President Maithripala Sirisena says if the responsibilities for the earth and the environment are not properly fulfilled the country will face a tragic situation in the future. He said it is a prime responsibility of everyone to be committed to the activities of environmental conservation.
The President was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the program to conserve the catchment areas and ‘Vanaropa’ National Tree Planting Program held yesterday (Oct. 11) near the Kandethenna Tank, Delthota, Kandy.
These programs have been organized by the Presidential Secretariat and Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry under “Punarudaya” national programme for environmental conservation which aims at protecting the environment.
Speaking further, the President said the floods, earth slips and draughts faced by the country are the results of not fulfilling the humans’ responsibility towards the environment.
He pointed out though the development is required, the development process should follow proper plans and policies. “They also should respect the regulations of nature”, he said.
The President further stated that ‘Vanaropa’ program is an endeavour to fulfill humans’ responsibilities for environmental conservation, nurturing of the environment and loving the environment.
President Sirisena delivered saplings of fruit plants to school children to symbolize Vanaropa National Tree Planting Program. A book on catchment areas conservation was presented to the President.
The Vanaropa National Tree Planting Program is implemented under the concept of President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Environment. The program aims at increasing of forest density up to 32% by 2018.
Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Deputy Minister Anuradha Jayarathne, Chief Minister of North Western Province, Sarath Ekanayake, Central Provincial Ministers Thilina Bandara Thennakoon and Bandula Yalegama, Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment Anura Dissanayake, District Secretary of Kandy H. M. P. Hitisekara and the Senior Additional Secretary to the President Rohana Keerthi Dissanayake were among those who participated in this occasion.
