President orders stronger action to protect northern and eastern coastlines

resident Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday (22) directed officials to take stronger measures to protect Sri Lanka’s rapidly developing northern and eastern coastlines and pursue legal action against unauthorised construction that damages coastal areas.

He also ordered the appointment of a steering committee to oversee coastal protection efforts.

The President issued the directives during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday to review projects implemented under the Environment Ministry’s 2026 Budget allocation and discuss proposals for 2027.

He instructed officials to appoint an expert committee to examine coastal erosion in Oluvil and submit recommendations as soon as possible.

The meeting reviewed projects carried out by the Environment Ministry, which received Rs. 19.72 billion under the 2026 Budget, as well as recurrent and capital expenditure by institutions under its purview.

These included the Central Environmental Authority, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Department of National Zoological Gardens, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Water Resources Board, Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management and Marine Environment Protection Authority.

President Dissanayake also expressed concern over delays in projects aimed at reducing human-elephant conflict, warning that slow implementation placed human lives at risk.

He instructed officials to complete the projects within the stipulated timeframe and fully utilise the allocated funds before the end of the year.

The President said officials should determine the location and extent of elephant fences according to the need to protect human lives rather than simply using them to mark wildlife zones.

The meeting also reviewed several projects under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, including water-source conservation, the Clean Coastline Project, the Coastal Recreation Parks Development Project and efforts to improve access for people with disabilities at the Sinharaja and Kanneliya forests.

Environment Minister Dr Dammika Patabendi said the ministry was developing a national carbon emissions policy to create wider investment opportunities.

Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala said poor planning had resulted in several ministries receiving foreign funding for similar activities. He said the Government would establish a permanent coordinating committee to improve the planning and implementation of foreign-funded projects.

Officials also discussed upgrading holiday bungalows managed by the Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation departments, promoting floriculture and strengthening the National Botanic Gardens’ role in biodiversity conservation.