Anura Yapa blames Nimal Siripala

3 December 2012 05:00 pm

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told Parliament on Monday that hasty decisions taken by Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had led to several environmental problems.

Speaking at the committee stage debate on the budget, Minister Yapa said forests were cleared by the Irrigation Ministry while implementing various irrigation projects without focusing on the environment impact created by them.

However, Minister Yapa said many issues had been resolved in the recent past through discussions with Minister de Silva.

Minister Yapa stressed on the need for focusing on global warming and environmental changes that were taking place today. Therefore he said Sri Lanka should be watchful on the melting of ice in the Himalayas as the melted ice was flowing towards the South in the form of water.  

Stressing on the need for avoiding environmental hazards he said research had found that people should avoid extravagant lifestyles. He said it had been adopted at the World Climate Change Summit held in Doha Qatar. Therefore he said the best way to minimize the effects of climate change was to lead a lifestyle based on the principles preached by the Buddha. (Yohan Perera and Kelum Bandara)