Environment and Natural Resources in Sri Lanka

by A. M. M. Naoshaad

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

(November 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Presiding member, let me begin by congratulating the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, the Hon. Patali Champika Ranawaka, on his being unanimously elected as the President of the Conference of Parties to Vienna Convention at its eight convention held in Doha Qatar recently. As Sri Lankans, we are proud of your election and wish you the very best in the position.

I will also fail in my duty if I do not place on record the appreciation of the people of Sri Lanka for the interest and effort you are taking to protect the environment and our natural resources. It is not an easy task, but an important one, and I will advise you not to be deterred by all the criticism that will come your way, when you make attempts at changing the way we do things that are causing irreparable damage to the environment we live in.

The key environmental issues we face today as you know, in order, are: air pollution, climate change, land degradation due to soil erosion, loss of bio-diversity, water scarcity and pollution, waste disposal, pollution of inland waters, depletion of coastal resources and the end resultant, poverty.

There is no doubt a growing awareness in our country and even globally that environmental considerations must be taken into account in all spheres of economic development. An essential factor to achieve the objectives of sustainable environmental management is the co-operation and involvement of all stakeholders, which I feel is still not forthcoming as it should in this country.

You are on record as saying that island nations, which are highly vulnerable to climate change, are faced with the dual challenge of achieving economic development and responding to the effects of climate change at the same time. Globally, a critical paradigm shift is needed, even at this late stage, to ensure that huge environmental problems we face today do not get passed down to future generations. If the current blame game continues - as you referred to - along with business as usual, at least two more planets would be required to sustain the present growth.

As I said before, it is not an easy task in this country where we have been having the luxury of being blessed with natural resources in abundance, and not appreciating it. As my time is limited let me get to a subject that I have been taking up with you quite often; that is the human-elephant conflict, which is becoming very critical in my electorate.

With its imposing size, high level of intelligence and complex social behaviour, very few wild species evoke as much attention and varied emotions from us humans as much as elephants, though their tendency to raid crops and sometimes aggressive behaviour also instills animosity and fear. You would have watched on “Sirasa" how a cow-elephant chased and trampled a man to death. If I had a gun, I would have shot it down. That would have been the normal human reaction.

Experts are on record as saying that most measures currently being used to alleviate these conflicts are just akin to bandaging the wounds and not treating the root cause.

I have learnt that elephants are considered an "edge-species" and the best environment or optimal habitat for whom is not an undisturbed mature forest, but a landscape mosaic of secondary and regenerating forest patches and open plains. This is something about which people have to be educated. We all say that there is an elephant menace. But, if we really understand why that is happening, I think it will change our reactions to what is happening. This explains why most of the elephants do not confine themselves to the reserves and constantly raid plantations, new settlements and chenas.

In a lighter vein, it may be these same reasons that compel our two-legged types also to keep breaking out of their crowded party ranks and foraging in the ruling ranks where fodder is in plenty.

Coming back to the subject, I believe that we have to take a more pragmatic look at the situation that faces us. I am aware of the many moves your Ministry is making to resolve this issue.

Clearing of elephants from their areas of habitat by driving them away has been an ongoing exercise for ages and probably has contributed heavily to the decline of elephants in our country. In my view, it is a very controversial subject although culling is not an acceptable method of management both in terms of elephant conservation and our socio-cultural climate. Killing of raiding elephants by farmers which is a regular occurrence where hundreds of elephants die annually is, in fact, de facto culling. Where translocation, capture and domestication or capture and semi-captive management of such problem animals is not an option, elimination of the problem animals by official culling is probably a better and more humane alternative than a prolonged death from infected and festering wounds inflicted by gunshots and traps set by farmers.

Good land-use planning that takes where both people and elephant needs are into account is the only long-term solution as propounded by your experts and in my view, also the most practical approach. But that is where we need to ensure that we do not create more frictions that could bring about other conflicts.

I am aware that there is an issue in Pottuvil, at Karango Kandam area - the Hon. Rauff Hakeem also took up this issue - where land that had been cultivated over a long period of time is being taken over as forest reserve. There is also a move to carve out an elephant corridor through this land, which could effectively deprive those who have been cultivating it, of its use. You have to handle these issues very carefully.

On a personal note, you have created an image of yourself as someone who is not too appreciative of other nationalities who belong to this country. This is the root cause of the problems you will face in the execution of your duties. I would like to table* for Hansard, an article written by one Dehigaha Kotuwegedera Abdul Latheef Mohamed Farook which might be of educative use to you.

You are no longer just plain Patali Champika Ranawaka, but an Hon. Member of Parliament who is under oath to honour and uphold the Constitution of this country and a responsible member of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Government of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
You cannot express your personal feelings on issues that challenge the description of the status of a citizen of this country and his rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Article 26 (1) of the Constitution very clearly states, I quote:

“ There shall be one status of citizenship known as 'the status of a citizen of Sri Lanka'. ”
Article 26 (3) of the Constitution states:

“No distinction shall be drawn between citizens of Sri Lanka for any purpose by reference to the mode of acquisition of such status, as to whether acquired by descent or by virtue of registration.”

Every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and has a right to equality under Articles 10 and 12 of the Constitution.

I would advise you as someone who is much older than you and who has grown up as a proud Sri Lankan, to be mindful of your new status and that we should strive together towards the convergence of competing nationalities to forge a Sri Lankan identity rather than have a divergence of competing nationalities that has been the curse of this nation for so long.
I have heard you frequently referring to all those who voted against this Government, as traitors. But, what you must remember is that in the year 1994, the ex-President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga won the election on a platform of peace. At the Parliamentary Election of 2001, 50.82 per cent of our people voted for peace. In the Parliamentary Election of 2004, 46.69 per cent voted for peace and even at the Presidential Election of 2005, 48.43 per cent voted for peace. It is to your credit that today you have turned the majority towards war as a solution, the result of which we will enjoy or curse in the years to come. But, what is important is that just because we oppose the war or oppose the killing of people, that does not in anyway brand us as traitors.

(Speech made by the Writer in parliament on the vote of the Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources.) - Sri Lanka Guardian