President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the Central Highlands Conservation Authority Act will be presented to Parliament either at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year, granting the new Authority full powers to protect the fragile ecosystem.
He made the remarks while attending the ceremony to hand over the “Navodaya Housing Project” to families who lost their homes in the 2023 landslide at Punagala Kabaragala Mountain in Bandarawela.
The President said the Authority will be established with assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
He cautioned that while it may take decades for the Central Highlands to return to their original state, immediate steps must be taken to halt the ongoing destruction.
Describing the Central Highlands as the heart of Sri Lanka, the President warned that they are being visibly destroyed, with mountain collapses, spring failures, and river blockages already evident.
He stressed that once the Act is passed, all powers will be vested in the Central Highlands Conservation Authority to safeguard the region. (Newswire)
