President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (29) reviewed progress on establishing a new authority to protect and restore the Central Highlands during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat.
The President emphasised the urgent need to safeguard the region following extensive damage caused by landslides triggered by Cyclone Dithwah.
At the meeting, a decision has been taken to establish a dedicated authority to address environmental issues in upper watershed areas and ensure long-term protection of the Central Highlands.
Progress on legal provisions required to set up the authority was discussed, along with proposals submitted by relevant stakeholders.
The President also instructed officials to expedite follow-up action to operationalise the initiative.
The proposed authority is expected to oversee environmental restoration and management of upper watershed areas, while strengthening coordination among institutions. It will also facilitate areas such as national water security, food security, disaster risk reduction, energy efficiency and climate change adaptation.
The meeting was attended by senior government officials, environmental experts, and representatives from international organisations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Asian Development Bank. (Newswire)