The National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 has been submitted to Parliament with extensive revisions, ending more than 20 years of legislative stagnation.
The amended Bill, drafted with the participation of environmentalists and academic experts, is set for parliamentary debate in the coming days.
The new framework reflects the government’s policy vision of “A Sustainable Biosphere – A Green Life” and broadens the legal and operational scope for ecosystem protection. It seeks to dispense environmental justice and ensure the preservation of nature for future generations.
A key feature of the amendments is the legal formalization of environmental responsibilities for local government authorities.
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) will now be empowered to initiate legal action against any local body failing to comply with environmental directives. Magistrates are authorized to impose substantial fines on institutions that disregard court orders, while violations of Environmental Protection License (EPL) conditions or failure to prevent major industrial hazards can result in immediate suspension or cancellation of licenses, with provisions for temporary closure orders.
The Bill also strengthens waste management by introducing dedicated chapters on hazardous waste and chemicals, granting the Minister authority to enforce strict regulations through technical expert committees. Providing false information in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA/IEE) or altering projects without authorization is now a punishable offence. Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) will become mandatory in state policymaking to ensure development is grounded in scientific evaluation.
Modern conservation concepts are integrated into the Act, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds manufacturers accountable for the full life cycle of their products. A specialized legal framework for wetland protection has also been introduced.
A press conference to brief the media on the amendments was held at the Department of Government Information, chaired by Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, with senior officials including Secretary K.R. Uduwawala, Advisor Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam, and CEA Director General Kapila Rajapaksha in attendance. (Newswire)