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Chief of Staff to the President and National Security Advisor Sagala Ratnayaka emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to nature conservation and sustainable development.

Speaking at the launch of the “Sri Lanka 30×30 – Conservation and Prosperity: for Nature and People” initiative recently at the Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, he highlighted the nation’s dedication to ensuring a healthy planet for future generations through sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

Ratanayaka noted that Sri Lanka’s mangrove restoration program has received international acclaim for its success. He highlighted that the government has implemented several such projects aimed at protecting sensitive ecosystems and reinforcing the country's commitment to environmental conservation.

He emphasized that the “Sri Lanka 30×30” program showcases the nation's commitment to supporting local communities and contributing to global conservation efforts. He stressed that cooperation and partnerships are crucial for protecting Sri Lanka's unique ecosystems and achieving the program’s ambitious goals.

The implementation of these projects, overseen by Sagala Ratnayaka, is a top national priority. The initiative was coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat Climate Change Office. Key government departments involved in the design of the projects included the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Department, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and several others dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable development.

This initiative aimed at conserving the nation’s unique biodiversity while promoting sustainable economic prosperity. This landmark approach to develop a set of projects while balancing conservation and development is a significant step towards Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development and green economic revival.

The “Sri Lanka 30×30” program is designed to attract over USD 1.5 billion in investments between 2025 and 2030. The launch event witnessed the participation of over 95 government entities, local and international non-governmental organizations, and corporates, all unified in their support for this ambitious initiative.

The program aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted by Sri Lanka and 195 other countries in 2022 at the COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal. The GBF outlines 23 targets focusing on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, aimed at benefiting both nature and people.

As part of the “Sri Lanka 30×30” initiative, the government has identified nine national priority conservation programs, each designed to address critical environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices including; Improve the protection and connectivity of wet zone ecosystems; Halt forest loss in the dry zone by increasing protection; Restore degraded forest and mangrove habitats; Sustainably develop and enhance protected area tourism to fund conservation. Improve human-elephant coexistence; Enhance the health and productivity of river systems, starting with the Kelani River basin; Enhance conservation of marine ecosystems for the benefit of nature and people;

Strengthen sustainable fishery management practices and reverse the Ensuring sustainable use of fish stocks and reversing the decline of key commercial species; Protect marine megafauna by reducing disturbances to whales caused by whale watchers and ships.

Sri Lanka’s rich natural capital offers immense potential for a green economic revival. By conserving its biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource management, the country aims to build a resilient economy that benefits future generations.

The Government plans to establish Provincial Economic Development Boards to decentralize economic authority across provinces, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

The Government is working to ease numerous legal regulations that have impacted businesses and is developing a new institutional framework to support entrepreneurs, the President’s Media Divisions said.

President Wickremesinghe made note of these developments during a meeting with representatives of the Kandy District Trade Association.

Commenting on the Government’s plans to decentralise the economy, the President said that he expects opportunities for significant progress by mid 2025.

“I plan to include businesses in new legislation and reduce many existing laws and regulations,” Wickremesinghe said, adding that the Government is working towards the new Economic Commission.

“Strengthening regional trade boards is essential as we decentralize the economy. I have also proposed the establishment of provincial development boards, a plan that has received support from other stakeholders,” the President said.

Plans have also been laid out to transform Kandy into a major economic hub, with implementation set to begin next year, the President said.

During the meeting, the Kandy business community representatives discussed their business challenges with the President and also presented their set of proposals.

The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by MP Mano Ganesan has signed the 7 chapter 48 clause document, which represents the hill country Tamil Sri Lankan community’s aspirations to be a fully integrated part of the political, administrative, economic and social mainstream of Sri Lanka.

Taking to ‘X’, MP Mano Ganesan said the TPA signed a social contract Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with presidential candidate and Opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa in Colombo at the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) headquarters.

He further said this MoU affirms the immense contribution that the women and men of the upcountry Sri Lankan Tamil community have made over two centuries to the economy and general well-being of Sri Lanka.

The National Election Commission has received 112 complaints regarding election law violations within the 24-hour period that ended at 4:30 p.m. yesterday.

Among them, 87 complaints were filed with the Election Complaint Management Centre, while 25 were received by District Election Complaint Management Centres.

Additionally, 269 election law violations were reported between July 31 and August 9, including one act of violence.

Out of these 269 violations, 189 were reported to the National Election Complaint Management Center, and 77 were reported to District Election Complaint Management Centres.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a weather advisory for heavy rains in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and Galle and Matara districts.

Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Northwestern provinces and in Anuradhapura, Galle and Matara districts during the evening or night.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers and the public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

The weather advisory is effective for the next 12 hours starting from 1.30 pm today.

Eight state ministers from the SLPP are planning to step down, lankadeepa.lk reports quoting reliable sources.

They are the ones who have decided against supporting incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming presidential polls.

D.V. Chanaka, Thenuka Vidanagamage, Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Asoka Priyantha, Mohan de Silva, Indika Anuruddha, Prasanna Ranaweera and Siripala Gamlath have been named as those state ministers.

Government MPs have been criticizing them for unethically remaining in their portfolios without supporting the government.

Member of Parliament Ali Sabry P.C. was sworn in as the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reform before President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The swearing-in took place today (10) at the Presidential Secretariat.

MP Ali Sabry, in addition to his current position as Minister of Foreign Affairs, will also hold the position of Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reform.

Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara have stepped down from their ministerial portfolios, following today’s Supreme Court ruling to uphold their expulsion from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Fernando announced his decision to step down as the Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports and Youth, addressing staff members of his ministries.

He stressed that his decision to take up a ministerial position was because of his need to serve the country. “If you think I made the decision to take up a ministerial portfolio, I would not have taken it up at a time that Ministers’ houses were being set on fire,” Fernando said.

The former minister said that he believes that it is the best time to step down, as he has performed well in his duties.

Sri Lanka clinching the ‘Best International Tourism Board’ award at the Global Tourism Awards 2024, and Sri Lanka Cricket’s recent success, were testaments to his dedication, Fernando said.

Meanwhile, Manusha Nanayakkara has also resigned from his portfolio as Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment.

Nanayakkara was informed of the Supreme Court ruling today, while attending a meeting with migrant workers earlier today.

“I am unable to work as Minister from today, but I wish everyone success to carry on with the good work,” he said, commenting on successful foreign employment programmes under his tenure.

Former Minister Vijith Wijayamuni Soysa has announced his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election. Soysa, a former member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), previously contested the Parliamentary election under the banner of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa.

Despite his efforts, he was unable to secure a seat in Parliament.

An additional sum of US$ 590,000 has been received by the “Children of Gaza Fund,” which was established by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to provide for the basic needs of children displaced due to the current military situation in the Gaza Strip. The official handover to the Palestinian government took place yesterday (07) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The official documents were presented by President Wickremesinghe to the Palestinian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Zuhair M.H. Zaid, and the Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka, Azusa Kubota.

Following a proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the Cabinet meeting on March 4, 2024, the government of Sri Lanka agreed to provide financial assistance of US$ 01 million to cover the essential expenses of nearly one million children trapped in the Gaza Strip due to the war. The Cabinet of Ministers approved this grant.

As per the President’s request, funds allocated by ministries and government institutions for the last Iftar celebration were redirected to this fund. The US$ 01 million received was donated to the Palestinian government on April 01st, 2024, as part of the first phase.

Additionally, in response to the President’s request, business institutions, various organizations, and the general public contributed to the fund, with the opportunity to donate extended until July 31, 2024. As a result, the fund collected a sum of US$ 590,000 by the deadline, which was handed over to the Palestinian government yesterday.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya and Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardena were also present at the handover ceremony.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Presidential Secretariat expressed their gratitude to everyone who contributed to the Children of Gaza Fund.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National List MP, former State Minister Dr. Sudarshanee Fernandopulle, has pledged her support for Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election.

She announced her decision after a meeting with Sajith Premadasa this morning.

Dr. Fernandopulle is the wife of the late Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, a close associate of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was elected to Parliament from Gampaha district.

She has held a number of senior government positions, and was also the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government.

Irrigation, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi today said that she will support President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Presidential election.

She said in a statement that most of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party members in Ratnapura district had informed her to support Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Presidential election.

“When making crucial political decisions, I have always followed the policy of listening to the people and party members of the Ratnapura district who work with me,” she said.

“Furthermore, I believe that a government leader who makes direct and realistic decisions is needed at this moment to further build our motherland, which we have all made stable with great sacrifices,” the Minister said.

“Therefore, I have decided to remain with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and support Ranil Wickremesinghe,” she added.

(dailymirror.lk)