘Estate Hydros’ as these plants were Others have the potential for development when technology becomes Box 3.2 Increasing Indigenous Energy sound and economically feasible for use. Significant development took place in The National Policies and Strategies of the New Renewable Energy (NRE) Sri Lanka (2008), proposes the following industry in the country during the last energy mix for power generation. few years in Sri Lanka. A Table 3.1 Energy Mix for Power comprehensive resource mapping Generation programme is now in place for hydro, wind and solar energy resources,

Oil leading to the declaration of Energy

Development Areas, an exclusive area secured for development of NRE projects. A detailed guideline and planning approval process was

introduced in 2009 to accelerate the NRE

development. This has yielded capacity

Conventional Hydrolytic (%) Maximum from (%) Coal(%) Minimum from New Renewable Energy (%) Year additions of more than 250MW by end 1995 94 6 - - 2011, which include 217MW of hydro, 30MW of wind and 10MW of biomass 2000 45 54 - 1 power plants. The latest addition to this fleet of NRE plants are two solar energy 2005 36 61 - 3 plants providing a combined capacity of 1.3MW. 2010 42 31 20 7 known, proliferated in the previous 2015 28 8 54 10 century and later went into disuse by about the late 1950s, due to the advent of The Mahinda Chintana Idiri Dekma, grid electricity. The renewed interest which documents the Government’s paved the way for a lot of rehabilitation vision for national development, projects which enabled the build-up of envisions a further increase in the share valuable technical capacity locally, which

28 was later scaled up to projects outside Village Hydro Schemes. By end of 2010, the plantation sector. Hydroelectricity there were more than 300 village hydro generation has played a major role in schemes in operation, benefitting power generation since the approximately 7,000 rural families. commissioning of the first hydroelectric The state owned electricity utility, the power plant in 1950. At present, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), extended share of major hydro plants accounts for further cooperation by developing a 46% of the total generation. robust technical and legal framework to The share of thermal power is at 47%. connect non-dispatchable embedded The first small hydropower plant was generators through a Grid Code and a commissioned in 1996. The share of NRE Standardised Power Purchase stands at 7%, which includes Agreement (SPPA), based on avoided technological genres such as mini hydro, cost principles. The SPPA has also been wind, biomass and solar considered the key driver of the early success of the hydropower sector. This is

Table 3.2 Grid Capacity Additions in MW and Percentages of Power Generation Technologies (1996 – 2010) Mini Hydropower Sector

Type Unit 1996 2000 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 Major hydro MW 1,137 1,137 1,207 1,207 1,207 1,207 1,207 Thermal MW 309 685 1,115 1,115 1,455 1,475 1,660 NRE MW 1 16 89 115 146 182 217 Total MW 1,448 1,838 2,411 2,437 2,808 2,864 3,084 Source: Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, 2010

To date, the NRE industry has applicable for power plants having contributed to saving up to LKR 26.8 capacities less than 10 MW based on billion, in the form of foreign exchange, renewable sources, waste or co- over the last 15 years. Today, the generation facilities. The salient features development of small hydropower alone of the SPPA include: has reached great heights in Sri Lanka, paving the way for its successful replication in other parts of the world. The early development of the hydro power industry created a significant opportunity for knowledgeable technocrats, local investors and financial institutes to forge an alliance to launch many more small hydro projects. The know-how was gainfully utilised by non- governmental organisations operating at grass root levels which commissioned Mini hydro sector: leader of the renewable energy many community owned micro hydro industry of Sri Lanka projects which were later identified as

1) A complete averting of market risk: other countries. There are also initiatives the Ceylon Electricity Board to manufacture wind turbines, and wind assures the purchase of all what is blade manufacturing is already taking produced by Small Hydro Projects place in two enterprises. (SHPs) projects. Other Forms of Renewable Energy 2) A floor price of 90% of the tariff: ensuring a steady and predictable The evolution of the small hydropower cash flow. sector and the stagnation of the development programmes focusing on 3) A long term commitment: the other renewable energy sources such as SPPA which was for a period of 15 biomass and wind required a fresh years is now offered for 20 years perspective. This provided a window of and is based on sound legal opportunity for biomass projects through provisions in resource allocation a financing mechanism identified as the assured through an Energy Permit. Sri Lanka Energy Fund. This fund The SPPA, which offered a tariff based managed to bridge the gap between the on avoided cost principles, saw a avoided cost tariff paid to biomass dramatic surge in the number of small projects and the bare minimum tariff, hydro projects being developed, due to which would make these projects viable, the steep rise in fossil fuel prices, which making the dream of biomass power pushed the avoided cost to a higher level, driving rural poverty out from rural Sri making many a small hydro project Lanka a reality. The success of this financially a very attractive investment. mechanism led to the introduction of a The resultant dynamism created an ever new tariff regime known as the cost growing industry, teeming with project based, technology specific tiered tariff in developers, service providers and 2006.Introduction of this tariff regime consultants, which would eventually saw the rejuvenation of several wind and grow into a formidable force, biomass projects, which were in commanding a total capacity of 217 MW abeyance for many years, due to the by end 2011. viability gap issues.

Wind Energy

Locally manufactured hydro turbine

The country possesses its own high- quality hydro turbine manufacturing plant, with energy conversion efficiencies Wind Energy plants in the North Western reaching world-class levels. Turbines Province of Sri Lanka manufactured in Sri Lanka are used in local power plants and also exported to

Wind energy attracted the attention of plant is being proposed by the engineers who were responsible for Government to reap the winds of the water management in the Dry Zone of Sri Mannar Island located in North West of Lanka. Via foreign expertise, many wind- Sri Lanka. pumping stations were set up on the flat terrain of the Dry Zone, along with the Promising Renewable Energy Sources accumulation of a wealth of local for the Future Issues knowledge of the wind regime of Sri It is clear that the NRE industry is on its Lanka. way forward through the successful The perseverance of a handful of implementation of many committed practitioners planted the first environmentally sound forms of power seeds of wind energy development in Sri generation over the last decade. The Lanka through an ambitious programme three tiered, technology specific, cost- of wind measurement in many locations based tariff, proposed by the of the country. Armed with this valuable Government for NRE developers has long-term wind data, the CEB managed eliminated the drawbacks of the previous to convince a development partner to tariff that involved avoided cost. The provide grant funds to construct the first new tariff, offered to six genres of wind energy plant in Hambantota in technology: biomass, hydro, wind, 1998.The success of this project led the municipal waste, agro waste and waste CEB’s Alternative Energy Unit to initiate heat recovery, opened opportunities for a modern wind resource assessment efficient development of other genres programme, yielding many years of such as solar and wind. The first solar quality wind data, which was required to energy park was commissioned in 2011, launch commercial projects. This with an installed capacity of 1.2 MW. promising wind data attracted the attention of a development partner, which lead to the development of a wind Atlas for Sri Lanka in 2003.With the introduction of the cost based tariff regime, the availability of long term ground data, a sound financing programme and experience gained in project development, helped launch the first commercial wind project in 2009.This project was timely, and was Sri Lanka’s first ever-Solar Park with an followed by several other projects, all of installed capacity of 1.237 MWs, at Hambantota which are yielding 32% of the annual plant factor, the highest-level recorded The renewable energy industry has also anywhere in Asia. The commendable benefited from generous grants to accuracy of energy yield estimates construct two utility scale solar PV provided the much needed drive and power plants in Hambantota in 2010.The stability to this industry, leading to the projects are as of 2011, yielding clean construction of many more wind power energy at an annual plant factor of 17%. plants, resulting in a capacity addition of The on going market upheavals in solar 30.15 MW in 2011.A further 89.15 MW of PV coupled with a special tariff offered wind power plants are under for exotic technologies have contributed construction and a 100 MW wind power to create a dynamic industry vying to

31 develop large utility scale grid tied solar Demand Side Management power plants by the end of 2011. The second oil crisis in the 1980s saw the Hydropower and biomass based energy highest ever oil import bill accounting for supplies, the only large-scale native nearly 50% of Sri Lanka’s export earnings primary energy sources available in Sri draining out. This created an impetus to Lanka, are expected to remain virtually make many important changes in the fixed during the near future. energy sector, aligning it with an energy conservation drive. This era heralded the Renewable Energy as a Source of taking over of poorly managed Energy for Off-grid Electrification distribution networks operated by local authorities, the launching of a dedicated However, certain parts of the island still fund for energy conservation and do not have access to electricity, due to establishment of an association of energy inaccessibility to the national grid. Such management professionals. From this areas are expected to be served through point onwards, Sri Lanka continued to off-grid technologies with the objective of march towards energy conservation with providing improved energy services and many significant achievements. The clean energy. There is a strong off-grid journey towards lower energy intensity electricity generation industry based on of economy continues to date, with the village hydro and solar photovoltaic valuable efforts of committed energy systems, because of many years of work management professionals and the on the part of both the Government and cooperation of utility engineers the non-governmental sectors. A special funding programme titled the Energy The first known major energy efficiency Services Delivery Project (ESDP) was drive came into being with the implemented with donor assistance, introduction of an energy efficient cook providing the much needed debt capital stove in 1986. Involvement of a to the evolving industry in 1997. Government institution to promote a fuel wood cook stove could be quite strange The success of this 5-year programme to many. However, this affiliation was saw an extension to the programme by due to the absence of any other player way of another donor funded with such deep permeation to the programme titled Renewable Energy for domestic energy users and also the Rural Economic Development (RERED.) interest of the state owned utility to These endeavours have been further reduce the energy load being taken up strengthened by the ESDP and its for cooking activities. This extensive extension RERED project. Both these island wide programme, a part of the programmes actively supported bigger National Fuel Conservation community owned micro-hydro projects Programme, targeted low and middle and have evolved into a major success. income groups for an improved cook There are 239 community owned village stove which had one hearth providing hydro schemes presently supplying heat to two mouths, named ‘Anagi.'Tests electricity to over 7,000 households in carried out on the stove and numerous rural communities. Approximately field-cooking tests have revealed a near 157,000 remote rural households have 50% fuel wood saving over the been supplied with solar PV systems. A traditional stoves. few households are also supplied with off-grid wind turbine systems mainly in Although the results of the programme the Southern areas of the country. were not fully evaluated in a post

Box 3.4 Remarkable Achievements The achievements in the renewable energy industry also created many conflicts and issues, stemming from the sheer rapid growth of the industry. Fully understanding the importance of renewable energy in future economic development, the Government took a bold decision to recognise renewable energy resources as public property and initiated the drafting of legislation to vest all renewable energy resources with the Republic. The need of an entity to champion the cause of sustainable energy was felt stronger than ever before, and through an act of Parliament, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority was established in 2007. The renewable energy resources vested with the state was in the custody of this new Authority and a new scheme of resource allocation was introduced in 2008, bringing in the much-needed discipline to the renewable energy industry. This new Authority managed to accelerate the development of all renewable energy sources through a comprehensive programme spanning the whole value chain from resource assessment, allocation, project implementation to manufacturing of energy conversion equipment.

‘Anagi’ Stove, being made and installed with insulation

Box 3.4 Improving Energy Efficiency Several laws, which were provided in the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Act No. 35 of 2007, came into force with the framing of regulations. All bulk consumers are now required to appoint an Energy Manager and are required to be periodically examined by an Accredited Energy Auditor. Energy consumption reporting for such consumers was made mandatory, as a means of guiding these consumers to use energy in a more productive manner. Five energy consumption sectors were bench marked, to set the pace of energy efficiency improvement in such energy intense sectors. The energy labeling programme was elevated from a voluntary scheme to a mandatory scheme with the introduction of the first mandatory label to Compact Fluorescent Lamps. Its scope will be enlarged in a well planned sequence to cover all other appliances which exert pressure on the electricity supply industry. Consumer awareness has received close attention of the authorities and specific programmes targeting the home owners and future citizens commenced in 2011, and are expected to continue well in the future. 33 programme monitoring effort, the country managed to save over LKR 3,710 emergence of the ‘Anagi’ stove as the million per annum by replacing poor preferred stove speaks volumes of the quality CFLs which failed to reach the success of the programme. It is estimated minimum energy performance standard that 37.0% of households, which use fuel with ‘three-star CFLs.' wood for cooking, now use the Anagi The Demand Side Management (DSM), stove and a further 16.6% uses other the DSM branch of the CEB and many kinds of efficient stoves. Translated to other state agencies and businesses fuel wood savings, this indicates a 38.3% started to realise the value of energy saving of fuel wood used in Sri Lanka, management and entered the arena of accounting for all improved cook stoves providing energy management services in use. to industrial and commercial users. This It was also decided upon to promote signalled the birth of several Energy superior quality compact fluorescent Services Companies (ESCOs) who lamps (CFL) at a greater expense rather accumulated knowledge in conducting than settling on lower cost models as the energy audits and document economics dominant tool in demand side of implementing the plethora of energy management. The higher initial cost of efficiency improvement projects found in CFLs was not allowed to deter the industries and buildings. Certain ESCOs domestic user from buying a good went further and entered the sphere of product, owing to the easy payment project implementation by the early scheme introduced by the state owned 2000.These developments required a utility. A separate branch was more streamlined approach to energy established to manage demand side efficiency improvement and donor management efforts and the easy assistance by way of technical support payment scheme in which the domestic and valuable knowledge exchanges users were given the chance to buy four provided these pre-requisites, at that good quality CFLs and pay in 12 interest critical phase of evolution. free instalments via their utility bill. This These valuable knowledge and technical scheme paved the way to reduce the inputs saw the compilation of a peak demand by 380 MW and to win the monitoring and verification (M&V) confidence of users, taking Sri Lanka to protocol, which is the backbone of any become the highest penetrated CFL energy efficiency improvement contract markets in the world by 2010, reaching agreement reached by an ESCO and an 92% of all light sources imported. In energy user. This versatile tool provided addition, realising the urgent need to both simple approaches to verify actual curtail the disturbing trend of the energy savings and also very complex increasing usage of energy inefficient schemes to monitor energy savings lamps, a Labelling programme was under performance contracting introduced for CFL in 2000. With the agreements. enactment of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Act No. 35 of 2007, The dynamic environment created for the CFL provisions to make energy labelling ESCO industry faced many setbacks due mandatory were available. In year 2008, to lack of access for project financing .At the labelling standards were revised to a certain period, the lending interest rates make it more accommodative and the increased to values beyond 20% per labelling scheme transformed from a annum, making many projects financially voluntary to a mandatory scheme. The unviable. These issues were further

34 compounded by the fact that financing defining strategies for end use efficiency institutes were unwilling to fund projects improvements. due to want of collateral, which is The domestic users will be prompted into usually absent in a custom designed making wise purchase decisions when energy efficiency improvement project buying energy consuming appliances effort. This barrier was overcome by through a mandatory energy labelling introducing a credit enhancement scheme of all appliances which are mechanism named the Sustainable having a significant impact on energy Guarantee Facility (SGF), which offered a demand. The bulk energy users who collateral substitute of up to 80% of the account for more than 80% of the project cost, and also reducing the cost of demand in the relevant sector are

Figure 3.1 The Demand for Different Petroleum Products borrowings due to reduced risk. The targeted through a mandatory energy facility was initiated by the Energy manager/auditor scheme where these Conservation Fund (ECF) and the users are required to provide periodic Government invested in the facility reports on the achievements in energy which could technically guarantee management. These larger scale projects up to a value of LKR 400 million. operations are subjected to mandatory energy audits by accredited energy The Code of Practice for Energy Efficient managers at specified intervals. Buildings in Sri Lanka – 2008 (CPEEB) is an initiative undertaken as the first In view of the widespread benefits comprehensive approach to reduce expected through the introduction of building energy, especially in efficient lighting, the Regional Centre for commercial buildings. Energy Lighting (RCL) was established in April management, which begins with the keen 2009, with the assistance of the donor observation of energy usage, was funding. The RCL increases awareness elevated to new level by defining the and affordability of energy efficient, activities which goes into the energy reliable and clean lighting technologies to management programme along with reduce the electricity demand in lighting. roles and responsibilities of individual The centre is expected to develop the stakeholders. In other words, the cutting edge solid state lighting programme was divided to cater to solutions, better known as LED lighting different end use segments clearly to reach the affordable price levels .The

35 centre is equipped with state of the art 3.2 Transport test facilities and is expected to be the Transportation is known to have a major force in curtailing the demand significant bearing on the sustainability growth in the South Asian region. of development, in all three commonly recognised aspects, namely social, Petroleum Sector economic and environmental. Social As a country with little indigenous development cannot be achieved or petroleum resources, Sri Lanka totally sustained without the adequate mobility depends on petroleum imports, either in of people and goods. Transportation the form of crude oil or as finished provides this mobility requirement. Sri products. The only refinery in the Lanka enjoys very high social quality of country, converts imported crude oil to life indices, though income levels are not refined products to supply as high as that of developed countries, approximately half of the petroleum owing to affordable and wide-spread demand of the country. It is owned and mobility solutions provided by the state- operated by the state and has a daily run public transport services since the output of 50,000 barrels of crude oil. The late 1950s, according to research demand for crude oil is approximately conducted at the University of Colombo. 1.9million tons. Refined products amount The road density of 1.75 per km2 of the to over 2million tons. The crude oil country is another positive factor that processed at the refinery is influences this aspect. This mobility of predominantly ‘Iranian Light’ (92%) people and goods at competitive costs is while the balance comes from ‘Arabian also an essential element of economic Light’ (8 %.) Petroleum has a wide range growth. Transport activities, as a of applications as a convenient energy component of the service sector, source. Transport, power generation, contributes towards value addition of the industrial thermal applications, domestic economy. The contribution of the lighting and cooking are the most transport sector to the Gross Domestic common uses of petroleum in Sri Lanka Product in 2011 was 12%, out of which (See Figure 3.1 and table 3.3) 1% was from rail transport and 11% was from passenger and goods transport by

road. A growth of 11.3% was recorded on

Table 3.3 The Annual Demand for Various Petroleum Products

Thousand tons Year 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 LPG 146 165 169.76 180.03 158.50 170.29 187.49 Naphtha 124.92 59.94 97.49 142.33 110.70 54.11 Petrol 224.38 463 471.16 509.1 510.64 539.64 616.55 Kerosene 229.1 208.99 206.24 178.12 151.30 150.69 165.07 Diesel 1,730.44 1,681.27 1,634.41 1,754.20 1626.83 1720.66 1708.76 Fuel Oil 736.71 972.78 911.15 985.25 1010.52 1100.91 994.46 Total Demand 3,066.62 3,615.96 3,452.66 3,704.19 3,600.12 3,792.89 3,726.43

36 the total transport sector in 2011. This lengthwise as well as with regard to growth could be attributed to the physical quality, has resulted in the increase of the number of all categories of introduction of heavy vehicles with 10 motor vehicles in the country as well as tons+ containers into the road transport the expansion of inland transportation system. with increased economic activities of the Investments on roads have been one of country. Improvement of the quality of the factors that have affected the roads also is another contributory factor. improvement of transport of the country. Out of total passengers, 49% use bus Investments on roads are being done transport, private and public, while under a number of categories such as railway caters to 4.3%. There are about expressways, national roads, provincial 26,500 (2010) buses operated for roads and rural roads (Maga Neguma.) A passenger transport, out of which 80% is total of about US$ one billion has been operated by private bus operators and invested for the road network 20% by the state owned Sri Lanka development at national, provincial and Transport Board. The Ministry of rural level during 2011. Transport regulates the operations of the The Government investment on the private sector passenger bus service. development of rail transport has also Such regulations include the organisation been significant. US$ 56 million have of both private and public bus transport been invested in modernisation of the in a more orderly manner, with better Southern Coastal Railway Line while, coordination with the view of providing US$ 425 million has been allocated to improved services to the public. This also reconstruct Northern Railway Line up to includes the regularisation of charges of the Jaffna Peninsula. bus fare. The objective of the maintaining the public bus service is not profit In 2010, the Mahinda Chintana Idiri Dekma earning but the regularisation of public (Vision for the Future) presented the transport systems for the people and the Government’s development path, which government subsidises the public included making Sri Lanka a regional transport venture. transportation hub. Accordingly, the priority is now assigned to mega The rail transport system, which is totally development projects. Building new sea owned and managed by the government, ports and airports have already caters to about 110 million passengers commenced and are expected to start (4.3% of the total passengers) and operations by 2016. transports about 1.8 million MTs of goods annually, which is only 2% of the The regulations, cited as the National total freight transportation. The Environmental (Air Emission, Fuel and government subsidises the entire rail Vehicle Importation Standards) transport system. Regulation, gazetted on 30th June 2003, under the National Environmental Act The private sector plays a vital role in the No. 47 of 1980, introduced mobile air transportation of goods within the emission standards, fuel standards, as country, the volume of which is 98% of well as vehicle specification standards the total freight transportation. The total applicable for importation. Though some number of Lorries engaged in freight of these standards were meant to become transport was about 223,000 in 2005, and increasingly stringent with time, such has risen to 310,000 in 2011. With the periodic revisions anticipated in the improvement of the road network,

37 above mentioned Gazette notification (CIS) was introduced with the aim of have not come into effect. ensuring better ambient air quality in Sri Lanka. Further, the Air Quality Management (AQM) Working Group, established in 2000, formulated an action plan with short and long term steps to be taken with regard to the transportation sector.  ‘AirMAC’ is a step towards implementation of pollution reduction.

Road emission monitoring system  Vehicular emission testing process with stipulated exhaust standards

was made a precondition for The importation of three wheelers with obtaining revenue license. The joint two-stroke engines was banned with initiative of the MoE and MoT effect from January 2008.In addition, together with Department of Motor with regard to two-stroke engines, the Traffic to measure and monitor importation of full engines, engine blocks vehicular emissions is a step and cylinder heads was prohibited after forward. The required equipment is 2011 in order to prevent the local now in place. assembly of two-stroke engines. Phasing out of leaded gasoline by 2003 and the  Investment on Expressways. reduction of sulphur content in diesel from 0.5% to 0.3% during 2001 to 2005 3.3 Water were some of the actions taken under the Sri Lanka is considered a country of stipulations of the gazette 1295/11 of 30th abundant water resources, with an June 2003. annual per capita water supply of The Government reduced import duties 2,400m3. An island nation, Sri Lanka on private vehicles in 2009, which ultimately receives all of its water from indicated a significant reversal of this precipitation. Rivers, streams, lakes, public transport priority policy, and villus (water-holes near the surface), resulted in inundating roads with small deep seated springs, soil water aquifers capacity private transport vehicles (permeable water-bearing geological (notably three wheelers and two formations), coastal springs and lagoons wheelers.) In fact, what was envisaged are identified as naturally occurring was a further increase of import duties water resources in the island. The on private vehicles in order to induce a predominant source of surface and modal shift from private modes towards ground water resources is rainfall, the public modes of transport. In this regard, mean annual of which is around the recent increase (in March 2012) of 2000mm, about two and half times the import duties on private vehicle imports world average. Spatial and seasonal can be considered a welcome measure. distribution of rainfall divides the country into two zones, i.e., Wet Zone The Ministry of Transportation, together and Dry Zone. The Wet Zone receives with the MoE, established the Air rain almost throughout the year while Resource Management Centre (AirMAC), rains are restricted in the Dry Zone under which, the Clean Air Initiative

38 mainly to the period between October ancient hydraulic civilisation, which was and January. Monsoon rains received by founded on the tank irrigation system, the watersheds in the central highlands and small tank cascade systems that are are the major source of water for the special features not found in other parts main rivers, the basins of which cover of the world. The ancient irrigation about 90% of the country. systems of Sri Lanka have been hailed in many international forums as classic 3.3.1 Sector Achievements examples of sustainable development. Most of the ancient works have been Utilisation of water resources is restored, or reconstructed during the last multifaceted and water resources 150 years. In more recent times, new management and development are development work has also been directly linked with socio-economic undertaken, including the multipurpose growth, poverty reduction, sustainable projects and river basins development development, environmental protection projects, namely the Gal Oya, the and livelihood. Thus water resources are Walawe and the Mahaweli River of critical importance in all spheres of projects. Initially, food production and development. It sustains agriculture, is opening up of the dry zone with the source of a large portion of power settlements were the major objectives of generation and is indispensable for the the irrigation schemes where the dry functioning of many industries, besides zone had a high potential. providing water for drinking and other domestic uses.

Infrastructure in relation to water Historical Water Vision of Sri management in Sri Lanka can be Lanka’s Hydraulic Civilisation associated with major, medium and minor irrigation to sustain agriculture as “Let not even a drop of wa- well as the industry sector, for the ter obtained from rain, flow generation of hydro power and for the to the sea without benefiting poverty-targeted water resources mankind” interventions (such as potable water supply, sanitation, livestock and for King Parakramabahu (1153- pleasure.) In view of the deepening stress 1186 AD) on the water resources due to ever increasing demand for human needs as well as due to impacts on the quality and quantity of water through natural and In keeping with local traditions, and man-made disasters (Climate Change, infrastructure development needs, the Deforestation), the call for more prudent Irrigation and Water Sector has played a and sustainable approaches are expected key role in the development of the from all nations to ensure sustainability country and the enhancement of the of the water resources base. Integrated economic status of its people. The water water resources management has thus resources of the country have been become a necessity, and will receive due intensively utilised for securing the recognition in Rio + 20. livelihoods of the rural community and the food security of the people. This Sri Lanka has been committed to situation is gradually undergoing change sustainable water resources management with increased demands for water made for over 2500 years. Its roots lie in the

39 from other sectors, in addition to the pipeline for implementation that will demands of the agriculture sector. both enhance the productivity and provide additional storage facilities. At present, there are 115 major schemes While promoting productivity and and 215 medium irrigation schemes and increasing cropping intensities, water about 27,000 minor irrigation schemes, or resources management programmes and village tanks in operation in the island. new development works would render Some of the schemes provide for flood an additional extent of nearly 100,000 ha protection, drainage and salt water to be cultivated during the planning exclusion. The existing irrigation horizon. infrastructure provides water to an extent of 600,000 ha, of which about Optimisation of water resources so as to 400,000 ha is fed from major/medium improve productivity in agriculture schemes and the balance from minor needs to be a major strategic objective of schemes. The total extent of lands under integrated water resource management. paddy cultivation is around 767,000 ha Increased productivity will also help to per year. It is estimated that out of nearly ensure food security at the national level 1.9 million ha of lands available under and to reduce malnutrition among the cultivation of paddy and other food poor. It has been established that on the crops (except commercial and export demand side, the agriculture sector uses crops), about 1 million ha of land require about 96% of the total water water as irrigation supplies. withdrawals. With 60% of people reliant on paddy cultivation, water plays a Increased demands for water from other powerful social, cultural and political sectors has made it necessary to actively role. Water is used mainly for rice pursue the principles of Integrated Water cultivation. While 85% of irrigated paddy Resources Management, on which future is in the dry zone, accounting for the policies, projects and programmes will be bulk of the water demand, the water based. Adopting a river basin availability in the wet zone is higher. management approach and the Hence, there is need for trans-basin formulation of a National Water diversion as well as flood control. In the Resources Development Master Plan are backdrop of the declining trend in the on the agenda, including revisiting of the area under cultivation and yields with Mahaweli Master Plan. Increased respect to rain-fed paddy cultivation, the productivity from the existing demand for water resources for irrigated infrastructure under the ‘more crops per paddy farming in the dry zone is likely to drop’ principle and providing more increase further in the future. storage facilities with new infrastructure for a reliable and timely supply are Water resources for hydro power is yet among the main thrusts of this plan. another area where the demand for water Introduction of ‘micro irrigation’ is high in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka still stands techniques for greater efficiency of water as one of the first countries in South Asia usage is another strategy that will receive to tap into its water resources to produce greater attention in the future. hydroelectricity. Sri Lanka initially Conjunctive use of ground water will be developed the hydroelectricity potential the other policy principle to optimise the available in the catchments of two major resources use. river basins – the Kelani and the Mahaweli Rivers, and operated an In this backdrop, over the next 10 year entirely hydroelectric-based generating horizon, 41 new projects are listed in the

40 system until about 1995, with minimal the Mahaweli Development Authority, thermal backup during dry periods. The the Ministry of Water Supply and hydroelectric generating capacity Sanitation, the NWSDB, the MoE and the presently in operation in various river CEA having a stake in accomplishing catchments has 1,185 MW of major sustainable water resources hydroelectric generating capacity, management. delivering about 4,193 GWh/year under average hydrological conditions. In 3.3.3 Water Supply & Sanitation addition, the operation of the 20 MW of Apart from developing the irrigation small hydroelectric capacity developed systems, the current national by CEB through small hydro power development policy focuses on projects (mainly run-off river projects) improving access to drinking water for use tributaries and several of the small all, over the medium term. The rivers. At present hydropower accounts government is aiming to provide safe for around 15% of the 2,032 MW of the drinking water and adequate sanitation daily requirement of power in Sri Lanka. facilities, ensure protection of water Still half of the hydro power capacity sources and environmental equality in comes from the Mahaweli system where the not too distant future. six major dams serve the duel objectives of supplying irrigation and generating Access to safe water and adequate electricity. The sources of hydro power sanitation facilities is a universal basic are currently under threat from both need and it is an essential element of siltation and reduction in rainfall. human development, poverty alleviation Hydropower is highly affected by water and social dignity, as well as providing releases for irrigation as irrigation the substratum for the primary health receives priority during the cropping care, living standards, and sustainable seasons. In the case of the Upper Kotmale economic and social development. The Hydro Power Project, which was very improvement of the Water and Sanitation recently inaugurated, the water is sector has a close correlation with diverted to adjacent river basins even reaching the MDGs, 5 out of the 8 MDGs before generating hydro power. being directly linked with water supply and sanitation. 3.3.2 Governance and Institutional Provision of drinking water supply is a Frameworks for Sustainable government priority and targets have Water Utilisation been set periodically with regards to Institutional reforms were also population access for safe drinking undertaken to facilitate better water. On a nation-wide basis, piped involvement of stakeholders at the water systems and protected wells community level in accomplishing deliver safe water to 81% of the Integrated Water Resources Management population. The National Water Supply Principles. The achievement of MDG and Drainage Board (NWSDB), targets, especially in the water sector, functioning under the overall of policy was a result of joint decision making at directions of the Ministry of Water national level with the relevant Supply and Drainage (MWS&D) is the institutions (including the Ministry of principle national agency, among other Irrigation and Water Resources government and private sector agencies, Management, the Department of that is responsible for water supply to the Irrigation, the Water Resources Board, nation (domestic and industrial), and is

41 the main channel for investment in the d) Establishment of separate divisions sector. for rural water supply and sanitation. With regard to the number of water supply schemes operated by the e) Formulation of the drinking water principle national agency for domestic policy. water supply, NWSDB, a total of 315 f) Acceptance of a sector wide schemes have been initiated by the end of approach in the water supply and 2011. Piped water is supplied to over sanitation sector. 40% of the population, while tube wells g) Establishment of a National provide water to almost 8%. In addition, coordination mechanism. 32% of the population living in urban h) Preparation of the sanitation policy. and rural areas has been provided with safe drinking water through protected i) National Policy for Rural Water shallow dug wells. Meanwhile, 1% of the Supply and Sanitation Sector. population is served with other safe The above policy statements broadly means of water supply such as protected aimed at achieving following national natural springs, rainwater, etc. goals: Accordingly, 81% of the population is  Providing access to sufficient and provided with safe drinking water safe drinking water to the facilities at present. population of the whole country The government objective is to provide by 2025. safe drinking water to 85% of the  Increasing the number of population by 2015 and to achieve 100% households connected per year by 2025.The National Policy on Water to water supply systems to Supply and Sanitation (2000) has 175,000 by year 2015. recognised water as a basic human need,  Improving service levels and the but has also identified it as one which has quality of water supplied in an economic value. The private sector urban and rural areas to meet and community-based organisations, national standards. through user financing systems, are expected to play a crucial role in meeting  Making rainwater harvesting such goals. mandatory.  Access to improved sanitation Policies, Principles and Reforms for 87% of the population of Sri Important policy and institutional Lanka by 2015 and 100% by 2025. reforms that took place in the past  Increase the number of decade could be summarised as follows: households connected to piped sewerage systems to 800 a) Establishment of a separate Ministry connections per year by 2015. for water supply and drainage.  Standard on-site sanitation b) Establishment of a process for availability to those are not adoption of a Rural Sanitation connected to a sewerage system policy. or other sanitation scheme. c) All rural water supply development projects to include an equal component for hygiene and sanitation.

Accomplishments in the Water and Sanitation Sector Box 3.5 Secure Water through Demand Responsive Approach, The drinking water supply sector has and Enhancement of Women’s and shown continuous expansion in recent Children’s Welfare years due to the unstinted financial assistance from multilateral and bilateral The availability of water for sanitary donor agencies and the Government. The requirements at the homestead has budgetary allocation for the sector has greater advantage for women and increased progressively over the years children. Children need more water for demonstrating the Government’s total washing and other sanitary commitment to achieving both MDG and requirements, up to several times a day; national targets set out for water supply village women no longer have problems and sanitation. using irrigation channels and public wells for bathing, especially during A series of structural reforms have been night hours. Incidences in poor carried out both in the Ministry of Water households of stomach-related diseases Supply and Drainage and also the in children have been reduced in the National Water Supply and Drainage recent past. The availability of pipe Board, in order to be better equipped to water has been of great social and handle the challenges ahead. The South cultural benefit for women and Asian Conference on Sanitation children. Time saved thereby is used by (SACOSAN (IV) conference organised by women in looking after their children, the Ministry was held in April 2011 and house maintenance, home garden mobilised commitment to the Colombo activities and participation in social and Declaration on sanitation among SAARC religious activities. Some women work countries. Sri Lanka is committed to longer hours in the field during peak implement the resolution of the Colombo seasons and cases are reported of self- Declaration and supports the Inter employment at household level, Country Working Group (ICWG) process providing additional household income. and also assists SACOSAN host countries Source “Case Study: Kailapathna go through the process.

The GoSL is totally committed to The Government has facilitated the achieving MDGs. The MDG targets blend implementation of many community well with our own sector development water supply and sanitation projects, strategy and the country is well on track which had a major impact on the rural to achieving most of the water and communities in Sri Lanka. These projects sanitation MDGs by the year 2015. were implemented with the active Over the years, the Ministry participation of the communities and implemented a large number of water 3500 Community Based Organisations, supply and sanitation projects, applying covering approximately 600,000 families, various strategies to fulfill its which have been formed under the commitment to provide safe drinking project. The responsibility of operating, water and proper sanitation to the managing and sustaining the facilities people. Currently there are 34 on going created has already been passed over to foreign funded projects in addition to 47 them. The government has already taken projects, which are being implemented steps to create a ‘Community Water with Sri Lanka’s own resources. Trust’ to assist Community based organizations (CBOs) to strengthen their 43 management capabilities and also to provide them with technical, legal and procedural support. Public water services were not subjected to a comprehensive Water Quality surveillance system until 2010. Institutional arrangements have now been established with collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the NWSDB to setup national and district committees for Water Quality Traditional Fishing Harbor- Nilwella Surveillance, under the legal provisions of the Food Act. Public Health Inspectors Necessary measures are taken to in all Local Authorities are aware of the conserve the endangered species by sampling, testing and reporting that have creating awareness through programmes to be carried out. initiated by theNARA and DFAR for the fishermen and relevant stakeholders. 3.4 Fisheries

3.4.1 Sector Achievements The total national fish production in the year 2011 was recorded as 444,830 metric tons, which is an increase of 15.6% over 2010. Of this sum, an increase of 16% was recorded in marine fishing, 13.6% in inland fishing and the highest growth of 22% was reported in deep sea fishing. The contribution to GDP from the fisheries sector was 1.7% in 2010.Per capita consumption of fish was 11 kg. Per annum as at 2010. Over the past several years there have been many achievements in the sector to help sustainable development in the country. Maritime boundary of Sri Lanka In order to develop marine and inland fisheries in an ecologically sustainable manner, team efforts are made by the Awareness has been also created about rural fishing organisations to allocate the importance of adopting measures to resources fairly and sustainably. conserve the resources through declaring closed seasons and closed areas for fishing. Rural fisheries organisations in certain areas of the country have started practicing and are realising the benefits of these measures.

The long line fishing technology is being promoted in offshore fisheries as a means of reducing pressure on coastal resources and to improve the quality of fish. Special Bank loans are offered to invest on multi-day boats to encourage the fishing concentration in the coastal areas to be expanded to high seas and deep sea and offshore fishing that will reduce pressure on the shoreline population of fish. ‘Madel’ Fishing - Kalpitiya There are at least nine Special Area Management (SAM) Plans that were Beach nourishment measures are formulated and in effect for the following implemented in a 1.2 km stretch of beach fishing areas: in each of the beaches in Ulhitiyawa and Lunawa Lagoon - Maduganga Negombo.The construction of coastal protection structures has been initiated Hikkaduwa- Koggala – Unawatuna only where essential in accordance with Hambantota Sand bar - Mawella Lagoon zoning regulations, without sacrificing front the aesthetics of the coastal belt. Kalametiya- Negombo Lagoon Green belts have been established (including Muthurajawela marsh) covering 200 meters in Dehiwala, 150 metres in Wellawatte and 4 km in Kalpitiya bar Reef Uswetakeiyawa, Panadura and Crow The majority of the above plans has been Island in Mattakuliya. Plant nurseries formulated under the Coastal Resource have been established in Panadura and Management Project (CRMP) and was Uswetakeiyawa with the assistance of the carried out using community Sri Lanka Navy supported by the consultation approaches. All the above communities of the adjacent villages. SAM Plans have been gazetted and are Plants such as Wetakeiya, Medulla and implemented with community Gansuriya along with economically participation assisted by the field officers important cultivations such as coconut of the Coast Conservation Department, are also introduced to the green belt to be the Department of Wildlife Conservation maintained along the coastal stretches to and the Department of Fisheries and safeguard the sea beaches. Nurseries Aquatic Resources. with a capacity of about 30,000 plants per year have been established in Panadura, There have been visitor facilities Mattakuliya and Wellawatte. Potential provided in Kalpitiya, Hikkaduwa and sites are being identified by the Grama Maduganga and the benefits of their Niladhari (GN) Division in each of the operations have been provided to the Divisional Secretariat area, to promote village level communities. Coastal green belt concepts where community Resource Management Committees have participation in implementation and been established in several places such as management aspects are being Negombo, Kalpitiya Bar Reef, promoted. Maduganga and Hikkaduwa.

Management procedures to deal with scale in Trincomalee district with donor IUU fisheries are in place and enforced to funding to promote private sector ensure the sustainable use of resources in investments for which the project is fishing. Monitoring of the illegal use of providing technology transfer fishing gear, which will harm the fish programmes. The Government support stocks and affect its replenishment, is provided through the engagement of impacting on sustainability, will be the services of an Aqua-culturist. enhanced through more stringent Sustainability is established through mechanisms both by land based conducting feasibility studies in terms of measures as well as in the sea by technology, financial, socio-economic enforcing the existing regulations. There and environmental aspects, to ensure is an on going reporting mechanism replicability of the pilot scale operation. applicable to deep sea fishing vessels Water management licenses are issued to operating from fisheries harbours in Sri the private sector firms for exclusive use Lanka. Poaching is also strictly of lagoon water and sea water by monitored. A Vessel Monitoring System NAQDA. (VMS) is being introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic 3.5 Agriculture Resources Development for the safety of The agriculture sector is one of the most the boat crew which indicates the co- important sectors of the economy of Sri ordinates of the place of fishing as well as Lanka. Agriculture contributed 11.2% to gives signals when the vessel is moving the GDP in 20111 and is the largest sector to an outside territory of another for employment in the country. It country. employs around 31% of the workforce Inland fishing is promoted by the and thus remains critical to the Sri establishment of hatcheries to produce Lankan economy. Even though its fish fry and fingerlings that will be contribution to the gross domestic released to the reservoirs and seasonal product (GDP) declined substantially tanks as a means of promoting inland during the recent past, it is the most fish production. In addition, coastal important source of employment for the aquaculture is being promoted by majority of the Sri Lankan workforce. providing technical assistance to Sri Lankan agriculture consists of three fishermen to take up sea bass culture, as main sub sectors: (a) Food crops (Paddy, well as other species such as mussels, sea Other Field Crops (OFC) and cucumber etc., which can be grown using Horticulture Crops), (b) Export cage culture practices, and which can agriculture crops (Tea, Rubber, Coconut, cater for export markets. and Spice Crops) and (c) Livestock. Out Two private sector firms are being of these, the food crops sub sector gets assisted by National Aquaculture the priority and paddy is the most Development Authority (NAQDA)for important crop included in the subsector. sea bass culture in cages as a part of sea- Paddy cultivation is part and parcel of water farming technology under a the rural agricultural setting in Sri Lanka. public–private sector participation effort. Due to several initiatives by the Obtaining sea bass seeds is a problem government, Sri Lanka is self sufficient in due to restricted supply, as they have to rice. Therefore, the government has given be imported. In addition, a sea bass culture project is promoted on a pilot 1CBSL-Annual report 2011. 46 high priority and much assistance to translates into 'The link between the increase paddy production over the years irrigation tanks, the Dagaba, the village and at present Sri Lanka produces about and the temple.' The current government 4.8 million tons of rice. Approximately policies have reflected the worthiness of 1.1 million hectares of land is cultivated the ancient wisdom by reviving and annually, during both the dry and wet reformulating the concept into the new seasons. A significant number of farmer initiatives. families are engaged in paddy Further, the ancient water management cultivation, about 20% of the country’s and land management systems were population and 32% of the total extremely environmentally friendly; the employment. farmers were wise enough to refrain Other important subsectors are export from completely drying out a reservoir crops (Tea, Rubber, Coconut, Spices, without ensuring the water supply for Other Export Crops), Horticultural Crops the next season of cultivation. They (Fruits and Vegetables), OFC and developed a series of catchments with Sugarcane. Although these crops are cascading systems. They were also facing problems due to weather concerned about the surroundings anomalies and/or national and though they did not refer to it as the international market forces, in general ecological stability at that time. the crop production levels are also Reservations for wild animals and other exhibiting upward trends. living beings around the fields and even a portion of the harvest were set aside by Although the short-term performance of the ancient people and their rulers. the agriculture sector is primarily dependent on weather, and local and international commodity prices, in the Box 3.6 Ancient Wisdom of long-run the growth of the sector is Sustainability determined largely by research and The Tank and the Paddy Field, the development efforts, extension services, Tank next to the Dagaba, this is our infrastructure facilities, domestic trade social foundation, our very special policy, government intervention and heritage. I revere Mother Earth. My international trade policies. Therefore, fore fathers cultivated this fertile land favorable long-term policies and of ours.Through the “Api Wavamu adequate investment on agricultural Rata Nagamu” Programme, we have research and extension would be the key fulfilled the aspirations of the for sustainable agricultural development Mahinda Chintana that I presented in in the country. the section titled “Ketata Arunella”. I sincerely believe that the progress we 3.5.1 Ancient Wisdom of have thus made in agriculture is as Sustainability valuable as our victory in the war Ancient rulers believed that they had against terror” three primary duties in the government. (Mahinda Chintana – 2010) They are (a) Protecting the territory, (b) Protecting the religion, (c) Protection of the natural resources and ensuring the food security. With that they developed 3.5.2 Sector Achievements the civilisations around a concept called Agriculture production achieved a ‘Vewai Dagebai Gamai Pansalai’ which growth of 1.5% in the year 2011 over a

47 growth of 7% in the previous year implemented a promotional programme despite the extreme weather conditions to encourage using organic manure to experienced in most parts of the country. reduce the use of chemical fertiliser with the concept of an Integrated Plant The Government’s agricultural policy Nutrition System (IPNS.) aims at realising multiple goals including: (a) Achieving food security of Areas for soil conservation were people, (b) Ensuring higher and prioritised and conservation sustainable income for farmers, (c) programmes launched according to Ensuring remunerative prices for conservation needs. A Conservation agricultural produce, (d) Uninterrupted Programme under the DOA, efforts access to competitive markets both in Sri under the Upper Watershed Lanka and abroad, (e) Farm Management, and field programmes mechanisation, (f) Expanding the extent under the Hadabima Authority, were the under cultivation, (g) Reducing wastage key programmes that gave massive in transit, (h) Ensuring environmental positive impacts towards conservation. conservation, (i) Introducing efficient Environmental safeguards have been farm management techniques and (j) incorporated in several acts and Using high yielding seeds and improved ordinances such as the Land water management. Development Ordinance, the State Lands Paddy Ordinance, the Agrarian Services Act, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka Act and The most important positive impact on the National Environmental Act. Some of agriculture is through the varietal these legislations include measures such improvement programme of the as mapping out state land for the Department of Agriculture (DOA).There prevention of soil erosion and measures has been significant contribution for to prevent encroachments. increased production of important crops and commodities in Sri Lanka during last The National Agriculture Policy (NAP) decade. The crop improvement was amended in the past years to include Programme in the country played a sustainable urban agriculture leading role in this achievement. The programmes to ensure the food security significant improvement was in the through environmentally friendly paddy sector with high yielding short concepts. The Statement 29 (2003) of the aged rice varieties, which gave a boost in amendment to the NAP states: yield, as well as increased water use 'Implement a special urban agriculture efficiency. promotion programme designed to ensure supply of home consumption The Yaya Programme and the Integrated needs and environmental protection.' Pest Management in Rice was the core extension programme implemented by Similarly in the 2007 amendment the DOA/MOA, and it contributed (Statement – 17) it lists out two important immensely to raise the average rice yield criteria: 17.1: Promote home-gardening up to the mark of 4.5 t / ha. and urban agriculture to enhance household nutrition and income, and, The Government has taken steps to assist 17.2: Promote women’s participation in farmers in reducing the production cost home-gardening. by providing a subsidy for fertiliser for all agricultural crops in order to increase Also under the 'ApiWawamu Rata the production. In addition the MOA has Nagamu' (Let us cultivate to uplift the

48 nation) initiative, the government has (US$ 3.48 based on the 2005 launched programmes such as: exchange rate) per 50 kg. a. Rural and urban home-gardens. c. State agencies procure, distribute and issue fertilisers on the basis b. School gardens. of recommendations from the c. Home-gardens of school Department of Agriculture. children. The fertiliser subsection of the National d. Gardens and model farms in Agricultural Policy formulated by the office premises. Ministry of Agricultural Development e. Gardens in security forces and Agrarian Services (2008) stipulated camps. following main objectives: f. Private home-gardens of state a. Promote the production and use officials. of organic and bio fertilisers, and g. Gardens in office premises of the gradually reduce the use of private institutions. chemical fertilisers through h. Home-gardens of public integrated plant nutrition. representatives. b. Ensure timely availability of Sri Lanka ratified the United Nations chemical fertilisers in sufficient Convention to Combat Desertification quantities while providing soil (UNCCD) on 9th December 1998. The and plant testing facilities for Ministry of Environment serves as the their rational use through site- focal point for UNCCD. The National specific fertiliser application. Action Programme for combating land c. Promote the manufacturing of degradation was prepared in 2002. fertilisers using locally available Degraded catchment area restorations, raw materials, and take rehabilitation of minor tanks in the Dry appropriate action to prevent the Zone and tree planting Programmes have misuse of the fertiliser subsidy. been implemented and are continuing. Tea Issues of land degradation in the critical watersheds need to be addressed As described above, the plantation sector continuously in spite of a large number which comes under the export of donor funded projects which were agriculture sub sector is a major already implemented. contributor to the National Agriculture GDP. The sector comes under the The most recent major change in fertiliser Ministry of Plantation (MoP).The MoP policy for paddy took place with the mission is 'to enhance the productivity, latest fertiliser subsidy scheme, profitability and sustainability of the implemented after the 2005/06 Maha plantation industry through season. This policy consists of the economically, socially and following key elements: environmentally established plantation a. The subsidy is targeted for small- sector.' The Ministry proposes to achieve scale paddy farmers only the following goals to accomplish its (owners or tenants) who control mission: less than five acres of land. b. All three main fertilisers - urea, TSP and MOP, are subsidised to achieve a fixed price of Rs. 350 49

lead to a decrease in productivity and the Box 3.7 Organic Tea loss of income and livelihoods. The aims of the PPP include, enhancing the Sri Lanka became the first ever to incomes and quality of life of the estate produce organic tea communities, improve environmental A conventional tea plantation was conditions which would benefit the converted into organic practices for community at large and Bio diversity growing tea in 1983 in Haldumulla enhancement. area. The products were released to Livestock Germany in 1987 with the seal of approval from the International The other main sub sector of Livestock is Federation of Organic Agricultural dominated by the Agriculture sector. In Movements (IFOAM.) In the summit Sri Lanka the Livestock sector provides in 2011 in Bali Indonesia the Hon. high quality animal protein and the per Minister of Environment showcased capita availability at present is 18.3 it to the word as one of the country’s g/day. From the total farming successes in sustainable population of 10-11 million, 3.5 million development. are involved in livestock or its related activities (Kodituwakku, 1999.)The Livestock population comprises 1.13 a. To contribute 8.9% to the GDP million cattle, 0.37 million buffaloes, 0.38 from the plantation sector during million goat and sheep and 13.61 million a 10 year period (from 2007- chicken, reared under different agro- 2016.) climatic zones. The Livestock sector has its own set of policies, which have been b. To increase the growth rate of developed to achieve the following the plantation sector by 2% per objectives: annum during the next 5 years from 2007. a. The achievement of sustainable c. To increase the level of and equitable economic and productivity by 5% per annum in social benefits to livestock the plantation sector. farmers. d. To improve the b. Increasing the supplies of livelihood/welfare of the domestic livestock produce at plantation community (small competitive prices to the holders/workers) by increasing consumers. investment in human, financial, c. Achieve increased self-reliance, physical, natural and social of at least 50%, in domestic milk capital in the sector. by 2015. Public Private Partnership d. Double the current domestic production of poultry products A PPP was established for Forest Garden by 2015. Product (FGP) tea production in Sri e. Domestic livestock products to Lanka. The purpose of this PPP is to be competitive with the imported implement a sustainable tea eco-system livestock products. between European and Sri Lankan partners as it was identified that problems such as soil degradation and reduced water retention capacity of soils 50

3.5.3 Agriculture Renaissance and Water (The Lifeblood of Farming) Agriculture Renaissance - towards a new Sri Lanka policy framework - has recognised the importance of providing the farmers with the much needed water and finding solutions to the scarcities. Water is a key input in this regard. Therefore, water as a prime resource is to be provided to transform dry lands in all parts of the country, North, South, East and West, into fertile agriculture lands. Hospital built in 11th century, Sri Lanka In order meet the demand for water a National Irrigation Plan has been formulated, where the rivers, water courses and tanks would be inter- connected as needed. The Irrigation Sub- Sector will play a key role in the agriculture renaissance, in this regard.

3.6 Health

3.6.1 Sector Overview

The Health Sector’s main objective is to A modern private hospital in Sri Lanka ensure a healthy nation that can A free health system was soon contribute effectively and efficiently established during the 1950s and towards economic development. continues to date. Since Independence, Sri Lanka can be proud of the rich successive governments of Sri Lanka heritage of culture, that is interlinked have been committed towards social with religion, ethnic diversity, development and investment to international relations, trade and literacy, providing free education and health which given rise to social advancement. facilities that have laid the foundation for A traditional health system had been in the high achievement of human place for centuries and the allopathic development indices in Sri Lanka. Today, system was introduced mainly to serve the health system of Sri Lanka is the expatriates that resided in the acclaimed as one of the high performing country at that time. During the British and most efficient health systems in the rule a user fee system existed for the region. limited coverage of allopathic health Ancient inscriptions on rock surfaces system. reveal that organised medical services existed in the country for centuries. Mihintale and Arankele still have the ruins of what many believe to be the first hospital in the world. Old hospital sites now attract tourists, who marvel at the beautiful ruins. Surgical instruments

51 were also discovered during archaeological surveys in Polonnaruwa. Box 3.8 Rural Sanitation Programme These places have come to symbolise a Even in the 1930s, the following were traditional sense of healing and care, considered essential for a healthy which was prevalent at that time. rural home: Although the country went through several epidemics due to malaria, small 1. A well ventilated house pox, cholera etc., it was only about two 2. Boiled, cooled water for drinking decades before independence, in 1926 3. A sanitary latrine that the International Division of the 4. A manure pit Rockefeller Foundation carried out a 5. A kitchen garden pilot project to establish a Health Unit in Herath. H.M.S.S.D 1973 Kalutara. This was also introduced as an intervention to address the severe hook worm infestation that the country was facing introduced by immigrant Indian This Health Unit system has evolved plantation workers. over time and now covers the entire country providing a most efficient This unit was established to undertake all system for the delivery of preventive public health work on an intensive scale health care through 300 MOH areas. in a well demarcated area. A Medical When the goal for attainment of 'Health Officer of Health (MOH) was appointed for All by the year 2000' and the Primary in charge. He was assisted by public health care approach was globally health inspectors who were responsible embraced at the Alma Ata conference in for environmental health and the control 1978, Sri Lanka already had the health of communicable diseases. Public health infrastructure to adopt the concept. nurses and public health midwives were responsible for maternal and child health Public health services were the backbone activities. Each Health Unit was expected of the beginnings of the allopathic system to serve a population of 40–80 thousand in Sri Lanka. However, since then the people, and undertake the following clinical management of diseases has been activities: widely adopted and follows the advancements in medical technology and  Carry out general and health clinical practices of the developed world. surveys into the various Today, a major share of national health problems in the area. expenditure is for curative health  Collection and study of vital services. statistics in the area.  Health education. It is important that the preventive health  Investigation and control of approach be revitalised to address the infectious diseases. environmental challenges that are  Maternal and child health. affecting healthy human development.  School health work. The traditional health systems such as  Rural and urban sanitation. Ayurveda continue to play a significant role in health care. Ayurveda is gaining popularity in health tourism and being adopted as a value addition in the hotel industry, it has fast become an essential item in hospitality.

3.6.2 Achievements towards the was targeted that by 2015 HIV/AIDS Health Related Millennium would be halved/halted and its spread Development Goals would be reversed. However not much From the MDGs the health sector has had improvement has been made in a keen focus to eradicate extreme poverty achieving this and the rates portray only and hunger, reduce child mortality, and slight improvements. More awareness improves maternal health and combat and action is absolutely necessary to HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. achieve this target. However, in the target set to reverse incidence of malaria With regard to eradicating hunger there and other major diseases and halve/halt has been a slow progress in the recent their spread by 2015, the following has years. Prevalence of underweight been achieved. The death rates associated children less than 5 years of age had with malaria have reached zero and dropped to 21.6% by 2006, from 37.7% in incidence rate has reached a mere 4 from 1990. There is a potential to achieve this 1483.4 and the health sector is currently particular goal by 2012 and eradicate adopting elimination strategies as the hunger and to halve, between 1990 and targets have been already reached. With 2015, the proportion of people who suffer Tuberculosis, the death rate from 1992 to from hunger. 2006 has slightly dropped from 2.4 to 1.7, It has also been targeted to reduce by two yet the incidence rate has increase to 41.6 thirds the mortality rate of children less by 2006 when compared to 38.6 in 1992. than five years. This target is on track, yet More efforts are needed to reduce the more effort is required to reduce the incidence rates. There is a possibility of neonatal component of infant mortality. reaching targets if more active campaigns The less than five year old mortality rate are adopted. Some of the other major has dropped from 22.2 to 13.5 in 1990 diseases and achievements made for their and 2006 respectively, and infant control are discussed briefly in the mortality rates have dropped from 17.7 section that follows. to 8.5 in 1991 and 2007 respectively. The The improvements in MDGs reflect the proportion of 1 year old children overall improvements in poverty immunised against measles to prevent reduction. However, it is noted that Sri deaths due to this disease is on track and Lanka continues to struggle with is expected to be achieved. By 2006 97.1% nutrition related indices. More of the population in this age group was exploration into the issue of nutrition is immunised against measles. required. In order to improve maternal health it 3.6.3 Other Achievements within the has been targeted to reduce the maternal Health Sector mortality ratio by three quarters. By 2010 the maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 Control of Vitamin A Deficiency and live births) had dropped by 10.8 from Iodine Deficiency Disorders 1991and the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel has Vitamin A deficiency disorders have increased from 94.1% to 98.5% over the been largely controlled and acute vitamin period from 1993and 2006 respectively. A deficiency cases are rare. Vitamin A supplementation and health education In order to combat lethal communicable largely contributed to this success. diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria, the following targets have been achieved. It

Iodine deficiency disorders too are being general hospital led to the expansion of addressed through a population wide specialised services. The number of strategy where through public - private western (allopathic) sector health partnerships all salt available in the services has expanded greatly from 1998- market is iodised salt. 2007. Up to 50 hospitals have been established over the decade and the Control of Communicable Diseases- number of practicing doctors has reached Control of Malaria, Leprosy, Filariasis 11,442 by 2007 from a mere 5,612 in 1998. Malaria is now on the verge of There is almost a doubling of the MBBS elimination. A traveller is no longer qualified doctors and a similar increase required to take malaria prophylaxis in was observed in the cadre of nurses. The Sri Lanka. According to the Malaria number of Ayurvedic doctors has also Control Programme, run by the Ministry increased by about 3,000 practitioners by of Health, the number of malaria 2008 according to the Central Bank of Sri positives per 1000 of the population and Lanka. the number of deaths due to malaria has Health & Sanitation almost reached 0 by 2006. Over a decade ago the number of annual deaths had The figure 3.2 shows the mechanisms surpassed a hundred. adopted in management of household garbage. Local authorities have taken Control of Filariasis over the responsibility for the removal of Mass one day treatment programmes garbage in urban areas. Rural households were conducted and the infected have adopted methods such as burial mosquito density is controlled. Although and burning within premises. the mosquito is prevalent, due to low Considering that the majority of infectivity of the mosquito, the spread of households are rural, more emphasis is the disease is now under control and can needed to promote fertiliser production be eliminated if continued. from garbage. Sanitary methods of managing collected garbage also need Leprosy further improvement. The incidence rate for dengue haemorrhagic fever can be This disease was significantly prevalent used as a proxy indicator for garbage in the past. Special leprosy camps had management. been maintained under the Lepers Ordinance during British rule. In the late There have been improvements in the 1990s, the Ministry of Health availability of safe drinking water during implemented a mass social marketing the last decade. In 2001, the overall and treatment programme which percentage of the population with safe increased self-referral and improved case drinking water available at home or in management. Today, leprosy is the vicinity was 82% (81% rural and 95% considered as having reached the level of urban.) The proportion of the population elimination. with access to safe latrines in urban and rural areas in 2001 was 80%. In 1995, the Expansion of Health Services corresponding figures were 70% for safe drinking water availability (65 in rural In the past 20 years there was a and 88 in urban areas) and 75% for considerable expansion of hospital population with latrine facilities (70% for services. The policy of strengthening one rural and 81% for urban areas) (Source: hospital in each district, to a level of a Draft Report on Millennium 54

Development Goals: Sri Lanka’s Health Services in Response to Disaster Progress, September 2004. Situations

70 Sri Lanka faced two situations that posed 60 a significant challenge to organise and 50 40 provide health services within a short 30 period to a large number of people. The 20 tsunami of 2004 and the humanitarian 10 0 operation in Vanni of 2009 need special Collected Buried or Processed Dumped Thrown Other mention. by garbage burned for fertilizer within outside truck/cart premises premises Many health concerns of internally Urban Rural Estate displaced populations had to be

Source: HIES 2006/07 addressed by the healthcare system. The Figure 3.2 Health and Sanitation public health services model which is a Management (Urban, Rural and Estate) time tested model was replicated to Source: HIES 2006/07 establish good health coverage. The Ministry of Health is not directly The tsunami of December 2004 was a responsible for provision of water to the turning point in terms of the Health country. However, through its field Ministry organisation structure in health personnel, health education is responding to disasters. The Tsunami carried out to motivate people to Rehabilitation Unit (TRU) was consume water that is safe - usually established in the Ministry of Health to boiled, cooled water. coordinate the rehabilitation phase of the tsunami. The Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) conduct routine tests for adequate A Disaster Management Act was enacted chlorination of sources of drinking water in parliament to guide the future disaster during epidemics of bowel diseases management process by which the (diarrheal and gastro-enteritis) and other Ministry of Disaster Management was disaster situations like floods, etc. When established in 2005.This led to the approving applications for construction formulation of a road map and a of buildings, the health authorities National Framework for disaster ensure that there will be no management. In keeping with this contamination of sources of drinking framework, the Ministry of Health water from toilets and other sources. initiated the Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response System. As a The use of latrines by the community is part of this process, the TRU was promoted through health education as restructured to a Disaster Preparedness well as by enforcing the provisions of and Response Division (DPRD.) relevant legislation related to housing. All new houses have to process toilet Since its inception the DPRD has been facilities in order to obtain approval from involved in preparation of the health the local authorities. The department of sector plan for management of disasters, health services provides financial preparation of standard operating assistance to those without toilets and procedures, preparation of capacity unable to construct one with their own building plans, training at district level to resources. prepare district disaster response plans, etc. As part of this effort there have been gradual improvements to emergency

55 management through the existing provide essential specialty government healthcare delivery system. healthcare. Patients were transported to Vavuniya General Hospital (which The DPRD was faced with a totally offered a wider range of specialty different emergency response situation care) whenever necessary. during 2009 where a major humanitarian  The preventive health services were response to address the needs of the war established separately for each displaced communities took place. Welfare Village. The following Whilst the responsibility for overall preventive health services were administrative coordination of relief provided through the Medical operations fell on the Ministry of Officers of the Health Sector and the Defence, the Ministry of Health took the other field health staff: lead role in coordinating the health care  Antenatal Clinics were Programmes for the IDPs including the conducted for all mothers. establishment of an emergency health  Child Welfare Clinics were service. The situation warranted that the conducted to carryout necessary DPRD become a management and immunisations, weighing, response unit and be placed directly Programmes, etc. under the administration of the  Family Planning Services were Secretary-Ministry of Health. This unit provided through poly clinics. was responsible in coordinating an  Nutrition supplementation operation that involved mobilisation of activities conducted including existing government resources and the vitamin supplementation. support of INGOs and a large number of  De-worming programme was NGOs. With the emergency situation conducted. largely under control by 2010, the DPRD  Proper sanitation facilities were again has taken a more preparedness role established. and was shifted back to its original  Garbage disposal was position in the health organisation. streamlined. There were around 300,000 displaced  Vector control activities were people occupying the welfare villages at conducted. the onset. The DPRD was responsible for  Many rehabilitation programmes too coordinating the resource mobilisation were carried out within the villages, and monitoring the response. Curative which included physical as well as and preventive health services were psycho social rehabilitation provided as follows: programmes. Many health promotion programmes were carried  Curative services were established out in order to uplift the health status and a health centre was established of all IDPs. for every 10,000 of the population. Referral centres as well as mobile 3.7 Industry and Trade clinics were established. In addition many ambulances were functioning The industry and trade is the most to transport the patients when significant sector that is interlinked with necessary. Those who needed further many other sectors in economic care were transported to the development and environment Cheddikulum Base Hospital, which management. The sector maintained a was upgraded from the level of a steady growth of around 6.6% per basic primary care hospital to annum during the last decade, and in

2011 the industry sector grew by 10.3%. This sector made a contribution of 29.3% Box 3.9 Sustainability Reporting to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to Track Progress within the Industry while recording a 23.6% of the country’s Sector total labour force in 2011. The industry The Association of Chartered Certified sector is also a significant foreign Accountants (ACCA) Sustainability exchange earner for Sri Lanka, which Reporting awards is held in over 30 made a contribution of 75.7% to the countries and is based on judging country’s export earnings in 2011, guidelines established by ACCA surpassing those of the agriculture and worldwide. It is open to any type of service sectors. organisation encompassing all business sizes. Environmental issues 3.7.1 Achievements have taken over as the number one In collaboration with the National priority in sustainability reporting, Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC), the overtaking corporate social Ministry has carried out various responsibility and ethical reporting, Programmes to find greener methods of the key issues of the past, in Sri Lanka. production for industries. In addition, ACCA's globally recognised NCPC has worked with chemical sustainability awards were launched industries for sound chemical for the purpose of making triple management, chemical leasing, and local bottom line reporting imperative, government authorities for solid waste where environment, social and management and divisional secretariats financial reporting are given equal for green office practices. In addition, it prominence by businesses around the has completed the Waste to Energy world. Pioneering sustainability project with United Nations reporting within Sri Lanka’s business Environment Programme – International and industrial community has played Environmental Technology Centre a key role in ensuring that sustainable (UNEP-IETC) in the Monaragala, Badulla development takes place responsibly, areas in year 2010. These programmes transparently and ethically. were based on cleaner production, energy efficiency and environmental The 'Energy Efficiency Improvement management. They are also focusing on Programme for Manufacturing voluntary standards and compliance as Industries' is yet another programme well. implemented by the Ministry to give assistance to industries to minimise the wastage of energy/maximise utilisation of energy. Under the 'Haritha Lanka Programme' identified by the 'MahindaChintana,' a special project will be carried out by the Ministry, together with the NCPC, to assist the local industries to carry out their operations in an environmentally friendly way.

The Ministry also plays an active role in (UNCTAD) and other international exploiting opportunities available under forums. With reference to issues bi-lateral and multi-lateral free trade regarding Trade Related Aspect of agreements for the benefit of the Intellectual Properties (TRIPS), Sri Lanka industrial sector of the country. Sri continued to participate in negotiations Lanka’s foreign trade relations are on the important TRIPS related promoted and strengthened by the issues(Convention on Biological Ministry (through the Department of Diversity-CBD, GI extension and GI Commerce), at bilateral level (by way of Register) and amending the TRIPS agreements with individual countries, Agreement to provide for disclosure such as India, Pakistan, Iran and requirement in patents, to aid in Thailand), at regional level (by way of preventing bio-piracy and Regional Integration Arrangements like misappropriation of genetic resources South Asia Free Trade Agreement and traditional knowledge, without due (SAFTA) and the Asia Pacific Trade acknowledgement and transfer of Agreement (APTA), and at multilateral benefits to the source. Sri Lanka is a level, through the World Trade member of several international

Box 3.10 Garment Industries Promoting Sustainable Industry in Sri Lanka Many industries in Sri Lanka have displayed a concerted effort towards incorporating sustainable concepts in their operations. The garment sector has led the initiative by setting up green factories that focus on sustainable utilisation of natural resources and environmental education, while moving forward. The Green Factory at Seeduwa Being the pioneer of the concept of “total solutions” in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, the Green Factory at Seeduwa was the first apparel manufacturing facility in the world to be rated Platinum under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building System of the US Green Building Council (USGBC In 2009 this factory was also bestowed with the Energy Globe Award, the world’s most prominent and prestigious environmental prize. “Thuruli”

The Thuruli factory in Thulhiriya is the world’s first garment eco-friendly factory, and was recently awarded LEED (Platinum) Certification established by the US Green Building Council. The company was also globally recognised for its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible manufacturing by Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP.) “Mihila” Mihila is the first apparel factory in the world to be honored with the Gold Rating of the LEED certification under new construction category by the US green building council. This state of the art factory saves 48% of its energy, when compared to a conventional factory.

Organisation (WTO), United Nations conventions on intellectual property such Conference on Trade and Development as the Berne Convention for the

Protection of Literary and Artistic Work, appointed by the GOSL in 2002, to The Paris Convention for the Protection formulate a National Strategy for Small of Industrial Property, The Patent Co- and Medium Enterprise Sector operation Treaty, The Trademark Law Development in Sri Lanka. Treaty, The Universal Copyright The SME Task Force was of the view that Convention and The Agreement on strengthening the institutional Trade Related Aspect of Intellectual framework for SME development is Property Rights. required for creating an enabling Sri Lanka is a member country of a environment for the sustenance of regional project for the production of globally competitive SMEs and for this Green Job opportunities and the purpose inter-institutional coordination, production of low carbon, climate developing staff and institutional resilient and environmental friendly capacities and reforming and development measures in the country. restructuring existing SME development This project is implemented by the institutions, has to be undertaken. The Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations SME Task Force recommended the and Ministry of Productivity Promotion establishment of an apex agency to in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the undertake the institutional reforms International Labour Organisation (ILO.) required for SME development. The Ministry of Environment established Accordingly, by Act No.17 of 2006, the a Green Job Awards Programme in 2008 National Enterprise Development to recognise and reward the individuals Authority (NEDA) was established to and organisations which are engaging in promote, support, encourage and green jobs related to environmental facilitate enterprise development within friendly technologies/activities. Green Sri Lanka, with special emphasis to Job Awards are offered annually on the SMEs. World Environment Day (5th June.) 3.8 Education and Technology In early 2009, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce had felt the need to assist the 3.8.1 Overview SMEs in the food and beverage sector on sustainability and was able to promote Education for sustainable development SCP through SWITCH Asia programme aims at enabling everyone to acquire the originated by EU. More than 450 SMEs in values, competencies, skills and the food and beverage sector, which knowledge necessary to contribute to include the tea sector, have benefited building more sustainable societies. In through awareness and training order to ensure a sustainable future, provided under this program to optimise people of all ages need to assume the usage of national resources (energy responsibility for their actions and water and raw material.) In addition commit themselves to creating positive these SMEs got the opportunity to get social and environmental change. trained to international food safety Sustainable development is closely standards. It is interesting to note that 19 linked to livelihoods of people and it had SMEs have obtained ISO 22000; 2005 emerged as a top priority in all future certificates (Food Safety Standards) strategies worldwide to plan, to develop during this short period. and to educate. There is now general agreement that Education for Sustainable With a view to addressing the constraints Development (ESD) has to be an integral for SME development, a task force was part of quality Education for All (EFA.) 59

The World Summit on Sustainable through education and other means Development (WSSD, 2002) has (SLNCU, 2012.) identified the decade of 2005-2014 as the Education decade for sustainable 3.8.2 Role of National Education development. system The vision of the Democratic Socialist Sri Lanka’s general education system has Republic of Sri Lanka, as stated in the made important gains in the recent past. President’s Mandate, is to 'develop a The proportion of students completing youth who can see the world over the the basic education cycle (grade 1-9) has horizon. Education will be enhanced to risen from about 78 percent in 2005 to address the social, economic, cultural over 91 percent in 2009. Gender parity is and environmental dilemmas faced in high in the education system. Learning the 21stcentury' (Mahinda Chintana, outcomes in primary education in First 2010.) Education for peace and Language, Mathematics and English sustainable development (ESD) embodies have increased significantly between the the five pillars: social cohesion, years 2005-2009 (Mahinda Chintana, environment, health, economy, and 2010.) society and culture. The national action plans on education for peace and sustainable development, have been introduced by means of familiarising principles, teachers, students and society on methods/approaches to teaching and learning ESD values through the existing subject matter being taught in schools and other activities outside school, to sensitise the communities. The Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka, in March 2008, launched a National Framework of Action for Social Cohesion and Peace Education. Coupled with the National Access to Information Technology within Framework of Action, collectively the Schools ministries of Education, Environment, Health, Economic Development and Sri Lanka is on track to meet most of the Social Services together with the Sri Millennium Development Goals. United Lanka National Commission for United Nations Development Programme Nations Educational, Scientific and (UNDP) has identified Sri Lanka as an Cultural Organization(UNESCO) has early achiever of 10 of the 21 indicators, launched the National Action Plans on including those related to the goals of Education for peace and sustainable universal primary education and gender development in January 2012 under the equality. The Sri Lankan education leadership of His Excellency the system has been celebrated in President of Sri Lanka. This Action Plan development policy circles and the will collectively collaborate with other economic literature for its success in stakeholders and partners to implement providing widespread access to primary monitor and evaluate this national and secondary education, and enabling initiative to establish a peaceful and the country to attain a high level of sustainable environment in Sri Lanka human development for a low income

60 economy (World Bank, 2005.) Through 3.8.4 New Education Act: education, the government hopes to For the first time in history of education, make this country a knowledge hub a national policy is being developed into within the South Asian region. 'We have an Act of Parliament. The responsibility the opportunity to make this country a of making this framework into an Act knowledge hub within the South Asian now rests solely with the Parliament of region. I will develop and implement an Sri Lanka. operational plan to make this country a local and international research and 3.8.5 Education participation rates training centre for knowledge' (Mahinda Chintana, 2010.) Education participation rates in the 5-14 age groups are relatively high. Only 93% 3.8.3 Main Outcomes and Impacts of children in the 5-14 year-old age group Ensuring Sustainable were in school by the year 2000. In 2007, Development for both males and females, it has increased to 97.5%.Participation rates in The following outcomes within the urban, rural and estate areas were 97.5%, education sector have predominantly 98% and 91.5% respectively (2009/10 been achievements made towards Survey.)Retention Rates at the end of sustainable development in line with the Grade 5 was 98.7% for males and 99.4% Rio principles highlighted below and the for females; at end of Grade 10, 84.1% for 2nd and 3rd objectives of the Millennium males and 90.3% for females. (Ministry of Development Goals. These principles Education 2008.) The Census Survey of and goals have been established as those the poorest one hundred administrative most relevant and imperative for this divisions (2000) found that the sector. percentage of out of school children in  Principle 2- Sovereign right to the 6-14 age groups was between 10%- exploit their own resources and 16% in 15 of the divisions. responsibility to ensure that no The higher education Gross enrolment damage is caused to the Rate (GER) has increased from slightly environment of other states. fewer than 10% in 1990/1991 to over 21%  Principle 3- Right to development in 2007 (World Bank, 2009.) This must be fulfilled to equitably meet enrolment is seen among both men and development needs for present and women. future generations. 3.8.6 Female Participation in

 Principle 6- Co-operate to eradicate Education and Gender Parity poverty and decrease the disparities in living standards. It is relevant to note here that the number and percentages of females across all  Principle 20- Women’s role and areas in education are growing rapidly. participation be recognised. Survival Rate at Grade 5 among boys is Principle 21- Resolve 99% and among girls 100%. Survival Rate environmental disputes in at the end of Grade 9 among girls is 93% accordance with the Charter of the and boys 89%. Up to Grade 11 there is United Nations. gender parity in school enrolment. However, Grade 12 and 13 enrolment is very much skewed in favour of girls. The

61 enrolment in Grade one is 49.5% girls literacy achievements among the estate and 50.5% boys. These proportions population still lags behind that of the continue up to grade nine, or the end of non-estate rural population, by more compulsory education phase. However, than 10 percentage points. Estate males by Grade 13 GCE A/L classes the lag 6 and estate females 16 percentage percentage becomes 57.5% for girls and points behind the respective rural rates 44.5% boys. The girls’ dropout rate is (CFSES report, 2003-4, cited in World less, and absenteeism is also less than the Bank, 2007.) As Sri Lanka’s economy boys. Their level of academic grew, unemployment and poverty rates achievement is higher than the boys. fell. As of the second quarter of 2011, the unemployment was only 4.2%, though Female students substantially outnumber higher among youth, women and the male students in higher education. more educated. Poverty rates have also During the period 1990 – 2007 the male fallen, from 15% of the population in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has risen 2006/7 to 9% in 2009/10. The most from 10% to 20% and female GER has dramatic declines have been in the estate risen from 10%to 22%. This suggests a sector (from 32% to 11%) following a high degree of gender disparity in higher major wage increase at the beginning of education enrolment, with in fact a 2010 (World Bank, 2010.) higher percentage of women enrolled than men. 3.8.8 Provision of education to all It is interesting to note that feminisation deserving children has happened regardless of social class It is estimated that around 20% of because the trend of having a higher children are with special education percentage of girls in schools is needs. A proposal is in place to provide witnessed in the schools where the education to all deserving children of the children of the socially affluent attend compulsory education age by 2015. Sri and equally in the remote rural schools Lanka has been adopting several where the children of the rural poor strategies to teach disabled children. attend. The trend is rather a national They include residential and day-school trend without any immediately programmes, integration and noticeable major social class differences. mainstreaming in regular schools and inclusive education. 3.8.7 Education in the Estate Sector Developments since 1997, in respect of 3.8.9 Improvement in Achievement policies regarding plantation education, Levels at the Primary Stage helped to integrate the plantation schools Learning outcomes in primary education with that of the main stream and there in First Language, Mathematics and had been a remarkable progress in English have increased significantly respect of primary education. Across the between the years 2005 and 2009. twentieth century literacy rates improved National level assessments conducted by dramatically for all sectors of society, the National Education Research and including among those living in the Evaluation Centre (NEREC) in 2003 and estates. Between 1986/7 and 2003/4 rates 2007 at Grade 4 shows that the all island in the estates improved from 68.5% to achievement level as assessed using 81.3%. The increase among females – mean values, in Mathematics and First from 58.1% to 74.7% has been Language is high and in English particularly striking. Nonetheless, the language average. The mean scores in the

62 three subjects were 70.96, 73.3, and 51.7, 2000 this programme was expanded from respectively. All these values show that 1850 to 3005 schools throughout the the average performance level of the island. students has improved at national level during the period 2003-2007 (NEREC, 3.8.11 Upgrading Schools – Outcomes 2007.) of the Initiatives As a result of the school upgrading 3.8.10 Programmes in Schools on programmes, the necessary infra- Peace and Sustainable structure and other facilities including Development: buildings, furniture, and teaching Several strategies are used to implement materials have been provided with the Peace and Sustainable Development aim of creating a better learning Programmes in schools. Use of morning environment for the students. assemblies to talk on issues pertaining to Implementation of the project has led to sustainable development, make use of an increase in quality of education in teachers manuals and other developed these schools. The upgraded schools will modules to guide teachers, conducting provide high quality teaching in key co-curricular activities linked to subjects such as Sciences, English, ICT Education Programs in Sustainable and Technical subjects. Development in schools, monitoring and ascertaining the progress, are the major 3.8.12 Information Technology strategies used. Education The activities that were undertaken The above interventions directly helped under the Environmental Pioneer towards development and promotion of Brigades in Schools programme Computer Learning Centres (CLCs in the included, creating greater awareness on school education system, in general, and environmental protection and development of IT education. As a result, management, engaging in field studies the computer literacy of students has and observation tours. It was expected to improved and the number of GCE O/L carry the environmental message to their and A/L students selecting Information elders at home and build a new and Communications Technology (ICT) generation of environmentally as a subject has increased. The Computer concerned. Also, changing the children’s Literacy Rate has increased from 9.7% in behavioural patterns and attitudes to be 2005 to 20.3% in 2010 and an increase of more environmentally friendly was up to 75% is projected in 2016 (Mahinda considered as important. The Chintana, 2010.) Providing facilities to Environment Education and Awareness the universities will help to produce a Division of the Central Environmental knowledgeable and skilful workforce Authority has conducted programmes that will meet essential job market for pre-school children, primary (grade 1 requirements. Also, this will contribute to 5) and secondary (grade 6 to 13) towards reducing the unemployment students and for school leavers. Media rate amongst educated youth. programmes have been conducted through printing newsletters, educational 3.8.13 Impact of School Empowering materials, textbooks, posters etc., radio Programmes and television programmes, The main findings of the mid-day meal environmental films, documentaries and evaluation were very positive. The CDs, information on web-sites, etc. In 63 programme is well accepted. Children developing a favourable learning reported that their hunger during lessons environment. Recipients in all districts is reduced and that they have more have shown noteworthy results such as energy and interest; they learn about development of behaviour patterns, food, nutrition, health and hygiene. greater enthusiasm showed for learning Teachers have stated that children are and improvement in attendance. more active, they can concentrate better and learning is much easier for them. 3.8.16 Technical Subjects for the G C E Increased attendance has been noted. A/L All materials, equipment, instruments These subjects have been introduced and services used to add value to the initially in 44 schools. The coverage was teaching learning process are provided to expanded over the project period and at schools under the Education Quality the time of project completion, soft Input (EQI) Scheme. This has contributed technology subjects have been immensely towards quality introduced in 126 schools and hard improvement. The schools were given technology in 167 schools. National the authority to manage funds. The Institute of Education (NIE) also PSIThe Program for School conducted a series of training Improvementand SDG were very programmes for 663 teachers and effective and contributed to school principals on teaching of hard and soft development. These programmes have technology subjects in schools. directly supported the physical development of the school and 3.8.17 Outcomes of the National management efficiency. Vocational Qualification (NVQ) System 3.8.14 Public Private Partnership (PPP) NVQ System provides opportunities for Public Privet Partnership was a direct GCE O/L and A/L students - who are component towards developing IT interested in pursuing technical oriented education of the country. This policy of careers, receive higher education whilst facilitating teachers to be proficient in being engaged in gainful employment. using IT technology to make classroom The upgrading of the Advanced teaching more productive in secondary Technological Institute of Education will education was a favourable measure increase the number of professional taken in the last decade. graduates who will be equipped to face the challenges of the advancing 3.8.15 Student Development industrial sector locally and Programmes internationally.

Young Inventors Clubs are the official 3.8.18 Higher Education linkage of student inventors and Sri Lanka Inventors Commission. The SLIC As a result of the measures taken to provides opportunities to schools to set increase the student intake to universities up an inventors club in their schools. the number of students (Higher Motivation of students for inventions is Education) per 10,000 population has the major benefit gained from this increased from 140 in 2005 to 200 in 2010 initiative. (Mahinda Chintana, 2010.)Accordingly, the project helped produce a Sisusaviya/Sisudiriya Scholarship knowledgeable and skilful workforce scheme has contributed towards

64 that will meet essential job market from the British in 1947, Sri Lanka has requirements. This will contribute continued to attract foreign investors and towards reducing the unemployment tourists. The white sandy beaches and rate amongst educated youth. attractive underwater life that surrounds the island give visitors a chance to The Quality Assurance Unit under the unwind and relax in a warm and Quality Assurance and Accreditation comfortable setting. Beaches in Sri Lanka Council (QAAC) of the University Grant play a major role in its economy bringing Commission (UGC) has taken measures significant economic benefits to the to establish a national Quality Assurance country. Framework, and develop Subject Benchmark Statements and processes for subject reviews and institutional reviews (World Bank, 2009.)

3.9 Tourism

3.9.1 Sector Overview Sustainable tourism is defined as 'one that meets the needs of present tourists Hornbills in Thanamalvilla and of the host regions while protecting and promoting opportunities for the future. It is conceived as a way to manage all the resources so that they can meet the economic, social and aesthetic, while respecting the cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity and life support systems”. United Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO) The Johannesburg Summit emphasised for the first time the importance of sustainable tourism for poverty reduction, the protection of the environment and of the cultural heritage. It was, in fact, the first time that tourism’s role in the global sustainable development agenda was made explicit with the inclusion of tourism in the Joint Programme of Implementation emerging from Johannesburg. Tourism is a key source of economic income and a strong contributor to job creation, particularly for developing and emerging economies, and one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. In Sri Lanka, Tourism is a rapidly growing Industry. Since gaining independence

the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Box 3.11 Refreshingly Sri Lanka Authority (SLTDA) now targets achieving US $ 2500 million earnings Sri Lanka Tourism launched their from the year 2016 onwards, allowing the marketing campaign named as sector to provide 350,000 direct and “Refreshingly Sri Lanka – Visit indirect employment opportunities. The 2011”, with the aim of showcasing ambitious plan of the Sri Lankan Sri Lanka as an Island of new found Government includes development of freedom; a place where the visitor new mega resorts at Passikudah and can experience everything that is Kuchchaveli, where there are shallow refreshing under the sun. With this seas surrounded by reefs, and in new branding, Sri Lanka tourism Kalpitiya, where there are fourteen small promoted 8 segments encapsulating islands with diverse eco-systems and 8 wonderful experiences a tourist different characteristics, which will be can enjoy within eight days such as: developed as green resorts.For all these Pristine, Heritage Bliss, Thrills, sites, Strategic Environmental Festivities, Essence, Scenic beauty Assessments (SEAs) were conducted and Wild Life. These eight prior to implementation. Each experiences were further stretched implemented project was separately into twelve sub-themes to promote evaluated through an environment each month of 2011, including assessment. This ensures the beaches, sports & adventure, MICE, environment and social safeguard and people & culture, religious tourism, the skills development and job creation weddings & honeymoons, body & for the local community. mind wellness, heritage, nature & wildlife, community & education, 3.9.2 Policy Framework Promoting culinary and shopping & Sustainable Tourism in Sri entertainment. Lanka

Yala, Wilpattu, Horton Plains and Minneriya National Parks are the most popular amongst the tourists. Over the years, many beautiful resorts, hotels and spas have been opened. The ancient and historic cities and the mountainous region dominated by tea plantations are considered to be the other attractions. Sun Rise, Hambantota Today, Sri Lanka's booming tourist industry is having a major impact in The Government of Sri Lanka envisions changing the nature of the economy in building tourism as an industry playing a the post conflict development process. significant role in the economic With a GDP growth rate of 8% in 2010, advancement of the country whilst and 32% year-on-year growth in tourist preserving the country’s cultural values, arrivals in 2010, Sri Lanka is on its way to ethos and its rich natural endowment. becoming a major tourism destination in Tourism is a vital area in the policy South Asia. After the decade-long war framework defined in Mahinda Chintana and the resultant relaxing of travel policy document, and ensures that Sri adversaries by USA and other countries, Lanka will be the most popular touristic 66 destination in 2016 with the aim of tourism promotion and the necessary receiving 2.5 million tourists by the year skills development for the Tourism 2016. The programme's vision for the Industry. All these entities are committed tourism sector is to make Sri Lanka the towards transforming Sri Lanka to be foremost leisure destination in the South Asia’s foremost tourism destination. Asian Region. The programme believes Some of the objectives of the SLTDA that the human resources, natural and have a strong bearing on accomplishing cultural endowments, values and ethos green economy objectives. Among the will be fundamental in transforming Sri several key objectives, the following Lanka into a centre of excellence and underline the need for sustainable offer tourists the highest values of tourism in Sri Lanka: authentic experiences in its unique setting.  Develop and promote adequate, attractive and efficient tourist The Tourism policy focuses on inherited services, inclusive of the natural resources, socio-cultural hospitality industry in a attractions and the national attributes to sustainable manner. develop special tourism niches like nature tourism, community tourism,  License and accredit tourist spiritual tourism, adventure tourism, enterprises in order to develop, agro-tourism, culture tourism, sports enforce and maintain locally and tourism, eco-tourism and wellness internationally accepted tourism. The objective of the Sustainable standards in relation to the Tourism Development Project (STDP), is tourism industry and other in line with the Government’s vision, and related industries. will strengthen the institutional  Encourage persons or bodies of framework of the tourism sector to persons in the private sector to facilitate environmentally and socially participate in the promotion of sound tourism investments. the tourism industry and the promotional and training activities connected with such industry.

3.9.3 Sustainable Tourism, Sri Lanka Accomplishments According to the 2011 Green Economy Report, tourism is one of the most promising drivers of growth for the Lankathilaka Temple, Kandy world economy and, with the appropriate investment it can continue to The SLTDA was formed as the apex body be growing steadily over the coming for Sri Lanka Tourism to handle decades, contributing to much‐needed appropriate and necessary tourism economic growth, employment and product development functions, and its development, while mitigating its other wings, the Sri Lanka Tourism environmental impacts. Sustainable Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lanka tourism is committed to make Institute of Tourism and Hotel sustainability encompassed by three Management (SLITHM)to handle pillars: social, economic and

67 environmental factors, which lie at the unique and quality tourism services and heart of tourism development products that would make Sri Lanka a worldwide. In Sri Lanka, the results of unique destination, globally. Some of its the tourism boom included increased activities include identifying and Foreign Direct Investment, higher developing tourist specific, unique employment and a growth in revenue, products and services, formulating and which will have a positive impact on all implementing Tourism Development other sectors of the economy. The sector Guidelines, and facilitating and support to open up a large number of implementing the legal and employment opportunities in the hotel administrative process for new product and travel trade as well as in the other and service development. supporting services associated with the Considerable investments are taking hotel industry, ensuring livelihood for place in the tourism industry in the areas large segment of the society. of eco-tourism. One of the major hotels Environmentally too, the sector players which were constructed as far back as in are increasingly committed to conserving 1995 has high international recognition as the natural resources base recognising one of the worlds’ best eco/ environment the fact that the nexus between tourism friendly hotels. It is one of the pioneers to and bio diversity and that Sri Lanka’s introduce the eco-tourism concept to Sri natural resources base is inseparable. Lanka. Since its opening in 1995, the The additional demand generated by the hotel’s presence in the domestic and tourism sector in the economy has international marketplace has influenced invariably resulted in increased supply of several other hotels in the country to services and production in other sectors. follow suit and become green. The hotel Refurbishment of hotels, building of new has won several international awards hotels, revival of traditional handicraft including Green Globe award, industries and cottage industries indicate LEED Pilot Project Bronze medal 2000, the spread of the impact of the tourism PATA Gold for the concept of the Eco sector to other economic sectors. Demand Park, 2000 for aviation, airports, ticketing, transport The Colombo Chamber of Commerce services and leisure services have also (CCC’s) intervention in the latter half of been increased tremendously as a result 2009 to promote sustainable of this tourism boom. development to the leisure sector The Ministry of Economic Development through EU originated SWITCH Asia together with the SLTDAhas drawn up program has been timely. This plans to improve the tourism sector in programme known as greening of Sri the country that combines the initiatives Lankan hotels mainly targeted 350 SMEs such as home stay and boutique hotel in the hotel sector to optimise the usage programmes, rural youth training of energy and water and minimise the programmes for the tourist sector, generation of solid waste. It has handicraft and cottage industry immensely benefited the hotel sector to development programmes and village increase market acceptance with low tour and stay (Grama Charika) carbon foot print. programmes for the tourist sector in Many other groups have adopted similar order to percolate the benefits of tourism initiatives that focus on environment to the lower segment of society. The conservation and community SLTDA will strive to develop diverse, development. In addition, there are a

68 large number of boutique hotels, villas materials, during the last few years, eco- and lodges that have won world friendly initiatives have been promoted attention for best practices in eco- with the participation of the private tourism. sector. As a result there is a significant growth of ISO 14001 certified hotels in Sri 3.9.4 Training and Capacity Lanka. In the year 2008 the growth of ISO Development in Sustainable 14001 certified hotels which adopted the Tourism Initiatives environmental friendly technologies Sri Lanka's tourism industry with its were87% (Source-ISO 2008.) enormous potential is propelling the This strategy had enabled the hotel nation as the 'Wonder of Asia. industry to adopt more sustainable ‘Developing the nation as an ‘educational measures to be incorporated into the hub' is one of the strategies in achieving industry. They include, among others, this goal. The Sri Lanka Institute of resorting to alternatives and renewable Tourism and Hotel Management sources such as recycling of waste water, (SLITHM), which is the premier national low consumption and use of utensils and organisation established by the equipment, use of Solar and Wind Government to provide professionally Energy and the use of energy saving trained manpower for the tourism and equipment. The SLTDA encourages the hospitality industry, is fully equipped to water conservation policy during the meet this challenge. In keeping with the planning of new hotels such as treatment theme 'Excellence in Hospitality' the of wastewater and reuse for gardening SLITHM is committed to improving the and toilets. Most of the tourist hotels manpower standards required by the which maintain the ISO 14001 certificate industry, providing the necessary of environmental management do educational and training programmes. minimise the consumption of water and All the programmes conducted by it are energy and make efficient use of aimed at meeting the challenges and resources whilst actively promoting demands of the manpower requirement Sustainable Development. They release for the tourism sector at both national purified water into small streams with and international levels. Facilitating the intention of developing local innovative learning methods such as M- irrigation as well. Heritance Kandalama Learning and E-Learning effectively Hotel and Sigiriya Hotel are two such increase the reach of the educational instances. programmes to all sections of the industry.

3.9.5 Encouraging Environmental Friendly Concepts in the Hotel Industry The need for an eco and family friendly beach resort concept in Sri Lanka and for keeping to green building guidelines on energy and environment is a pressing need for sustainable tourism. Therefore, A Boutique Hotel in Matale to prevent tourism development The hotel industry has benefited greatly initiatives depleting natural resources from the adoption of cleaner production such as water, energy and other raw technology which is provided through 69 the National Cleaner Production Centre. ties and entrepreneurs. Green economy Promoting cleaner production technolo- concepts are further embedded into tour- gy focusing on sectors like energy effi- ism related activities by the Sri Lanka ciency, Material efficiency and Water Tourism Development AuthoritySLTDA efficiency are now being implemented in by holding a regular 'Tourism“Tourism many of the hotels. This encourages Awards Ceremony'Ceremony” annually competitiveness among the players by to promote Sri Lankan Tourism. It has adopting different and productive clean- enabled tourism to extend its horizons to er technologies which are assessed for offer different tourist products in an 'eco- 'Cleaner Production Awards. ‘The ab- friendly tourism and agriculture based sence of a proper disposal system for sol- tourism' atmosphere. id waste is a continuous concern which is common to the hotel industry as well. 3.9.6 Other Programmes contributing The present method of disposal consists to the Green Economy: largely of open dumping in low lying The Ministry of Environment also areas, thus impacting water bodies. Re- initiated a Programme in 2009 called cycling, reuse and alternative disposal 'Haritha Kawaya' with the intention of methods such as composting are some of creating an eco-friendly green Sri Lanka. the activities which are being implemented as pilot activities at a small scale 3.10 Shelter and Urban Development in most of the hotels. The regulation adopted by the Board of Investment 3.10.1 Sector Background (BOIas well as the Central Environmental Authority has enabled efficient manage- There are three essential basic needs for ment of waste in the hotel industry. humans, namely food, shelter and Common treatment systems for cluster clothing. Shelter or housing is a basic development and the Environmental human need encompassing a broad Protection License System have im- spectrum of activities. Without proved the system vastly. Recent im- appropriate shelter, people cannot meet provements in the implementation and their basic needs and participate monitoring mechanism of waste treat- adequately in society. Therefore, housing ment systems by the Sri Lanka Tourism is a fundamental component of the Development Authority, the Central En- quality of life. Though it is generally vironmental Authority and the Coast identified only by the house design, a Conservation Department improved the house is man’s most personalised and system dramatically. Nevertheless, solid intimate place of living. The Article 25 of waste is collected by the Municipal the Universal Declaration of Human Council or Local Authority of the area Rights states: ‘Everyone has the right to a and is sent to landfills. It is an accepted standard of living adequate for the health fact that Sri Lanka has very limited scien- and wellbeing of oneself and one’s tifically constructed landfills and many family, including food, clothing, housing in use are open land exposed to sun and and medical care and necessary social rain. Garbage is a major polluter in the services’ (United Nations, 1948.)In highly populated areas. The use of the December 1991, the right to adequate triple ‘R’ 'Reduce, Re-use and Re-cycle' housing was defined under international concept is still at a primary stage in the human rights law, when the United country but there is a considerable im- Nations Committee on Economic, Social provement on the part of both communi- and Cultural Rights adopted General

Comment No. 4 on the unanimous right A large number of initiatives have to adequate housing. already been taken in the area of policy, planning and legal arrangements, implementation of projects and programmes with a view to providing sustainable shelter and urban development for the people in Sri Lanka.

Box 3.12 Achievement in Goal 7 The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is committed to creating a conducive environment for the promotion of affordable quality housing for all and to achieving In Sri Lanka, even in the pre-colonial era, the Millennium Development Goals settlement and land use planning was (MDGs), in particular the Goal 7. practiced as an integral part of an Target 11. The Government’s Develop- agricultural tradition. The Wet Zone ment Policy Framework ‘Mahinda Chin- highlands were left under forest by an tana Vision for a New Sri Lanka, A Ten intentional decision. There were Year Horizon Development Framework conscious land use decisions and they 2006 – 2016’ envisages the Government’s were ecologically sound and role in the housing sector shifting from environmentally friendly. Most of the the role of a developer and financier to ancient human settlements were located that of a regulator and a facilitator. in areas which were not vulnerable to disasters. Settlements were blended with the natural environment. In the last three The Government’s development policy decades this situation has dramatically framework 'Mahinda Chintana in its changed. At present human activities on 'Vision for a New Sri Lanka, A Ten Year land has become more and more intense, Horizon Development Framework 2006 – frequently damaging the environment. 2016' recognises the urgent need to 'make certain that the policies and strategies are When compared with other countries Sri in place to ensure sustainable urban Lanka has a low level of urbanisation. development.' The urban population is heavily concentrated towards the South-West Sector Achievements coast of the country, especially within and around the commercial capital. The Taking the initiative towards sustainable problems associated with urbanisation urban development, the Urban are most prominent in the Greater Settlement Development Authority was Colombo area where 43% of the established by the GOSL in 2008. The population live in slum and shanty Urban Service Improvement Project has settlements. These settlements are been implemented in 2002. The 'Nagamu established in areas unsuitable for Purawara' Programme was launched residential purposes. However, the with an objective of improving the available studies have indicated that the shelter status of the urban poor to uplift urban status of Sri Lanka has changed their standard of living with over a period of time corresponding to environmentally friendly strategies and the various legislations. programmes.

The Green Building Council of Sri Lanka served settlements are a significant cause (GBCSL) was established in 2009 with the for the urban social problems. prime aim of transforming the Sri Lanka construction industry with green 3.10.2 Coordination Mechanism on building practices and adopting fully Permanent Housing sustainable practices in building The Housing Coordination Project is a construction. Sustainability in building response from United Nations Human practices is promoted by addressing five Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) key areas related to human and to support the Government of Sri Lanka environmental health, namely, in coordinating more than 100 sustainable site development, water independent agencies who are actively savings, energy efficiency, materials engaged in the tsunami housing selection and indoor environmental rebuilding programme. quality. GBCSL uses a locally developed rating system for Green Buildings in Sri Effective coordination is essential to Lanka. ensure that resources are not miss- allocated creating over-supply in some One of the leading banks, Hatton districts and under-supply in others. National Bank PLC, constructed a 22 Equally important are issues of quality story building as an energy efficient way standards and linkage between housing back in 2001. Striving to incorporate actors and other infrastructure agencies, energy efficient systems and practices, including water and sanitation, recently the bank opened the first green electricity, roads and other social bank branch. This building was rated services. The Project also provides Gold by the US Green Building Council institutional memory and continuity in (USGBC) under LEED Certification for a tracking affected families on their new building. journey through emergency shelter, In 2006, a leading garment exporter MAS transitional shelter and finally to Holdings opened the world’s first permanent housing. Currently, 120,000 garment eco-friendly factory which families are eligible for houses or grant specialises in the manufacture of lingerie. payments. It was recently awarded the LEED (Platinum) Certification established by 3.10.3 Rebuilding Community the USGBC. Infrastructure & Shelter - Post Tsunami Through 'Janasevana One Million Housing Programme' conditions of the The provision of immediate assistance to urban settlements were improved. local governments and communities to Thousands of families who are not in a restart their lives by assisting position to construct their own houses by communities to rebuild infrastructure their own means are living in various and housing was needed. This required places of the island. Economic and other support to remove the debris, salvage related problems are the main hindrance material, rebuild and repair their houses, in construction of a permanent house. as well as repairing essential These families are living island-wide in infrastructure so that basic services and various sizes of shanties and other housing become available as soon as temporary structures. These under possible. As important as the repair and privileged families living in under- reconstruction is the social recovery of affected communities. This will be done

72 with support to mobilise and organise 3.10.6 Access to Basic Urban Services the communities so that the affected in Municipalities in Sri Lanka people set their own reconstruction The UN-HABITAT Sustainable Cities priorities as well as shape the content of Programme (Phase I), with the support of the assistance packages. In addition their UNDP, was introduced to Sri Lanka livelihoods will be regenerated through under the 'National Programme for the direct investment of the assistance Sustainable Human Settlements in Sri packages within the communities, Lanka,' which was a follow-up to the creating local employment and government's commitments at the second opportunities for entrepreneurship. United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) held in Istanbul 3.10.4 Rebuilding Communities in in 1996. The programme was introduced North and East Sri Lanka in 1997 to three Municipal Councils of In the post-conflict North East Sri Lanka the Colombo Core Area (CCA) covering there are about 800,000 internally an area of about 75km2 and a total displaced people, needing to be resettled population of nearly 1.2 million. This in areas where basic services and area is the nerve centre of the country's facilities are non-existent or in a state of economic activities. The municipal areas disorder. More than 350,000 houses are are faced with the challenge of how best damaged or destroyed and over 50 per to respond to priority service issues such cent of the population is living in as solid waste management, water poverty. supply, environmental health, flooding and unauthorised construction. The 3.10.5 Early Recovery Shelter for IDPs project will develop a sector-specific in Batticaloa demonstration project in one The conflict in Trincomalee and municipality in Sri Lanka. It will focus on Batticaloa, which began in August 2006, the involvement and ownership of the resulted in the displacement of about community in organising, delivering and 150,000 people. The IDPs lost almost maintaining basic urban services related everything including their homes and to water and sanitation. The project will their means of livelihood. Of the 38,583 serve as a basis for preparing a municipal families (151,809 people) displaced, strategy on basic urban services and will 27,195 families have now returned to be replicated in other cities in Sri Lanka. their original place of residence.The 3.10.7 Support to Implement the Sri government estimated that as many as Lankan Urbanisation 28,000 houses were damaged or Framework destroyed in Batticaloa. A UN-HABITAT commissioned survey identified that the This Programme builds on the rebuilding of their houses was the Sustainable Colombo Core Area (SCCA) primary concern for the vast majority of Project and the Urban Governance returnees. This prompted UN-HABITAT Support Project (UGSP) to support the to develop a ‘Starter House’ concept to Government's Ten Year Urban get families on the road to recovery in the Development Framework (UDF.) The shortest possible time. The Starter House SCCA and UGSP projects introduced the will lay down the ‘footprint’ of an environmental planning and eventual complete house that conforms management approach to 18 cities to the minimum standards laid down by focusing on environmental issues and Government for housing. poverty reduction, and thereafter

73 diversified to include participatory urban a basis for achieving sustainable urban governance, gender inclusiveness and growth and development. localisation of Millennium Development The SCP supported 20 main Goals. The objective of this project is to demonstration and 25 replicating cities institutionalise good practices and around the world. Following Sri Lanka's processes to improve performance at commitment at 1996 Habitat II City provincial and local level in delivering Summit held in Istanbul, Colombo, Sri services in a transparent and accountable Lanka's commercial capital, was the first manner. city considered for development under this programme. 18 cities and towns have 3.10.8 Urban Governance Support benefited from its sub projects. The project is anchored in the Millennium Development Goals of Good 3.10.10 Metro Colombo Urban Governance, Halving Poverty and Development Project (MCUDP) Hunger and Ensuring Environmental Sustainability, which amongst others The government has recently launched provide the reference points for the the MCUD project with the financial development targets set in the Future – assistance of the World Bank. The Regaining Sri Lanka. Following the objectives of the MCUDP are to (a) adoption in 1999 of its National reduce flooding in the catchment of the Programme for Sustainable Human Colombo Water Basin, and (b) strengthen Settlements, the government of Sri Lanka the capacity of local authorities in the initiated a number of pro poor urban Colombo Metropolitan Area (CMA) to capacity development projects as part of rehabilitate, improve and maintain local its commitment to implement the Habitat infrastructure and services through Agenda. These included the Sustainable selected demonstration investments. The Colombo Core Area Project (1999-2001) main components of the project are (a) and the Sustainable Sri Lanka Cities flood and drainage Project (2001-2003), both supported by management(improvements to flood and the UNDP. The success of these projects drainage management infrastructure in has created firm foundations for the Colombo Water Basin, development broadening of support for participatory of an Integrated Flood Management urban governance to local authorities in System (IFMS), and complementary Sri Lanka and the means and the interventions to improve environment modalities have been developed, tested and public facilities along the water and put in place. bodies, (b) urban development, infrastructure rehabilitation and capacity 3.10.9 The Sustainable Cities building in Metro Colombo local Programme (SCP) authorities and (c) project management, SCP is a joint UN-HABITAT/UNEP environmental and social safeguards, facility for building capacities in urban construction supervision, environmental planning and communications and public awareness. management. The programme is founded on broad-based cross-sectoral and 3.10.11 Climate Resilient Action Plans stakeholder participatory approaches. It for Coastal Urban Areas contributes to promoting urban Cities face one of the heaviest and environmental governance processes, as onerous burdens from the impacts of

74 climate change. Analysis of 40 year records of daily temperature data of Batticaloa has revealed a strong trend of temperature increase of 0.4-0.50C during the last two decades in comparison to the previous two decades. In addition, rainfall analysis has revealed a strong trend of monsoon rainfall increase (28% in BatticaloaMC and 34% NegomboMC) and correspondent increase of occurrence of minor floods. The BatticaloaMC has experienced the largest flood during the last 100 years during December 2009- January 2010. This flood resulted in loss of life and property while significantly damaging the emerging coastal tourism industry. 15%-20% of the total Inauguration of the Disaster Resilient population in NegamboMC City Development Project andBatticaloaMC are vulnerable to sea level rise in 2040. Frequently increasing 3.10.12 Disaster Resilient City storm surges have also resulted in Development Strategies for Sri significant losses to livelihoods in these Lankan Cities areas. Programs are developed to establish The above information follows the sustainable, disaster resilient and healthy findings of the Cities and Climate cities and townships in disaster prone Change Initiatives Pilot Project regions of Sri Lanka (Batticaloa, implemented by the University of Ratnapura, Kalmunai and Balangoda MC Moratuwa and UN-HABITAT in Areas.) collaboration with Batticaloa and

Negombo Municipal Councils as the first 3.10.13 Support to Conflict Affected initiative to address the levelClimate People through Housing Change impacts in Sri Lanka. As many The project aims to contribute to a other coastal cities have experienced sustainable solution for the returnees in devastating climate related impacts the Northern Province with the specific during the recent years, this Project objective of improving the living focuses on the most urgent and conditions and social cohesion of immediate needs of the Sri Lankan displaced people, returnees and their coastal cities in adapting to climate host communities in the North through change, and mitigating risks and the provision of permanent housing. severity of impacts through Disaster Risk Management (DRM.) 3.10.14 Shelter Recovery for Northern IDPs The project focused on supporting families to make damaged houses habitable as soon as possible. Initial assessments confirmed that while many houses have been destroyed, many

75 others remained standing, often without 3.10.17 Livelihood Assessment of Flood roofs, windows or doors. Rather than Prone Low Income Settlements invest resources on temporary or in the City of Colombo transitional shelter arrangements, UN- UN-HABITAT is partnering with the HABITAT moved directly to a World Bank, the lead agency which sustainable and durable housing solution assists the government to support the for the vulnerable families in over 40 regeneration programme for Metro villages in the Districts of Vavuniya, Colombo, with a combination of Mullaitivu and Killinochchi. programmatic technical assistance and fast track operations based on the 3.10.15 Pro-Poor Partnerships for readiness of investments. A livelihoods Settlement Upgrading assessment survey of low income The objective of the project is: communities located in flood prone areas  to institutionalise participatory is being implemented by UN-HABITAT urban governance approaches with the objective of understanding introduced in over 8 years of critical knowledge gaps with respect to participatory environmental the geography and typologies of flood- governance support; prone low-income settlements, the  to assist the Municipal Councils livelihood conditions of these of Ratnapura, NuwaraEliya, communities and their specific Kotte and Batticaloa to extend vulnerabilities. The results of the such participatory governance Assessment Survey will help enhance approaches to develop Pro-poor project design, project implementation settlement upgrading strategies; and poverty reduction impact of the  to prepare settlements upgrading World Bank supported operations under action plans to mobilise follow the Metro Colombo Urban Regeneration up investments; Programme and facilitate urban policy  to develop manuals, training initiatives. models and tools and replication modalities. 3.10.18 Lunawa Lake Environment & community Development 3.10.16 Support to a National Climate project Change Policy for Sri Lanka The objective of the project is to mitigate UN-HABITAT, the United Nations flood damage by improving urban Human Settlements programme is drainage and canal systems, and at the supporting the Government of Sri Lanka same time improve the living conditions in formulating a National Climate of project affected households. UN- Change Policy (NCCP). The partnership HABITAT is responsible for recognised the need for a pro-active implementing the Community strategy developed using a consultative Development Component, through process, a critical catalyst in ensuring advisory services to the Urban continued sustainable development of Sri Settlements Improvement Project Unit of Lanka. A new national policy will help the Ministry of Urban Development and overcome obstacles in the country in Water Supplies and the Urban Local responding to concerns and Authorities (ULAs.) repercussions of climate change.

3.10.19 Clean Settlement Project city/town development with a view to equipping the local township with The Programme Goal is to irrepressibly modern amenities and there by improve the physical, social, economic, controlling the migration of population political and institutional environment in to urban areas. One such successful targets in low income settlements. project is the Greater Dambulla 3.10.20 Sustainable township Programme. The Greater Hambantota programme Project is programmed with the same basic concept. Provision of better housing for low- income people and releasing land for 3.11 Forestry and Biodiversity urban development. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de 3.10.21 Colombo Metro Regional Plan Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a (CMRP) comprehensive strategy for sustainable development. One of the key agreements The overall objective of the CMRP is to adopted at Rio was the United Nations design strategies, a physical plan and Convention on Biological Diversity prepare an action programme for the (UNCBD.) Post ratification of this development of the region with a view to convention in 1993, Sri Lanka also meeting the aspirations and improving established commitments for the quality of life of the people in the maintaining its ecological underpinnings western province and the people of Sri as it progresses with economic Lanka. development, and ratified up to 12 multilateral agreements and conventions 3.10.22 Colombo environment focusing on biodiversity and its improvement project conservation. United Nations The overall objective of the Colombo Convention on Biological Diversity Environmental Improvement Project is to (UNCBD) established three main goals: contribute to a sustainable environment the conservation of biological diversity, for the long term economic and social the sustainable use of its components and development of the Colombo the fair and equitable sharing of the Metropolitan Area (CMA). benefits from the use of genetic resources. Being a nation with a rich 3.10.23 Beira Lake restoration project endemic biodiversity, the government has made biodiversity conservation a key The Urban Development Authority focus area. (UDA) will complete relocation of 320 families out of 1,000 families identified to The Department of Wildlife Conservation be relocated to facilitate the Beira Lake (DWC) and the Biodiversity Secretariat at restoration project by providing them the Ministry of Environment are the key houses in Dematagoda. The Beira Lake implementers of the programmes and Restoration Project started in 2008 to projects highlighted below: construct 1,000 houses in Dematagoda  Preparation of a Biodiversity and Mattakkuliya areas to relocate Conservation Action Plan people who currently live around the (BCAP.) Lake.  Setting up of the Biodiversity The Mahinda Chintana policy guidelines Secretariat under the Ministry of envisage regional development through

Environment & Natural Resources in 1998.  Strengthen the key institution in the forestry, wildlife, agriculture and coastal sector.  Setting up the implementing mechanism for coordinating biodiversity activities in the Ministry of Environment.  In-country capacity assessment for biodiversity conservation.  Projects promoting capacity building for biodiversity conservation with the financial support from various international donors.  Training, awareness &education programmes.  Development of subject specific policies (Traditional knowledge, Access to genetic resources.)  Carrey out a Capacity Assessment under the National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environmental Management (NCSA)

3.11.1 Progress achieved from Rio+10  Finalised the declaration meeting to Rio+20 meeting - 10 procedure for the first protected year Period (2002 – 2011) area for palaeo biodiversity In-situ conservation (Miocene mollusk) at Aruwakkalu, Puttalam  The implementation of Protected Area and Wildlife Conservation Ex-situ conservation Project for upgrading the 7  The establishment of more than protected areas, preparation of 300 plant sanctuaries and 1000 habitat maps and protected area religious planting sites (Atavisi gap analysis. Boodhi Malu) in temples to  The declaration of 04 Ramsar promote ex situ conservation and sites – Anavilundawa, increase the forest cover Maduganga, Kumana, Vankalai.  The establishment of the Dry  The declaration of 2nd forest Zone Botanical Garden in the based World Heritage Site – Southern Province Knuckles.  The establishment of the  The increase of the extent of Agriculture Technology Park in protected areas managed by the Gannoruwa and hosting of Agro- DWC. biodiversity demonstrations at this site  New National Parks Set Up – Kaudulla, Hikkaduwa, Pigeon  The establishment of 'AthAturu Island, Horagolla, Gallways, Sevana' for rehabilitation and Angamadilla, Yala-east Kumana, reintroduction to forest of baby Lahugala-Kitulana, Nature elephants reserve – Vedihitikanda, sanctuary. 3.11.2 Access to genetic Resources  The identification and  The preparation of Model completion of the document Material Transfer Agreements preparation process for the for ready access to genetic declaration of the Important Bird resources and to prevent bio- Area (IBA) network. piracy  The increase of the extent of 3.11.3 Traditional Knowledge and protected area (reserve forest) Cultural Diversity under the Forest Department.  Conducting of annual  The declaration of symposiums on Traditional Environmentally Sensitive Areas Knowledge focusing on various – Bulathsinhala-Wathrana, themes Talangama Tank, Maragala Kanda – Monaragala, Gin Oya-  Preparation of four Natthandiya. compendiums on Traditional Knowledge  The declaration of the first protected area (SethaVilluwa) for 3.11.4 Impact on Biodiversity crop wild relatives (wild life) at  Aruwakkalu, Puttalam. Implementation of Technical Assistant project to control of Aquatic Alien Invasive species

and introduce biological control implementation of possible agents for Water Hyacinth programmes. (Eichhorniacrassipes) and  Preparation of Addendum to the Partheniumhysterophorus. Biodiversity Conservation Action  Establishment of a National Plan. Database and a Website for Invasive Species Box 3.13 Sri Lanka’s 4th RAMSAR Wetland Declared in 2011  The updating of the National On the directive of the Department Lists of Invasive Flora and Fauna of Wildlife Conservation, the  The establishment of an early International Convention on warning system for the Wetlands of International introduction of Invasive Species Importance (Ramsar Convention) has designated the Vankalai Sanctuary as 3.11.5 Sustainable Use and Benefit the 4th Ramsar Wetland of Sri Lanka. Sharing The Vankalai Sanctuary is located on  Implementation of the the North-Western coastal belt of Sri Southwestern Rainforest Lanka within the District of Mannar. Conservation Project for This site covers an area of 4,839 ha enhancing the capacity to and consists of several ecosystems sustainably use forest resources include arid-zone thorn scrubland,  Implementation of Sri Lanka- arid-zone pastures and maritime Australia Natural Resources grasslands, sand dunes, mangroves, Management Project to reduce salt marshes, lagoons, tidal flats, sea- poverty through improved grass beds and shallow marine areas. natural resource management Due to the integrated nature of the shallow wetland and the terrestrial  Preparation of a National coastal habitats, this sanctuary is Biosafety Framework highly productive, supporting a high ecosystem and species diversity. The 3.11.6 Biosafety site provides excellent feeding and  Ratification of Cartagena living habitats for a large number of Protocol on Biosafety water bird species, including annual  Formulation of a National Policy migrants, which also use this area on on Biosafety arrival and during their exit from Sri Lanka. It harbors more than 20,000 3.11.7 Biodiversity Valuation and water birds during the migratory Economics of Biodiversity season. The site as a coastal and  Design a project on pricing the marine ecosystem is important for island to prepare an electronic over 60 species of fish, marine turtles data base on ecosystem base and rare species such as Dugongs. valuation. Department of Wildlife Conservation- 2011 3.11.8 Policies, Strategies and Action Plans  Preparation of National Agro-  Preparation of Provincial biodiversity Action Plans. Biodiversity Action Plans for  Preparation of Palaeo- decentralisation and biodiversity Action plan

3.11.9 Monitoring and Coordination Alphabet) for conservation  Establishment of a National education of grades 1,2 and 3. Steering Committee for the  Published nearly 200 posters UNDP Small Grant Programme with 32 themes as newspaper and monitoring of 173 projects supplements weekly with the with total value of US$. 75,000 copies/each newspaper. 3,161,296. 3.11.13 Assessment, Research and 3.11.10 Institutional Aspects and Technology Transfer Capacity Building  Preparation of 2nd Red List (Red  Establishment of Biodiversity data book) on flora and fauna. Protection Unit in the Customs  Completion of assessment of Department. conservation status of all flowering plants (3772 species.) 3.11.11 Legal Framework on Biodiversity  Preparation of Known Plant List of Sri Lanka.  Establishment of National and Provincial Faunal Biological  Completion of island wide basic Identities by declaration of survey on marine mollusk and National Butterfly and Provincial assess conservation status. Butterflies.  Completion of assessments of  Establishment of Provincial conservation status of dragon Floral Identities by declaration of flies, spiders, etc. Provincial Flowers.  Implementation of ‘Flora of  Protection of Salacia spp. Ceylon’ project to revise the (Himbutu spp.) from bio piracy assessed flora. through Flora Fauna Protection  Prepare information exchange Ordinance (FFPO) regulation. system within the relevant  Protection of all Cinnamon spp. agencies for conservation of crop (Kurudu spp.) from bio piracy wild relatives for Biodiversity through FFPO regulation. information management

 Provision of legal protection for 3.11.14 Agriculture Biodiversity most of the plants and animals  through inclusion in the Protocol Implementation of the projects Unit of FFPO. on conservation of Crop Wild Relatives and Animal Genetic 3.11.12 Education, Awareness and Resources. Training  Completion of the preparation of  Conducting a diploma course in project of mainstream the Palaeo-biodiversity in the underutilised crop for human Postgraduate Institute of nutrition. Archaeology.  Completion of the project  Preparation of a book of Sinhala proposal of adaptation of climate alphabets with biodiversity change impacts on agro- aspects ‘Jeewa Hodiya’ (Bio- biodiversity through livelihood development.

3.11.15 Implementation of Biodiversity island wide projects to conserve the Related Aspects of Rio island’s biological diversity. Principles Innovative initiatives taken by Sri Lanka The Rio principles adopted in 1992 towards a sustainable development path covers the full spectrum of sustainable and a series of planned and development including social, economic unanticipated impacts as a result of these and environmental aspects and are of the initiatives are discussed above. Social baselines to compare the progress of indicators in Sri Lanka are among the commitments made by each and every best in South Asia. country for sustainable development. Despite severe economic burdens and 3.12 Concluding Remarks development setbacks from terrorism inflicted disturbances and devastation In a broad sense a major portion of the from the 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka Natural Capital of Sri Lanka belongs to achieved a sustainable growth rate with the country’s biodiversity. Even non- average annual growth of 5% over the biological natural resources are also last 3 decades. The economy grew by 8% generated due to the long term biological in 2010 and is expected to continue this process unique to specific ecosystems. Sri trend in the medium term. Lanka is placed 24th in a list of 34 world biodiversity hotspots. The International Monetary Fund has been classified Sri Lanka as a middle- In view of the importance of biodiversity income country. In July 2011, Moody’s in Sri Lanka’s development programmes, upgraded the sovereign rating from particularly in Agriculture, Plantation 'Stable' to 'Positive.' Industries and Fisheries sectors, the sustainable use of biological resources is The Government of Sri Lanka has of critical importance to the sustenance of strongly reaffirmed its commitment to the country’s economy. The the Rio principles, the full Development strategy of the present implementation of Agenda 21, by Government is to project Sri Lanka as a developing and implementing a green economy. Therefore, Biodiversity comprehensive sustainable development Conservation and investing in programme within the framework of biodiversity specifically as natural capital ‘Mahinda Chintanaya.' Sri Lanka has also is a high priority on the development committed to achieving the agenda of the Government. The internationally agreed development components of biodiversity and its major goals, including those contained in the areas such as in situ conservation, ex situ United Nations Millennium Declaration conservation, traditional wisdom provide and in the outcomes of the major United a comparative advantage in attracting Nations conferences and international tourists as well as investors. agreements since 1992. Apart from the government institutions a These efforts will also promote the number of international NGOs such as integration of the three components of International Union for Conservation of Sustainable Development - economic Nature (IUCN) and local NGOs like the development, social development and Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, environmental protection - as Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of interdependent and mutually reinforcing Sri Lanka and Federation of Wildlife pillars. Poverty eradication, changing Conservation are actively participating in unsustainable patterns of production and

82 consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for sustainable development. Sri Lanka has recognised that the implementation of the outcomes of the Summit would benefit all, particularly women, youth, children and vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the implementation should involve all relevant actors through active partnerships. Good governance is essential for sustainable development. At the domestic level, sound environmental, social and economic policies, democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, gender equality and an enabling environment for investment are the prerequisites for sustainable development.

CHAPTER 4  Up scaling and updating the knowledge base, science and technology skills, addressing 4 Challenges deficiencies in technology transfer and Opportunities and adoption.  Preparedness for climate change 4.1 Background and disaster management and climate smart and disaster resilient communities. Box 0.1 Key Achievements in  Mainstreaming the environment fulfilling Rio + commitments into the development process.  Sri Lanka has taken a  Skill development/capacity comprehensive effort in building and improved human implementing all 27 Rio resources and financial resources. Principles successfully  Managing social integration and  Successfully achieved all MDG social safeguards. goals and agreed targets  Enhancing institutional capacity  Signed and adapted relevant and social capital including private international conventions sector and community.  Ratified three Rio conventions Though Sri Lanka has made significant progress in poverty reduction in the recent past, eradicating extreme poverty, The impressive achievements hunger and malnutrition is a key cross accomplished in the pathway towards the cutting issue and one of the main sustainable development are presented in challenges to be faced on the road to the previous chapters. The key sustainable development. The proportion achievements fulfilling Rio+ of people living below the poverty line commitments are highlighted in the Box sharply declined from 26.1% in 1990/91 4.1 while Box 4.2 presents the direct to 8.9% in 2011, and according to current outcomes and Impact of Mahinda trends, the national MDG target of Chintana Vision2005 – 2009 towards the halving poverty is likely to be achieved socio-economic development in the much ahead of 2015. However, in spite of country. However, there are emerging this favourable progress at the overall challenges that one should be mindful of national level, there are considerable addressing in the sustainable regional disparities in poverty. The development pathway. incidence of poverty has declined in all districts except in NuwaraEliya and 4.2 Emerging Challenges Moneragala, where the poverty headcount index (HCI) is more than The key issues and emerging challenges double the national average. Sri Lanka has to meet in its journey towards achieving sustainable It is evident that poverty in the estate development vision are: sector has risen recently, contrary to the general trend of steadily declining  Alleviation of poverty and poverty. Rising inequality is a cause for malnutrition. concern for Sri Lanka. The rising Gini coefficient of per capita expenditure,

84 which was 0.40 in 2006/07, and the Western Province, and through better declining share of the poorest quintile in targeting of welfare programmes and national consumption, i.e., 8.9% in suitable strategies to reduce inequality. 1990/91 to 7.1% in 2006/07, bears Although, Sri Lanka is classified as a evidence for rising inequality. middle income country, it exhibits almost all the characters of a developing country

Box 0.2 Direct outcomes and Impact of Mahinda Chintana Vision 2005 - 2009  Average Sustained Economic Growth - Last three decades : Around 5%; Since 2005: 6%

 Raise: - Per capita income from US$ 1,062 in 2004 to US$ 2,053 in 2009 - Life expectancy from 73.2 years to 74.1 years (2005 to 2009) - School enrolment from 95% to 98% (2005 to 2009) - Net enrollment in primary education from 96.3% to 97.5% - General literacy from 95% to 97% (2005 to 2009) - Computer literacy from 10% to 20% (2005 to 2009) - Adult literacy rate from 91% to 91.4% - Women participation in labor force from 32.6% to 34.3% (2005 to 2009) - Overall human resource index from 0.740 to 0.759 (2005 to 2009) ------ Raise access to: - Electricity from 75% to 87% (2005 to 2009) - Safe drinking water from 80% to 85% (2005 to 2009) - Telecommunication from 23% to 86% and (2005 to 2009) - Road access from 93% to 95% (2005 to 2009) ------ Reduce: - Unemployment from 7.4% to 5% (from 2005 to 2009) - Poverty from 15.7% to 8.9% (from 2006 to 2010) - Population living on less than $1.25 per day from 14.0% to 7.0% - Population living below the national poverty line from 22.7% to 8.9% - Infant mortality from 11.2 per thousand live births to 10.9(2005 to 2009)

------ Stepped up to; - a ‘Middle Income Country’ from a ‘Low Income The IMF classified Sri Lanka as a middle-income country in 2010

where the socio economic development and poverty alleviation are of paramount Nevertheless, Sri Lanka could do better in importance in achieving the goals of achieving the targets under Goal 1, if the sustainable Development. Therefore, fruits of growth are extended beyond the

85 alleviating poverty of the people, supportive of an increased awareness on ensuring food security without further sustainable consumption and production land and water degradation, supplying practices among the general public for a clean water and sanitation, supplying paradigm shift from a brown to a green adequate energy for basic needs, and economy. In this context, various providing access to electricity, providing obstacles and challenges are being faced a healthy environment for people who by the country to meet the incremental are exposed to dangerous levels of cost of meeting the transition phase of outdoor pollution and indoor air greening the economy. Hence, the pollution and vector-borne diseases, country needs external assistance for providing safe shelter for those who are technical, financial and skilled human vulnerable to natural disasters, are the capital for country driven priorities to urgent needs to be addressed today. integrate the various development scenarios, social and environment related Addressing the crosscutting issues and concerns within the country. challenges such as (a) Up scaling and updating knowledge base, science and 4.3 Sector Specific Issues and technology skills, addressing deficiencies Challenges in technology transfer and adoption, (b) Preparedness for climate change and 4.3.1 Energy disaster management and build-up of climate smart and disaster resilient The grid substation capacity in NRE areas communities, (c) Effectively has reached their permissible level. mainstreaming the environment into the However, sufficient investments are not development process, (d) Skill being channelled from the utility or the development and capacity building and private sector for upgrading substations. improving human resources and Further, the transmission network in mobilising financial resources, managing resource-rich areas is quite weak, and social integration and social safeguards was meant only to supply electricity to covering integrated social development rural communities. Major investment is with special attention to women, required to strengthen these networks. In vulnerable communities, and enhancing the longer term, a dedicated backbone in institutional capacity and social capital, the transmission network will be required including private sector and community, and the utility or investors are unable to are the basic pre-requisites for an make such large volumes of investment effective Sustainable Development or to remain committed to very long Programme. periods of payback. During the past two decades, a better In the energy management thrust, the institutional framework was established most visible bottleneck has been the lack to manage the environment and natural of capacity of the energy services resources. Sound national polices were industry. Although the country has developed, and therefore, it is an Engineering Companies identified as opportunity for implementation of ESCOs, such companies are not yet regional and local level projects to uplift capable of handling the entire cycle of a the living standards of the people and given project, commencing from energy conserve the environment and natural auditing to project implementation and resources in the country. Further, the post project support. This void has institutional framework is highly prevented many bulk consumers from taking up energy efficiency improvement 86 as a key strategy to improve In the case of demand side management, competitiveness. the lack of concessionary loans for energy efficiency projects is a discouraging factor The small hydro sector followed a natural that impedes many projects from being evolution until about year 2005, with no implemented. This has created a void in formal policy framework. The tariff on the energy services industry and has offer was based on avoided costs, and prevented many energy consumers from escalating oil prices forced the small embarking on energy efficiency hydro tariffs to climb up towards an improvement projects, even if they pose almost unsustainable level. Absence of a very sound financial justification. well laid out resource allocation process also created a lot of conflicts among Apart from the above, the cross developers. The situation was further subsidised electricity tariffs which do not aggravated due to ill defined renewable reflect the true energy cost, especially in energy resource ownership and an the domestic category, has made the need entangled and complex bureaucracy in to conserve energy a low priority in the the project approval process. minds of the energy consumer. The tariffs remain stagnant, insulated from the ups- The resource allocation process, which and-downs of the rising energy prices; was loosely regulated, resulted in many therefore, it does not act as an incentive to good sites in the hands of incapable encourage investments in energy developers. This state of affairs has efficiency activities. Also, energy delayed the project implementation efficiency is not yet a priority for many severely. Although the small hydro industries, since there are many other experience in Sri Lanka has created an burning issues like material supply and environment conducive for investment labour related issues, which has a direct with the necessary legal framework and bearing on the viability of the business. financing mechanisms in place, there is a This has let off the focus on energy possibility of increasing the number of management, and is identified as a key small generators to the grid. This may impediment in the energy services lead to a number of technical issues faced industry. by the national grid. Although there are solutions to such problems, there is no 4.3.2 Transport clear path to secure investments required to implement such solutions. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 2010 expected to double its per capita income Fluctuations, which are inherent to wind by 2015 and the increase in per capita and solar resources, have discouraged income will eventually amplify the utilities from accommodating more solar mobility demand in the long run. If the and wind plants, due to the system wide current trend continues in the years to impacts they pose. Therefore, careful come, with the increase in income, analyses of the depth of these impacts transport will have to be increasingly and the fluctuations and development of privately sourced. sound forecasting methods have become a top priority. However, this approach While the country still figures around the requires many years of resource data and lowest in private four-wheeled vehicle reports on operational behaviour of ownership, the attraction for three and power plants, which are not available at two wheelers had been fast growing. By present.

2011, the active private vehicle fleet2 in Sri 4.1 The increase in the fuel bill is not the Lanka stood at 2.2 million vehicles, of only factor that Sri Lanka should be which nearly 60% were motor bicycles. worried about. The changing model Estimated private vehicle fleet in the intensity of vehicular operations suggests island is expected to grow to 4.3 million more pollution, which is not only vehicles by 2020(Table 4.2). environmentally hazardous but also socially unsustainable. The increase in private modes of transport will eventually increase the By having a low level of private modes of demand for fuel, thus becoming transport operating in the island, Sri unsustainable in the long run. With the Lanka in the past was able to save an increase in private modal share in the enormous amount of harmful fuel transport market, the fuel usage and emissions. But with increasing use of thereby emission discharge private vehicles, the growth of tons of CO, HC, NOX, SO2 and particulate matter

will only be an inevitable misfortune,

Table 0.1 Passenger Transportation in Sri Lanka and Fuel Usage

2010 2020 Type of Passenger Load Fuel Passenger Load Fuel usage vehicle Km (Mn) usage Km (Mn) L (Mn) L (Mn) Bus 63,550 40 530 95,146 50 630 Train 4,353 500 27 11,890 750 48 Private 36,171 2 1,809 130,800 2 6,540 total 104,074 2,366 237,836 7,218 Calculations by the University of Colombo (based on the assumption that the technical parameters observed in 2005 would remain unchanged) will be an unavoidable misfortune. By the unless a technological innovation provision of public transport Sri Lanka intervenes in the interim. If this trend has been able to control the number of continues unabated, the environmental private vehicles in the island, thereby condition in the island will inevitably controlling its fuel bill and ensuring degrade along with the country having to environmental sustainability. However, incur a higher cost of congestion and with the projections for the year 2020 and accidents and will also increase beyond, the fuel bill is expected to vulnerability of the public, particularly skyrocket low-income groups, to health hazards. If the projections hold for the next In summary, statistics suggest that the decade, the fuel consumption on trend Sri Lanka is pursuing in terms of transportation in the island is likely to transportation is not sustainable. With exceed 7 billion litres by 2020. (See Table increased income, economic activity is sure to increase and with the present quality of public transportation, people being increasingly attracted to private 2 Excluding buses and trucks 88 modes of transport is a sad inevitability. intervention is made to safeguard the However, like Singapore or Hong Kong, public share of transport market. if the public transportation service can Research suggests that the demand for alter itself to the increasing demand, to transportation in Sri Lanka is 2 to 3 times the growing commuter expectations, and above regional averages3while at the if the policy environment can be geared same time Sri Lanka has the highest up to discourage the use of private modes number of road kilometres per thousand of transport (at least in congested areas people among regional neighbours. and peak times), the need for private modes can be expected to see a Although, the high mobility would have slowdown. The decline will not only be served as a catalyst in bringing about reflected in the number of private higher social conditions, the high demand vehicles operating and releasing harmful for mobility in the island (compared to emissions to the atmosphere. It will regional averages) could possibly indicate reflect in a reduction of the import bill of excessive travel arising out of

Table 0.2 Increase in Transport Demand

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015* 2020* Per capita income USD 2,794 3,200 3,660 4,190 4,700 7,900 Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2010, Table B 3.2) * Projections by the University of Colombo oil, allowing re-direction of the savings infrastructure-unfriendly settlement towards development priorities. patterns or of the wider availability of affordable public transport services or In all what has been discussed above, both. If such was the case, it could be an nothing qualifies more to resolve the indicator of unnecessary environmental present dilemma of growth versus impact, as this high mobility demand was environment, but public transportation. almost entirely supplied by motorised This document presents a comprehensive modes. In the past, the problem was not model for a vision for a greener Sri Lanka that acute owing to the mobility being – a process simultaneously discouraging provided almost exclusively by public private vehicle ownership while transportation. At present, however, the improving the usage and attractiveness of trend seems to be of a considerable public transportation. The following concern as the modal intensity of vehicle section will look into the key areas of kilometres operated is shifting to private focus. modes from public modes of transport, The transport demand in the island is and private vehicle ownership is fast estimated to be around 160 billion growing (fuelled by poor performance of passenger kilometres by 2015.If there is public transport providers as well as by no effective strategic intervention that increased incomes making private takes place in the interim; it would end vehicles much more affordable), further up becoming nearly 240 billion by 2020. increasing the environmental hazard. By then, it is highly likely that the public transport modal share would drop down to around 45% unless explicit strategic 3As per studies done by Prof. AmalKumarage of University of Moratuwa 89

The below table demonstrates the implicit concessions that had been sustainability impetus that could be accorded until recently to two wheeler sought through promotion of public and three wheeler vehicles, was a burden transport modes. Lack of an effective shift on the environment. towards public transportation catering to an increased demand, is a burning issue. Promotion of Railway Mode, and Inadequacy of human resources with Encouraging Modal Shift from Road to updated knowledge and the institutional Rail structure to implement the necessary Even the most polluting train engine will changes is seen as a major constraint. have a far less per passenger pollution Congested metropolitan roads in level compared to the most emission Colombo are a major strain in the effective mode of road transport. Lack of transport sector. The issue is currently capacity to facilitate rail transport to arising in the Kandy city in urban public satisfy the need is worth discussing. passenger transport system. Other towns, Limited accessibility throughout the depending on their transport demand country and the travel time is a deterring growth patterns, will experience these factor in using the mode of transport. Rail problems with time track upgrading and development should be capital efficient if the procedure is to Fuel Intensity in Transportation be sustainable and growth supporting. A network of rail-based Internal Container When considering the transport sector Depots in Colombo suburbs is needed to from the view point of Sustainable provide necessary logistics. In addition to Development, the most important factor this, all ports and airports should be is the provision of transport services at provided with a railway link. the least economic, social and environmental cost, rather than the Non-motorised Transport Modes emissions per vehicle or emission per litre of fuel consumed. Such emissions need to Non-motorised modes are the least be weighed against the carrying capacity polluting of all modes of transport, and of such vehicles. Larger capacity vehicles thus should be encouraged wherever generally have greater economies of scale, possible. The constraint that gives cause and thus are less energy (and thereby for concern with regard to the promotion emission) intensive per unit of of non-motorised modes is the safety transportation delivered (such as issue. tons/km or passengers/km.) Therefore, it is imperative that the policies are geared 4.3.3 Water towards encouraging a modal shift Issues within the Irrigation Sector towards vehicles with larger economies of scale, particularly in terms of fuel. The Due to varying needs, demand for water Table 0.3 Fuel Intensity of Different Modes of Land Transport – 2012

Year Total Passenger Public passenger Private passenger Km Km Km (Mn) (Mn) % (Mn) % 2010 104,074 67,903 65% 36,171 35% 2015 159,800 81,498 51% 78,302 49% 2020 237,836 107,000 45% 130,810 55% Calculations and projection by University of Colombo 90 has been on the increase. While water 2. Salinity intrusion in the water availability has been affected by intakes. prolonged dry spells and droughts, and 3. Inadequate catchment protection. the pollution of water sources is 4. High % of Non-Revenue Water apparent, in the face of increasing (NRW.) urbanisation, downstream areas of rivers are getting seriously degraded. The river 5. Ground water depletion in bank erosion and water quality certain areas and water quality deterioration are some of the main issues. resulting effects. Excessive sand mining Challenges in the main rivers and streams has led to the lowering of river bed levels resulting 1. Provide equitable access to Water in the lowering of the water table as well. and Sanitation Facilities and Salt water intrusion has also lead to a Services, addressing regional number of environmental and social disparity/variation, with special issues. focus on: (a) Remote Rural Areas, (b) Estate Sector in Central Sustainable management of water Province, (c) Under-Served resources faces critical challenges, Settlements in Urban Areas, and, including the lack of policy clarity on (c) War and disaster affected resource development and allocation. The areas. multitude of overlapping institutions and 2. Establish effective inter agency laws in this sector, and an absence of coordination at inter and intra reliable data is seen as a major issue. agency level in different strata of Whilst water scarcity is not an immediate government (Central, Provincial challenge, scarcity is starting to threaten and Local Government Agencies) overall development. Although per capita and other key actors. water supply in Sri Lanka is greater than that of many other countries, the current 3. Set up conducive legal, policy policy strategies mainly focus on the and institutional framework for following issues: improving water private sector involvement and productivity and irrigation efficiency, community management and rehabilitating existing systems, participation and involvement of investments in new irrigation system, CBOs and people’s based watershed management, improved water organisations (NGOs.) allocation systems and major, medium 4. Development and establishment and minor tank rehabilitation. of climate change resilient and disaster response water and 4.3.4 Water Supply and Sanitation sanitation service delivery mechanisms. The following issues and challenges have been identified in the water supply and 5. Address insufficient resource sanitation sector. allocation to the water supply sector and to waste water management. 6. Establish effective community based promotional campaigns Issues and facilitation of a mechanism 1. The waste water discharges from for community information industries to water bodies. services. 91

7. Rational Tariff Structure and f) Institutional issues. Unfinished Cross Subsidy effecting economic institutional reforms, and efficient management of decentralisation processes and schemes. institutional capacity and lack of 8. Restructure and reform coordination. ineffective operation and There are a set of inter-related issues management. Poor maintenance which come under the institutional of existing water supply schemes. paradigm, such as: (i) delay in institutional reforms and decentralisation Key Issues and Thematic Areas process, (ii) private sector involvement, There is a cluster of issues, deeply rooted (iii) lack of coordination between within the socio-economic and political- Ministries, Departments and Agencies development arena, that affect the water functioning in the urban sector and no and sanitation sector. The key issues and clear prioritisation of activities, (iv) challenges are given below: unclear mandates of various levels of Government, (v) incoherence in

a) Water and sanitation issues approaches to financing and cost relating to natural and manmade recovery in the provision of urban disasters: Eg., tsunami, flood, services between different providers. drought, human conflicts, etc. g) Problems connected with b) Regional variation in access to approaches/strategies adopted water and sanitation facilities and and technology used. Another service expansion, especially in very vital set of issues within the remote rural areas, estate sector sector are the approaches, in the Central Province, strategies and technologies used, particularly in the Nuwara Eliya especially in the ‘Supply driven – District, under-served settlements subsidy based in urban areas, and disaster approach/strategy. Lack of affected areas. awareness among the low income c) Provision of safe water supply community on various kinds of and sanitation services to war low cost technological options affected areas and displaced and lack of low cost technology population, especially North and solution providers. East Provinces. h) Deterioration in quality of water d) Poor water and sanitation sources and the absence of coverage directly linked with systems of regular water quality poverty, especially poverty in the testing. The pollution of surface rural sector, urban sector, estate and ground water is becoming a sector, conflict and disaster serious problem. There is an affected areas. increasing trend of bacteriological contamination. e) Subsidiary attention and insufficient investment in i) Insufficient water resource sanitation sub sector. Sanitation mobilisation in quantity and has always been a sub sector of a quality and problems with main sector, and therefore allocation of water rights due to continuously neglected. insufficient coordination between sector actors.

j) Technical insufficiency in vigilant groups and educating the treatment plant operations and fishermen on the need to regulate distribution systems leading to fisheries to ensure sustainable use of adverse water quality and high coastal fish resources is also vital. rates of unaccounted for Poaching by foreign vessels is taking water/non-revenue water. place, and recently a penalty of Rs. 1.5 A. Insufficient investment for million was settled for the release of 6 rehabilitation to maintain existing fishermen. The Sri Lanka Navy is active production capacities. in patrolling the territories of Sri Lanka k) High per capita consumption of EEZ but their activities need 180 - 200leteres per capita per strengthening. There are many instances day, mainly resulting from low of amicable settlements among the unit rates, as the tariff system respective governments of India and Sri does not induce customers to Lanka whenever there are incidents of monitor their water demand. poaching taking place among the fishermen associated with deep sea 4.3.5 Fisheries fishing vessels. There is evidence of a large number of vessels operating in Sri High sea fishing/off shore fishing refers Lanka EEZ, with these boats poaching in to fishing extending up to the Exclusive Sri Lankan waters under Illegal, Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond the Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) territorial waters. Although the country conditions, thus leading to unsustainable has a narrow continental shelf with an exploitation of fisheries resources. There 2 extent of 30,000 Km (which is 5.8% of the is a need to introduce Monitoring, country’s ocean area), Sri Lanka has an Control and Surveillance Systems (MCS) extensive sea area to engage in off which will enable the monitoring of a shore/deep sea fishing activities. The wide area of the EEZ. The system should high sea/off shore fishing segment of Sri include the mechanisms to identify all Lanka is characterised by inadequate vessel traffic in the EEZ, not just those investments in technology and with VMS AIS-Automatic Identification sophisticated, efficient equipment. On the Systems, coastal radar integration and other hand, there is a need for the space-based satellite imagery. This would introduction of large sized and well enable proper information which would equipped boats which are capable of facilitate the final part of the solution in exploiting deep sea resources. Thus, the the Fisheries Management and Protection existing facilities such as storage, net and Programme (FMP.) line hauling gear, safety and communication equipment, etc., in Lack of proper fish storage and quality operating multi day fishing boats, are not maintenance facilities on board the satisfactory. vessels result in high levels of post- harvest losses and poor quality fish. Since As there is evidence of depletion of most of the multi day vessels aim at coastal resources due to over exploitation, higher volumes rather than quality, the there is a need to introduce a continuous majority of landings do not meet the system of fish stock assessment and international quality standards. Post- programmes and disseminate such harvest losses in the fishing industry research results among the rural fisheries remain at 30 percent. associations. The adoption of fisheries management measures by forming

Unregulated fishing and the use of agencies should be equipped with destructive fishing methods, such as monitoring vessels and trained staff to dynamite fishing, cyanide poisoning and tackle any situation at mid sea. The Sri mechanised push nets, have seriously Lanka Navy (in the absence of an damaged the fish habitats and reduced effective coast guard service) will have to fish stocks. The use of 'moxy nets' for the be made familiar with International collection of ornamental fish for export Procedures. Mother ship operations may has destroyed coral reefs and led to pose a threat to the illegal fishing vessels reduced fish and shellfish stocks. operating within the Sri Lankan EEZ as Pollution from industrial, agricultural they could take action against the illegal and domestic sources has degraded the operations when they locate such vessels. coastal habitats and threatened the sustainability of the near-shore/coastal 4.3.6 Agriculture fisheries. Oil pollution from shipping has Sri Lanka has almost reached the further degraded fish habitats. production targets for maize. However, There is significant scope for private there is importation of a fair amount of sector investors to invest in off Other Field Crops (OFC) such as chillies, shore/deep sea fishing. There is a need to big onion, green gram, black gram invest in well-equipped large vessels as cowpea and soybean. The Government well as multi day fishing boats with aim is to reduce the import of these adequate equipment and technology to commodities during next three years and exploit the deep sea resources. In to produce the national requirement particular, Sri Lanka has been unable to locally in order to help the national exploit tuna fish resources owing to an economy while reducing the carbon foot inadequate multi day fishing fleet and print of the consumer and reaching inadequate application of fishing sustainability. A special three year technologies. Therefore, it is a current programme is designed to increase the need to encourage increased private production of these crops. sector investments in off shore/deep sea The growth in the agriculture sector has fishing. In view of the limits to been sluggish. Therefore, rapid production increases in coastal fisheries, development in food production while it is imperative that Sri Lanka develops protecting the environment, water the capabilities in high sea fishing. resources and bio-diversity, needs to be Without a Fisheries Management and given high priority in the development Protection Programme the coastal strategies. resource owned by the State will be exploited by foreign vessels with no Land Related Issues benefit to the nation. Additionally, a Fisheries Management Programme is Review of Existing Legislation worthless without the enforcement Legal provisions pertaining to the capability in the form of active patrolling. protection and sustainable use of land The state, to be fully successful, must recourses are contained in several major combine VMS, MCS, and FMPP. In enactments. Other than the Soil addition local multi day boats should be Conservation Act, there is also the Paddy fully equipped with all the above Lands Act, Act of Agrarian Services, equipment to effectively get over the National Environmental Act, etc. These problem of IUU while regulatory enactments are enforced by a number of

94 agencies. The presence of a large number sustainable land management. Illicit of acts does not provide a sound basis for clearing and encroachment of land as efficient land management. Hence, there well as land settlement schemes have is a need to review the existing laws and affected the state of watersheds. regulations and develop an appropriate Deforestation and the deterioration of legal frame work for the effective watersheds results in reduced dry implementation of land management weather flows, increased sedimentation strategies. In this effort one can use the and a host of attendant implications. Soil Conservation Act as the umbrella In addition, encroachments on state lands framework. especially in environmentally fragile areas have become a problem. It is widely Fragmented land use: accepted that environmental degradation Land use and zonation of lands based on and poverty are closely linked. national and regional scale priorities and potentials are a vital perquisite when Land Policies accomplishing green economy objectives. Successive governments have used land These zonation’s must ensure the resources to provide employment to the availability of agriculturally potential rural population. This policy of providing land for agriculture while safeguarding land in lieu of employment opportunities the rational allocation of lands for other should be discouraged. In addition, uses. Ad-hoc conversion of land uses encroachment on state land, especially in should be discouraged. environmentally fragile areas, has become a problem. Hence, there is need Appropriate Land use to review the current land alienation and Indiscriminate land use changes without encroachment regulation policies and to considering the land suitability and formulate a land alienation policy that capability should be avoided and the would protect sensitive areas. Reviewing farmers should be supported in the land tenure systems in relation to their selection of crops for their cultivation impact on land productivity also should depending on the location, climatic be considered. On the other hand, a large forecast and impending market number of people who use land without a behaviour through an extensive extension proper title often do not take any interest service for agriculture. in conserving soil due to uncertainty in tenure. Moreover, land policies should be Land Degradation and Fertility Decline: formulated to handle the problem of land Land degradation has been recognised as fragmentation through proposing the most serious environmental problem minimum land extents for different uses in the country. Besides causing loss in in different regions. productivity of agricultural lands, soil Establishment of Appropriate erosion sets off a host of off-site adverse Institutional Frameworks and their environmental impacts – sedimentation Coordination of streams and water bodies, pollution of inland and coastal waters, flood effects, There are a number of government etc – which cause serious economic organisations dealing with land losses. The sustenance of the agriculture management. However, in regional areas, sector, domestic food production as well coordination among those institutes is as export oriented, depends on minimum or non-existent. Hence, there is

95 a need to promote and strengthen decades (Punyawardene, 2007.) As a coordination among different result, extreme rainfall events have organisations dealing with land resources become a frequent problem in crop management. production. Moreover, the impact of increasing temperature deserves special Providing Alternative Income attention under the local context, as the Generating Opportunities average temperature of the country has It is widely accepted that environmental been rising annually at a rate of 0.01 - 0.03 0 degradation and poverty are closely C (Fernanado&Chandrapala, 1995.) linked. Rural communities rely on natural Scarcity of irrigation Water: resources, mainly on land, for survival. However, they do not have the ability to As much as 40% of irrigated water is invest on improvements to enhance or estimated to be lost in conveyance due to conserve the resource base. This degrades leakages from substandard or poorly the resource base. A policy of weaning maintained canals and infrastructure. rural people away from land based Excessive water use by paddy farmers employment should be adopted by and cultivation of paddy on soils better promoting and establishing agro-based suited for other crops adds to the wastage and other industries in rural areas for of water. Inequity of water distribution is efficient use of agricultural products and caused by both constructional generation of additional income. imperfections and poor management of Livestock farming should also be the system. Improvements of water encouraged and marketing and value productivity are compulsory, especially addition should receive high priorities. in major irrigation systems. Sustainable farming systems should be introduced Database and encourage farmers to adopt better An efficient monitoring programme will management practices in all agricultural help to understand the present situation operations. and the current trends, thus, providing Irrigated agriculture forms a major information for decision making. component of this sector. Performance of However, a relevant, updated database is Irrigation Schemes should be improved a prerequisite for efficient monitoring. In to reach their threshold. The future of the addition, the maintenance of useful Irrigation Sector has to be set-out in such information in the public domain is a manner, that it promotes agricultural essential, as thereby planners, productivity, to achieve the goals and researchers, developers and the public targets set forth. Increasing the would be able to carry out land availability of new water resources and management activities based on a sound enhancing the present level of water use footing. and conveyance efficiencies to an optimum level are both challenges and Adaptation for Climate Change part of the Strategic Plan. New policies The climate of Sri Lanka has undergone and programmes are being geared to such vast changes that it has had reduce levels of water usage, and to attain significant effects on its agriculture. greater efficiency while allowing other Variability of both summer and winter sectors that need water to expand to meet monsoon rains and rains of conventional the emerging needs of the economy. origin have been significant during recent

The vision for the future, 'Irrigation – The framework also emphasises that Water is Our Heritage and Life' has providing more and more health foreseen the stage where by 2020, the resources to combat health outcomes irrigation sector will become a key when they have occurred (i.e., providing driving force in Agricultural health care services) can be largely development with the supply of water in controlled if other modifiable risk factors adequate, equitable and reliable are addressed in a cohesive manner. quantities and in a sustainable, efficient and eco-friendly manner. This will be Changing Socio-demographic Profile achieved whilst ensuring the food Sri Lanka has the fastest ageing security of the people and serving the population in the region. Ageing poses water needs of the farming community. several challenges for health care. The built environment poses several Lack of technical know-how and challenges to promote active ageing improved technology: The loss of the agricultural crops during harvesting as well as post-harvest losses should be minimised with the improved technological support. In the local context, storage and transport mechanisms are below standard, and thus needs to be addressed. Adequate storage and appropriate safeguards while transporting agricultural products are essential in ensuring high productivity in the sector. Introducing of by products Figure 0.1 Sri Lanka - an Ageing based on rice (rice flour processing), Society 1960, 2000 and 2050 encouraging rice flour consumption as a substitute for wheat flour, in a bid to promote and improve post-harvest technology, have been initiated in the recent past.

4.3.7 Health Can Sri Lanka continue the same trends of health indices and produce a healthier nation? The newer challenges at hand need to be addressed if the country is to have healthy human resources. The conceptual framework below shows how non modifiable risk factors and modifiable risk factors operate to produce the health profile in Sri Lanka. Health and other sector policies are considered here as a modifiable element, where a conducive policy environment must be created.

Non modifiable Modifiable risk Changing health profile risk factors factors

Changing age Age related diseases profile

Diabetes, obesity, Habits/lifestyle hypertension, heart diseases, stroke, good nutritional status Quality of essential Environmental resources _ clean sanitation, Food safety Unsafe food, diarrheal air, water regulation rational use diseases, asthma, of pesticides, etc Dengue fever

Local measures to mitigate Natural disaster situations, death & disability Climate change adverse climate changes

Working environment Occupational diseases

Transport and mobility, Road traffic accidents and poor attention to safety other injury

Difficult terrain Health care access Improved utilisation of Transport services health care

Improved primary care Healthy mother, father, for family child, adolescent, adult

Favorable policies, health and other sectors, Adequate financing,

Figure 0.2 Conceptual diagram of non-modifiable and modifiable factors contributing to the health profile of Sri Lanka

The changing Epidemiological Profile is due to the life course effect of low birth weight and also the life style changes Sri Lanka currently faces a double burden being adopted throughout life. with regard to dealing with disease. While maintaining the required standards Keeping the Momentum on Maternal of services for maternal and child health and Child Health Services and for communicable diseases, health service organisations must now rapidly Although Sri Lanka can be happy about respond to the new emphasis on non- its achievements for maternal and child communicable diseases. Diabetes, health, it cannot be complacent and shift hypertension, ischemic heart diseases, the emphasis entirely towards the other stroke, cancer, asthma, chronic kidney health challenges such as non- diseases, injury prevention and communicable diseases. The population management and mental diseases need will continue to grow for a few more priority attention. years before it stabilises. Hence, it is important that improved quality health Addressing the Issues of Malnutrition care be provided to produce a healthy nation through continued emphasis on Several challenges in achieving improved the maternal and child health services. nutritional status exist. As nutrition affects the whole life cycle, a life course Food Safety and Hygiene approach to the nutrition problem is As mentioned earlier, although Sri Lanka required. improved the severity and the response Maternal nutrition deprivation leads to to diarrheal diseases and was able to poor maternal outcomes as well as low bring down the mortality, there continues birth weight. Low birth weight too to be high levels of hospitalisation due to contributes to infant morbidity and diarrheal diseases. Food sanitation mortality. Poor nutrition in childhood measures need strengthening and as well leads to stunting and susceptibility to as behavioural changes that lead to safe infection, as well as poor school practices in the use of water for performance. Low birth weight is also preparation and consumption of food. associated with higher incidence of diabetes in later years. Decentralisation and Providing Equitable Health Services Lifestyle changes have affected food preferences where unhealthy food and an Many health service functions are unbalanced diet are consumed. Whilst decentralised to the provincial health approximately 50% of the population authorities from 1989, which were does not consume the required amount of established with the thirteenth daily calories (HIES), it is now apparent amendment to the Government that obesity is also on the rise in some constitution in 1987. A large network of areas. The lifestyle changes, together with hospital services and the entire poor choice of food and physical preventive health and community health inactivity, have led to an increased services come under the responsibility of cardiovascular risk. Provincial Health Councils. However, the health budget is distributed inequitably, Hence, it is a known fact that Sri Lanka and approximately 70% of the health experiences a higher incidence of non- budget is for the Line ministry whose communicable diseases when compared main concern has been the management to the other countries in the region which of specialised hospitals. In view of the

99 changes that will be required to address Approximately 250,000 people leave the the problem of non-communicable country annually to be employed diseases and to provide good quality overseas. Currently it is thought that primary care, more resources would be approximately 1.8 million Sri Lankans are required for Provincial Councils. The employed outside the country. Health recent allocation in 2012 budget to screening is not mandatory and occurs if improve 1000 rural health centres is it is a requirement of the host country. noteworthy in this regard. Provision of access to primary health care while in overseas employment is also not Dengue Fever a contractual obligation, but usually acute While Sri Lanka was able to overcome and emergency care needs are provided. malaria, which posed a huge burden on Considering the large female workforce health care and a strain on health care in foreign employment and the social financing, another disease has taken its implication of the families left behind, the place, i.e., dengue fever. Similar to government is favouring greater male malaria, the problem warrants both migration and skilled labour migration, environmental management and quality rather than unskilled and domestic health care to reduce mortality. labour categories. The issues pertaining Growing Expectations of People that has to migration and health are being translated into Providing More analysed for the development of a Specialised Care Migration Health Policy under the With high literacy levels, access to leadership of the Ministry of Health, information and the free market following an inter-ministerial approach economy, there is growing expectation involving several other sectors. for healthcare provision. While increasing Occupational safety and providing easy income levels also contribute to the access access to primary care within the country of private care, a notable trend is that a is important. A system for reporting demand for specialised services has been occupational accidents and injury exists. created. This has also led to bypassing of The Occupational Health and Safety primary level non specialist institutions Division of the Labour Ministry monitors to access care at higher levels where there the reporting and is involved in are specialists. This phenomenon has organising capacity building programmes created a need to provide more resources for health and safety. A system that to specialised institutions where the care provides cardiovascular risk screening needed may often be for primary care. needs to be implemented in view of the high non communicable disease Workforce Challenges prevalence in the country. The Ministry Healthy workforce - The general of Health is currently pilot testing such epidemiological challenges affect the screening programmes which are to be in workforce too. Lifestyle changes and key force in the future. risk factors need to be addressed in the Healthcare workforce - The Government formal work setting. The relative healthcare workforce was approximately inaccessibility towards health care of 114,285 as at 2011. Although the males when compared to females is healthcare workforce has steadily noteworthy. increased, a revisit of the skill Out bound migration for foreign requirement and the numbers, are employment required in view of the current health

100 challenges. The healthcare workforce also generate a fair amount of solid, liquid has significant rural-urban imbalances and gaseous waste in their operations and policies that favour rural retention is which affects the overall productivity, as required. The training capacities of well as causes heavy environmental training institutes both in the damage. The wastewater discharges from Government and private sector need industries have a significant impact on exploration due to the impact of the environment. A key area of the international recruitment of health impact is the deterioration of ambient workers. The Government has also given quality of receiving water-bodies. On the policy direction to expand the private other hand, a significant quantity of sector for those who can afford access to resources such as raw materials, water private health care. and energy end up as non-product outputs. Since most of our industries are Developing a Rational Healthcare small and medium scale, the technology Delivery System used is either obsolete, inadequate or at The healthcare delivery system expanded the low end. Sri Lanka, as a country that considerably, and the emphasis was causes minimal carbon emission in its given to expansion of specialised care development process, is still committed when compared to the primary tier of to participate in the reduction in global health institutions. Approximately 900 warming. Meeting the challenges of health institutions that deliver primary Sustainable Development is needed with care, which comes under the innovative approaches in today's context. management of the provincial health Nationally appropriate frameworks are administration, will be improved to necessary to promote such innovation in provide good quality continuing care for all socio-economic sectors of the country. those with chronic non communicable On the other hand a significant quantity diseases. Currently, a declining trend for of resources such as raw materials, water utilisation of these health institutions is and energy end up as non-product seen, while outpatient utilisation at outputs. Due to the prevalent price specialised institutions is increasing. market the raw materials are purchased Efforts to further improve healthcare not by looking at quality but at the price. delivery through primary care will This also leads to generation of higher improve access for non-communicable amounts of waste. The industries do not diseases and will reduce out of pocket provide sufficient skills to the operators expenditure. for performing tasks and, as a result, While the aim is to provide basic primary most of the tasks in different industry continuing care close to home for those sectors are performed by untrained with non-communicable diseases, a employees, again leading to wastage of referral and back referral system of resources and generation of waste. On the healthcare should be initiated from the other hand inadequate management primary level, which will further improve planning and lack of information too lead the cost efficiency of healthcare. to waste of resources. These factors have led to low resource productivity, high 4.3.8 Industry and trade Sector cost of production and poor response Issues and Challenges from export markets. Greening the Industries is to develop the industries to Although its contribution to GDP is be resource efficient, environmentally increasing, the industries in Sri Lanka friendly and socially responsible. Sri

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Lanka has also signed the Green Industry Primary Net Enrolment Rate in 2010 is Declaration. Therefore, Sri Lanka will be 98%. However, the estimated Net able to position the country to compete in Enrolment Rates for lower secondary the global market. The word 'Greening' grades and upper secondary grades for has several connotations. Some of them 2010 are 90% and 50% respectively are: (Mahinda Chintana, 2010.) a) Use renewable resources as much Though the school enrolment is high, as possible. around 4% of children aged 6-10 years do b) Reduce use of fossil fuels and not attend schools and 5% of those who switch to cleaner energy sources. enrol do not complete primary education and 13% dropout before 14 years of age c) Conserve water and energy. (Campaign for Better Education, 2011.) d) Eliminate use of hazardous substances. Also, there are certain disadvantaged groups, such as those children employed, e) Eliminate or reduce solid children in conflict, disabled children waste/waste water generation. who either may have never enrolled in g) Eliminate or reduce air emissions. school or dropped out of school during h) Reuse of waste resources as much compulsory education years. The as possible. majority of the disabled children do not i) Recycle/recover waste resource have access to inclusive education. The as much as possible. percentage seeking tertiary education is extremely small. 4.3.9 Education 4.3.9.1 Regional Disparities Challenges and Bottlenecks faced, Key Reducing disparities in the system is Issues and Specific Focus Areas need to another challenge. A considerable be addressed percentage of children succeed in Towards 2020, the lives and working progressing to secondary and tertiary patterns of people are bound to change education. However, it is difficult to with both emerging technologies and assess whether all these children get the changing markets for the skills and chance of developing the unique abilities income of our people as a middle income they possess. There are wide regional country. Thus, the education system disparities in the conditions of human should help children to grow out of welfare: social indicators such as literacy relative dependence on their parents and rate, educational attainment levels are teachers to mature as independent lower in the estate sector, compared to learners, with the skills to adapt to a other segments. Disparities in the school changing environment in the society. system, such as lack of essential Although Sri Lanka ranks high in general resources, non-availability of qualified literacy, it is still lagging behind in the teachers especially for the subjects, functional literacy required for a modern Mathematics, Science and English and the developing society. lack of laboratory and technological facilities, compel parents to struggle for In spite of the achievements gained in the better schools. Parents who cannot send last decades, one cannot be totally their children to a better school have to be complacent with the condition of satisfied with the education they get from education in the country. Estimated the village school. Therefore, establishing

102 schools with adequate resources and 4.3.10 Tourism modern facilities in rural, backward areas With the growth in the tourist industry in is a huge challenge for the government of Sri Lanka, (The Sri Lanka Tourism Sri Lanka. Development Authority targets is 2 million tourists by year 2015 as against 4.3.9.2 Issues in Estate Areas the 800,000 at present), it is vital that Even at primary level, problems such as there is adequate accommodation and shortage of teachers and teaching recreational facilities to offer within the materials, absence of proper orientation next few years. The present facilities will of teachers in relation to the not be adequate to cope with the demand implementation of new reforms at in a scenario where the tourist arrivals primary level, could be noticed. The will be more than double in another 3-4 secondary level of education is years. Accommodation facilities as well experiencing the problems of low as the essential infrastructure such as rail, enrolment of students and low external road and air transport, human skills and supervision. University admission is very the support services, which can sustain competitive in Sri Lanka and there is also the tourism growth, are inadequate and a definite need to strengthen the GCE are yet to be improved. Above all, the A/L Science and Mathematics streams in authorities will have to take positive steps the estate sector schools. to move the tourism targeted projects and facilities away from urban environs to 4.3.9.3 Issues in Curriculum and allow for gradual expansion in view of Evaluation limited land and congestion in urban Academic bias curriculum - Especially settings. the secondary curriculum is overly biased The Sri Lanka Tourism Development towards cognitive and academic Authority has already identified 24 knowledge at the expense of developing Tourism Development Zones where practical skills, attitudes and values. investors will be encouraged to invest. Another challenge the system faces is the There will be further land acquisition and changing of attitudes towards a leasing of new areas for hotels and competency-based assessment. Undue recreational facility development in emphasis on summative examinations identified locations. Therefore, has led to an ‘examination syndrome' incorporating sustainable strategies into among the children and parents. the development of the tourism sector has Examination oriented teaching and its own challenges. Large scale hotels and learning prevents students obtaining other venues for recreation adventure skills which could help students to and tours can be a concern for innovate, create, experiment and solve environment as its construction and practical problems. continuous operations may exert pressure Issues in Higher Education- Higher on the environment. education is not integrated into the A body of legislative enactments and case employment system. The courses are law allow and provide the parameters for usually too theoretical and not geared to large investment based structures and the needs of the labour market. The operations with the necessary systems of prevalence of unemployment and assessment, supervision, guidance, underemployment among the graduates license and approvals. The Central is a major issue. Environmental Authority and the Board

103 of Investment (BOI) are the authorised be a 'Rise in sea level and intensity of extreme agencies in this regard. The following events, which threatens infrastructure, section will explain the challenges in settlements and facilities that support detail. community livelihood. Coral reefs, fisheries and other marine-based resources as well as Preparedness for Climate Change and land-based fauna and flora will be heavily Disaster Management impacted. Water resources are likely to be With regard to coastal areas, developers seriously compromised. Subsistence and invariably attempt to locate and have commercial agriculture will be adversely located tourism projects almost at the affected. Impacts on tourism are likely to shoreline, thus invading the coastal be largely negative. Human health too will reservations and buffer zones, causing be negatively affected.' environmental damage to the coast, coastal vegetation and coastal stability. Mainstreaming the Environment in Development The Quality and Efficacy of Political, Administrative and Fiscal In a drive to achieve an ambitious target Decentralisation in Sri Lanka to support during a moderate time frame, or rather, Sub-national Level Climate Change an acute time frame, it is evident that Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives more negative impacts will be created compiled for UN-HABTAT in the recent than usual. In this context 'Sustainability' international workshop dealt with the becomes a vital guiding factor than impacts of climate change. With reference previously in Tourism Development, and to Coastal Zones, it was emphasised that eventually, a failure unless proper coastal erosion will be aggravated due to policies, guiding principles, strategies, climate change and sea level rise. The monitoring mechanisms and awareness ever increasing human induced pressures among the stake holders are in place on coastal areas will worsen the situation. before implementation commences. There will be a continuing landward shift Therefore, Sustainable or 'Responsible' of the shoreline primarily caused by the Tourism will need to be developed forces of waves, currents, tides and through multi-stakeholder processes to winds. The other causative factors ensure that all views are considered. The include the exploitation of sand sources, theme by which the rapid development is changes in relative sea level, etc. Globally, guided should be 'Sustainability' and all the sea level has risen about 20 cm in the the sectors affected by and involved in past century, and is projected to rise the development should take into account another 59 cm in the next century. Due to the natural environment, the socio global warming, the average rise of the cultural life and the economy. Sri Lanka sea level is of the order of 1.5 to 10 mm Tourism has recognised 'Sustainable' per year. It has been observed that the sea development as a timely requirement and level rise of 1 mm per year could cause a as a priority target. Sustainable Tourism recession of the shoreline in the order of will be the foundation to achieving the about 0.5 m per year. following set objectives which satisfy the It also emphasised that as a small island definition of sustainability. state, Sri Lanka too is vulnerable to the many threats highlighted in the Fourth  Minimise negative economic, Assessment Report of the environmental and social Intergovernmental Panel on Climate impacts. Change. The Report states that there will 104

 Generate greater economic including the private sector, NGOs, benefits for local people and Environmental Organisations should also enhance the well-being of host effectively contribute to the decision communities, improve working making process, considering it a social conditions and access to the responsibility. In this manner, there will industry. be a variety of specialised ideas and  Involve local people in decisions suggestions, which may be useful in that affect their lives and life achieving the Sustainable Development. chances. Involvement of Local Authorities  Make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and Local Authorities have a central role to cultural heritage, to the play in achieving responsible tourism maintenance of the world's through commitment to supportive diversity. policy frameworks and adequate  Provide more enjoyable funding. Through multi-stakeholder experiences for tourists through processes, Local Authorities and tourism more meaningful connections administrations can join in developing with local people, and a greater destination management strategies and understanding of local cultural, responsible tourism guidelines to create social and environmental issues. better places to visit for host communities  Provide access for physically and the tourists. challenged people. Encroaching on most Sensitive and  Be culturally sensitive, creating Beautiful Locations in the Name of Eco- mutual respect between tourists Tourism Development and the hosts, and building local Catering to the attraction tourists have for pride and confidence. serene and virgin areas, developers attempt to locate their projects where the Lobbying Groups Against diversity and marketability is very high, Sustainability particularly in view of the new thrust Sustainable Development is also affected towards eco-tourism. Such areas are often by protests arising from lobbied groups. either reservations, buffer zones or These groups are mainly influenced by declared protected areas kept sacrosanct foreign and local NGOs. For instance, for many years for the benefit of the all sustainable coastal development is living beings in this planet. Encroaching affected by fishermen who agitate to into these sensitive locations is becoming reoccupy their traditional fishing villages more common with the rapid although they have been given alternate development of tourism. Under these land elsewhere. They act on the impulse circumstances the responsible agencies supported by foreign and local NGOs, have to be more vigilant and enforce the such action necessitating suppression by law. Communities and the media can also the Government in a practical manner. help to bring such activities into focus, where immediate action could be taken Involvement in Communities at all Levels of Decision-making: by the authorities. Eco-Tourism cum Sustainable 4.3.11 Shelter and Urban Development Development cannot be considered only The Government of Sri Lanka’s main aim as the Government’s responsibility. All is to minimise and eventually eradicate the other responsible authorities,

105 urban squalor. This phenomenon has modification), introduction of invasive encroached into the surrounding areas of species, environmental pollution, climate the commercial capital and the South change and industrial agriculture and West Coast of the country. forestry. During the period of 1992 – 1999, 104,380 ha of forest areas have been lost. As such the main impediments hindering (The rate of forest area loss – 14,911 urban development are as follows: ha/year.) Around 50% of wetlands  Land scarcity- this causes the (marshlands) in the western province problem of providing habitable were lost during the past 30 years. space. The diversity of fauna, flora and  Population explosion- this results ecosystem impacts almost all social and in lack of infrastructure facilities, economic sectors of the country, shared resources, and inequity especially forestry, wildlife, fisheries,  Spiralling land values- the agriculture, indigenous medicine and fluctuating land prices poses an tourism. In the forestry and wildlife issue for individuals to purchase sectors, encroachment and illicit timber land. extraction, poaching, rock and sand  Overloading of physical extraction and illegal export of fauna and infrastructure- as more buildings flora samples are the major concerns, infringe acres of land, individuals although due to more concerted law are faced with slim opportunities to enforcement, there has now been a build houses. This also creates decline in these activities. social issues such as health problems. The conservation status of fauna and  Uneven distribution- more flora of Sri Lanka examined in 2006, individuals reside in the coastal found that 20 amphibians and 72 plant areas of the South Western species had become extinct during last province. 100 years. Few taxon groups have shown  Urban Poverty- crowded housing, very high percentages of threatened lack of access to water, electricity, species, namely, Freshwater crabs- 72.5%, and sanitation. Flowering plants (evaluated only 1099)  Degradation of urban environment 61.4%, Amphibians 50%, Mammals 45% and environment pollution- air, and Freshwater fish 34%. Very high noise, water and land are polluted percentages of critically threatened due to mass human settlement. species are shown by two faunal groups  Encroachment of sensitive areas. namely Dragonflies 65% and Land Snails  Disaster risk and impact of climate 48%. There are four faunal groups which change. have highly threatened endemic species  Lack of institutional capacity – the percentages of total number of endemic intervention of local authorities are species of each faunal group, such as minimal Mammal 88%, Freshwater Fish, 73%, Butterfly 65% and Amphibians 57%. 4.3.12 Biodiversity The following key issues for Rio+20 are Loss of biodiversity is a natural process common and integrated issues at global and due to human influence. Its rate is level, but there are other issues which are increasing at an alarming rate mainly by more or less directly and indirectly over exploitation, habitat loss related to biodiversity or biological (destruction and fragmentation and resources at country level.

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The expectations for the Rio+20 outcomes  Over shadowing the Sustainable are inextricably linked to the unfulfilled Development Agenda by commitments and promises of the 1992 globalisation (characterised by Rio Conference on Environment and economic liberalisation that has Development, the accompanying three created ecological and social Conventions including the Convention on crises, increased concentration of Biological Diversity and the subsequent wealth in a handful of large United Nations agreements and action corporations in each sector plan. The paradigm shift from [industry and finance] and unsustainable economic growth models undermining of the policy to sustainable development was a autonomy and space of states.) commitment at the highest political level. Such globalisation has itself However, the results envisaged have not created economic crises, further been fully materialised. exacerbating social tension, conflicts and political In addition to the above, the ecological destabilisation. Weakening of crisis from resource depletion to pollution multilateralism is crucial for and climate change, has worsened since Sustainable Development by 1992. Social marginalisation, and even continuing unilateralism (such as exclusion, is on the rise despite some trade protectionism and rejection progress in the social dimension in of some of the Rio principles and several developing countries. In recent even the Conventions by some years and increasingly so, developed countries.) countries are also going through social tensions and upheavals.  Disproportionate influence of global economic institutions and Developed countries also agreed to take their lack of public the lead in shifting from unsustainable accountability. consumption patterns. However, no such shift has occurred and the consumption  Lack of implementation means patterns have remained largely (finance, technology and capacity unchanged, and instead, spread to building) that was an integral developing countries with the wealthy part of the 1992 Rio Global adopting similar lifestyles while poverty Sustainable Development eradication continues to be elusive. With Partnership with the government income inequalities deepening in all at the core of that partnership countries, over-consumption and and developed countries unsustainable consumption increased committing to provide the product choices (and hence natural implementation. resources use and financial resources  allocation), while the poor are deprived Lack of integration of the 3 pillars of a dignified standard of living. of Sustainable Development at all Although there are many adopted levels of policy and governance international instruments for Sustainable despite initial efforts in the 1990s Development since 1992, such and numerous UN commitments development has not taken place due to and programmes related to the 3 the fundamental causes for pillars. implementation failure. These include:  Sri Lanka should analyse the above key issues at global level

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and select relevant issues on  Establishment of The biodiversity at country level and National Council For include recommendations to Sustainable Development overcome the above issues in the (NCSD) under the leadership existing action plans, strategies of H.E. the President of Sri and policies. It should also Lanka remove barriers of  Haritha Lanka Programme implementation of the principles and National Action Plan for of Sustainable Development and Haritha Lanka Programme the green economy for rebuilding  Developed Sri Lanka Strategy confidence and seeking For Sustainable Development consensus for post-2012  implementation. Developed National Green Accounting Mechanism 4.4 Promising Practices in Ensuring  Established National Cleaner Sustainable Development Production Centre (NCPC) & Sri Lanka Carbon Fund The Government of Sri Lanka has (SLCF) committed itself to the execution of the  Rio principles - Agenda 21, as well as the Established the Green Job internationally agreed development Awards Programme and goals, including those contained in the National Green Reporting United Nations Millennium Declaration System and in the outcomes of the major United  Developed a Sustainable Nations conferences and international Human Development Index agreements since 1992, by developing, (SHDI) launching and implementing of a vast 2. Social Safeguard Management: number of initiatives and programmes/projects, covering planning,  National Involuntary policy, legal and institutional aspects, to Resettlement Policy(NIRP) establish a solid Sustainable and Procedure Development framework for the country.  Amendments to the Land Acquisition Act in line with There are also a large number of NIRP promising practices in the following fields: 3. Public Awareness and Community Mobilisation 1. Environmental Safeguard Campaigns on Environment Management and Mainstreaming Environmental Dimension into  School Pioneer Brigade Development Process  Environmental NGOs  Community based  Environmental Impact environmental projects Assessment (EIA)/Initial Environmental Examination 4. Disaster Preparedness and (IEE) Process Climate Change Mitigation and  Environmental Protection Adaptation License (EPL)  Develop Policy and  Environmental Intuitional Framework for Recommendation Disaster Management and

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Climate Change Mitigation  Transport - Vehicle Emission and Adaptation- Disaster Testing Management Centre, National  Housing & Urban Climate Change Policy, Development- Lunawa Climate Change Division, Environmental Improvement Ministry of Environment and Community  Develop and Implement a Development Project Series of Disaster  Metro Colombo Urban Preparedness and Climate Development Project Change Adaptation and  Agriculture – Gamaneguma Mitigation Projects  Tourism – Eco-tourism 5. Air and Water Quality Monitoring Programmes 4.5 Strong Political Commitments  AirMaC (Air resource The very high level of political management programme) commitment to the Rio principles and the implementation of Agenda 21, has  Pavithra Ganga (clean river) become a common feature in Sri Lanka programme since 1992. H.E. the President of Sri Lanka has strongly reaffirmed his and the country’s commitment towards sustainable development by developing and implementing a comprehensive sustainable development programme within the framework of ‘Mahinda ChintanaVision.' (See box 4.2 and 4.3) The totality of political leadership in Sri Lanka is also strongly committed to achieving the internationally agreed development Figure 0.3 Investment for the goals, including those contained in the development of forest cover United Nations Millennium Declaration Monitoring of Air quality and mitigation of human elephant conflict and in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and international (Mahinda Chintanaya – Vision for the agreements since 1992. Future 2010) This ‘Mahinda Chintana’ vision is articulated identifying specific targets 6. Waste Management Programmes aiming at achieving the Millennium  Pilisaru waste management Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of programme time. Among the Mahinda Chintana Goals (MCGs) for 2016 are the following:  E-waste management programme 7. Sector Specific Sustainable Development Promising Practices  Water sector- Community based WSS, Rain Water Harvesting

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Box 0.3 Strong Political commitment for sustainable development Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future “The objective of our next massive leap forward is to transform Sri Lanka into a strategically important economic Centre of the world. My determination therefore, is to transform Sri Lanka to be the Pearl of the Asian Silk Route once again, in modern terms. Using our strategic geographical location effectively, I will develop our motherland as a Naval, Aviation, Commercial, Energy and Knowledge Hub, serving as a key link between the East and the West” “Sri Lanka  Has an economy with a green environment and rapid development  Aspires to be a stable society with a high quality of life for all of its people having access to decent living, electricity, water, schooling and health facilities  Maintains the best of Sri Lankan culture, traditions and long standing global identity  Aims to consolidate as an emerging market economy, integrated into the global economy and is competitive internationally” “Sri Lanka’s new development strategy, which is outlined in this document, attempts to implement explained strategies and underlined actions not only for a higher economic growth but also for a higher quality growth in each sector.” “The Mahinda Chintana Goal is to share the benefits of growth across all segments of the population and also to prevent inequities, social exclusion and adverse environmental repercussions that have been witnessed in some of the rapidly growing economies.”

 Eradication of hunger and hard- core poverty  Universalization of secondary education for all  Reducing malnutrition rate of children by a third to 12-15%  Increasing life expectancy from 76 to 80 years  Increasing access to clean water in urban areas from 65 to 90%.  Raising forest coverage from 28 to 43%. These goals are to be attained through rapid economic growth and a change in the structure of the economy to a modern, environmentally friendly and well- connected rural-urban economy that can create better-remunerated employment opportunities.

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Box 0.4 Environmental Priorities and Targets 2016

2016 Targets Industrial Pollution and Control Targets  Cleaner production applied to reduce raw material, water and energy consumption by 10 -25 percent.  80-100 percent Industrial hazardous waste collected and treated.  Pollution load from Industry reduced by 10 percent from current level.  80-100 percent factories relocated to Industrial parks. Urban Environmental Trends  90-95 percent population with access to clean water.  80-85 percent access to sewerage system.  80-90 percent Municipal waste collected in urban areas.  80-100 percent class 1 and II cities have landfills within national standards.  Use of unleaded gasoline. Forest Targets  Forest coverage is at least 30 percent.  1.9 million hectares planned by 2016. Reforestation and Rehabilitation Targets  50 percent reduction in barren and degraded land.  90-100 percent regeneration of depleted upland forest. Protected Areas and Wildlife Conservation Targets  25 percent of total land area protected. Inland Surface Waters Protection Targets  Water quality in major freshwater sources within national standards.  National standards for sustainable use of water resources and river basin protection. Coastal and Marine Protection Targets  National systems of marine protected areas to be established.  Wetland areas to be protected.  Rate of mangrove and wetland loss to be reduced by 10 percent and 90 percent respectively.  Off – shore fishing programme to be implemented.  Integrated coastal zone management implemented. (Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future 2010)

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CHAPTER 5 Lanka for Sustainable Development was launched in 1992, once Sri Lanka signed Agenda 21, the international agreement, 5 The Way Forward - Vision reflecting the highest level of political for the Future commitment on integrating development and environment cooperation by 5.1 Background fulfilling the objectives of the Global Plan The previous section of this report has of Action for sustainable development. highlighted the fact that Sri Lanka can be Sri Lanka’s road map towards the proud of the many positive achievements sustainable development from 1992 to attained towards laying a solid Rio+20 summit is illustrated in Box 5.1 foundation for Sustainable Development and Figure 5.1 below. It highlights the during the period 2005 to 2009 with the key achievements and immerging policies implemented under the Mahinda challenges need to be addressed for the Chintana framework. It has also created a way forward strategy. strong base to achieve a sustainable economic growth strongly integrated with social development and Box 5.1 Sustainable Development environmental protection, safeguarding through Mahinda Chintana the natural resource base. The Mahinda Chintana Policy framework has focused (Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Fu- heavily on the protection of the ture 2010) environment and the conservation of the “My aim is to promote sustainable devel- rich natural resource base of Sri Lanka, as opment in close liaison with the land, fau- well as social integration and na and flora and to bestow our natural reconciliation at local and national levels. heritage to our future generation” (H.E. The policy framework, based on Mahinda the President, Sri Lanka - Mahinda Chin- Chintana – ‘Towards a New Sri Lanka,' has tana – 2005 p 61) paved the way for implementation of “My administration will be based on poli- large infrastructure development cies aiming at conserving the environ- initiatives, consisting of electricity ment, nationally and internationally”. generation, development of ports, airports, water supply and irrigation, Due to the application of the principle that roads and transport, agriculture and the ‘abuser should pay for the abuse,’ the domestic enterprises, strengthening of Environment Ministry is self-financing public services and state owned reducing the burden on the Treasury. enterprises, promotion of the private sector and SMEs and implementation of rural centric integrated development 5.2 Framework for Sustainable initiatives aiming at empowering villages, Development ‘Gama Neguma.' The successes achieved during the period Building on Sri Lanka’s experience of from 2005 to 2009 encouraged the laying more than 20 years in adopting various of a strong framework for Sustainable strategies and programmes with the aim Development by upgrading this process of achieving Sustainable Development, at a renewed pace, with the policies and the country has progressed significantly measures to be implemented during the from the time of the Earth Summit of 1992 subsequent six years. to Rio+20 in 2012. The real journey of Sri 112

Figure 5.1 Sustainable Development - From Earth Summit 1992 to Rio+20

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The thrust of the vision has been to to such infrastructure development to reposition Sri Lanka in the global arena, enable people to engage in gainful as a knowledge based strong middle- economic activities. income country with better and The government has planned to improved living standards, which is transform Sri Lanka into a strategically continuing to preserve cultural values important socio-economic centre by and traditions. developing five strategic hubs: a Under the vision for the future, it is knowledge hub, a commercial hub, a envisaged that Sri Lanka: naval & maritime hub, an aviation hub, and an energy hub, taking the advantage  Should have an economy with a of Sri Lanka’s strategic location and green environment and rapid resources. development.  Aspire to be a stable society with a high quality of life with all its Box 5.2 The Goal of Mahinda people having access to decent Chintana: living, electricity, water, education and health facilities. “To share the benefits of growth  Maintain the best of Sri Lankan across all segments of the culture, traditions and long population and also to prevent standing global identity. inequities, social exclusion and  Aim to consolidate as an adverse environmental emerging market economy, repercussions that have been integrated into the global witnessed in some of the rapidly economy and be competitive growing economies.” internationally.  Maintain the characteristics of a middle-income economy with a knowledge-based society. This vision is articulated identifying The Mahinda Chintana Vision is based specific targets aiming at achieving the on economic prosperity, social justice, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cohesion and environmental protection; ahead of time. Sustainable development and it clearly states that “Growth along related Mahinda Chintana Goals (MCGs) does not mean economic prosperity”. for 2016 are the following: The MCG is to increase the GDP to  Eradication of hunger and hard- provide benefits to every segment of core poverty society in a justifiable manner. The  Universalization of secondary creation of prosperity to the majority of education for all the people who cannot purely rely on  Reducing malnutrition rate of market-based solutions requires children by a third, to 12% -15% connectivity through roads, electricity,  Increasing life expectancy from telecommunications, information 76 to 80 years technology, and education and health  services. Hence, the development Increasing access to clean water strategy relies not only on promoting in urban areas from 65% to 90% investments on infrastructure based on  Raising forest cover from 28% to commercial and economic returns but 43% also on the creation of an equitable access

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These are to be attained while embarking The Sri Lanka’s Middle Path towards on a rapid economic growth initiative Sustainable Development through and changing the structure of the ‘Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future’ economy to a modern and is illustrated in Figure 5.2, sketching out environmentally friendly one, while the road map toward achieving the promoting a well-connected rural-urban sustainable development vision 2022. economy that can create better- remunerated employment opportunities 5.3 Strategies and Programmes to to all. This will require: Address Key Cross Sector Thematic Issues and Challenges  Almost doubling of the GDP by The government of Sri Lanka is 2016 to above US$ 4,000 through committed to adopting a holistic and an economic growth of over 8% per annum. integrated approach for ensuring Sustainable Development through its  Investment to be increased to 33- middle path. The emerging challenges 35% of GDP with sustained described in last chapter would be commitment of public effectively addressed including (a) investment of 6-7% of GDP to Improving social development and support private investment. cohesion, (b) Ensuring good governance,  Exports to grow at twice the rate (c) Maintaining a clean and healthy of the real GDP. environment (d) Mainstreaming  High spending tourism to grow environmental and social safeguards into in order to generate fourfold development, and (e) Building of disaster expansion in tourist earnings and resilient and Climate Smart Communities remittance inflows, based on in vulnerable areas through appropriate skills, to be doubled. strategies and programmes while  The share of rural employment ensuring that Sri Lanka does not deviate to decline from about two-thirds from its goal of pursuing sustainable to half. development. Separate strategies and  The share of urban population to programmes for each of the above cross increase from a quarter to a cutting challenging and thematic areas third. have already been developed and are Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Development being implemented. strategy, which is outlined in the Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the 5.4 Sector Specific Sustainable Future, attempts to implement strategies Development Pathway and and requisite actions not only for a Programmes of Action higher economic growth, but also for a Under the guidance of the ‘Haritha higher quality growth in all sectors. The Lanka Programme,' each ministry in Mahinda Chintana Goal is to share the charge of the key sectors has already benefits of growth across all segments of developed the sector specific vision and the population and also to prevent programme for sustainable development. inequities, social exclusion and adverse These sector specific programmes would environmental repercussions that have be reviewed and the Sustainable been witnessed in some of the rapidly Development Action Plans for each growing economies. sector would be developed in line with the outcomes of the Rio+ 20 summit.

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Figure 5.2 Sri Lanka’s Middle Path towards Sustainable Development through ‘Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future

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be followed during its preparation to 5.5 Key Initial Tasks of Way forward ensure that sustainability would not Strategy merely remain a concept, but would The MoE has already taken action to translate into practical reality. accomplish following key initial task for the second phase of the Sri Lanka middle 5.5.2 Refinement of Sri Lanka path toward the sustainable Strategy for Sustainable development. Development and Sustainable Development Goals 5.5.1 Refinement of Haritha (Green) As already discussed in a previous Lanka Programme section Sri Lanka has formulated a The Ministry of Environment has already Strategy for Sustainable Development taken action to incorporate sustainable (SLSSD) in 2008 with the objective of development into all relevant sectors, achieving sustained economic growth mainly through the launch of the Haritha that is socially equitable and ecologically (Green) Lanka Programme in 2009, with sound, with peace and stability. the objective of addressing environmental issues in sector specific Box 5.3 Sustainable Development economic development areas and Goals incorporating an environmental dimension to ensure long term 1. Eradication of poverty. sustainability of human development. 2. Ensuring competitiveness of the This Programme is implemented under economy. the direct guidance of the National 3. Improving social development. Council for Sustainable Development 4. Ensuring good governance. (NCSD), set up under the Presidential 5. Ensuring clean and healthy Secretariat. The National Action Plan, for environment. the Haritha Lanka Programme is already developed and implemented and it aims Sri Lanka Strategy for Sustainable at greening the development of all the The Programme for the action of SLSSD important economic sectors, ensuring has been an integral component of the that these sectors implement their way forward strategy for Sustainable activities within the framework of Development. Achieving the five SLSSD Sustainable Development. goals (See the Box 5.3) is one of the key The programme is being implemented targets to be accomplished in the successfully and the MoE has taken steps pathway towards the Sustainable to do a comprehensive forward-looking Development. evaluation with an objective to undertake The SLSSD strategy is being participatory refinement of the implemented successfully and the MoE programme and to prepare the National has already taken steps to undertake Haritha Lanka Action Plan 2012-2022 to stakeholder review and refine the achieve the Sri Lanka’s sustainable strategy and the Sustainable development vision by 2022. This second Development Goals with an objective of phase of the National Action Plan of the achieving the Sri Lanka’s sustainable Haritha Lanka Programme would be development vision by 2022. developed through an interactive process, involving all the key ministries, and a high level participatory process to

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5.5.3 Establishment of Multilateral Secretariat, is the highest decision Environmental Secretariat making and coordination body in the (MES) field of Sustainable Development. At the Sri Lanka has signed 36 MEAs covering national level, the subject of Sustainable three main thematic cluster areas, i.e., Development is supervised by the MoE. Bio-diversity, Chemical Waste and All coordination, monitoring and Climate change. The MoE is in the evaluation functions are also handled by process of establishing Secretariat for this ministry as well. MEAs to coordinate activities The National Action Plan for Haritha implemented in line with these (Green) Lanka Programme, Sri Lanka’s agreements. This secretariat would play a Strategy for Sustainable Development, crucial role in the achievement of the the National Green Accounting objectives of such agreements. Mechanism and the National Green Reporting System are implemented 5.5.4 Establish Participatory Green based on the outcome of Rio+20 by the Results Monitoring Mechanism Ministry of Environment with the aim of As discussed, the MoE has already greening economic development within established the institutional framework the framework of Sustainable for the implementation of the National Development. Green Reporting System and a National Actions have been taken to develop a Green Reporting Steering Committee proper institutional setup at each key was setup. The MoE would undertake a sector level. This includes the provincial comprehensive assessment of the existing and local government levels, as well as green monitoring system and would the private sector and communities. The establish a Participatory Green Results proposed sector specific Steering Monitoring Mechanism for carrying out Committee for Sustainable Development, green results based monitoring and e.g., the ‘Energy Sustainable Development evaluation of development process. Steering Committee’ and Provincial Steering Committee for Sustainable 5.6 Institutional Mechanism and Development, e.g., the Western Province Means of Implementation Steering Committee for Sustainable Sri Lanka is one of the pioneering Development, would be the key agency at countries that have been a forerunner in provincial level oversees pivotal taking initiatives to establish policy, legal activities in this regard. The Ministry of and administrative frameworks for Environment also aims to set up specific Sustainable Development, and committees comprising of public, local mainstreaming environmental and social government, privet sector, civil society, dimensions into the development arena. and community consortium to guide, The NCSD, set up under the lead and monitor sustainable Chairmanship of H.E. the President, with development. the membership of all key ministers, functioning under the Presidential

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