Move to abolish NWP Environment Authority?

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, June 13 (Daily Mirror) - As a question was raised by an Opposition MP in Parliament as to whether there is a move by the government to abolish the statute on environment approved by the North Western Provincial Council which led to the establishment of the North Western Province (NWP) Environment Authority, the ruling party informed that its intention is to introduce a single environment law to the entire nation.

Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody, who was responding to a question raised by MP Hector Appuhamy, stated that the intention of the government was to bring the entire nation under a single environment law.

“The entire nation will be brought under a single environment law without inflicting any harm to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,” the Deputy Minister said.

“There is no move to abolish the North Western Environment Authority,” he added.

MP Appuhamy said the Opposition has been informed that the government intends to abolish the North Western Province Environment Authority. He recalled that the authority was established by former Chief Minister of the province Late Gamini Jayawickrama Perera by getting the council to approve a statute with regard to the environment.

“We understand that this authority has become a headache to the government and that it is to be abolished because of this reason,” he said.

Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake who elaborated more on the move  said there is an issue with the North Western Province as its officials have been in office from the time it was set up.