Environmental Problems in Sri Lanka

As Sri Lankan we have to face some environmental problems. We can not story these problems but we can solving and managing this problems..

We have to pprotect our environmental for our future generations 

In comparison with other South Asian 
countries, Sri Lanka probably makes a 
greater effort to conserve its environment. 
Nevertheless, limited commitment and 
dedication from both public and state have 
created serious environmental threats in 
recent years. 

There are some current challenges for 
environmental conservation, such as 
deforestation, freshwater pollution, air 
pollution, noise pollution, soil erosion, 
wildlife poaching, coastal degradation, and 
mangrove reduction in Sri Lanka. 

Environmental conservation is a broad 
theme which is primarily focused on 
preservation and improvement of the 
environment. In addition, it includes 
activism and lobbying in order to protect 
natural environmental and ecosystems. 
Today globally a large number of 
international institutions are working to 
conserve the environment more than ever 
due to the threats which human have 
created on the natural environment. 
Sri Lanka is an island which has been 
identified as one of the top biodiversity 
areas in the Asian region.

 Sri Lanka's 
natural forest resources are amongst the 
most floristically prosperous in Asia and it 
has the highest density of species diversity. 
However, recently anthropogenic threats to 
its forest and other natural resources (e.g., 
coastal, rivers, soil, fauna, flora, etc) have 
increased exponentially. 
Human-induced Mount of Garbage - A 
Colombo Landmark. 
The lack of effective environmental laws and 
weak policies together has compounded the 
situation. We need to take urgent action to 
protect the nation’s environmental resources for 
the sake of current and future generations.

Deforestation 

The present natural forest cover of Sri Lanka is a little less than 25% of land area or about half of what the 
country had at Independence. If we add planted forest to this figure the area is probably around 30%. Around 
1800 Sri Lanka had nearly 80% of its land under natural forest. Due to various human induced practices, 
mainly the opening of plantations and growth of human settlement Sri Lanka has lost much of its natural forest 
in the last two hundred years. In fact this trend has accelerated after Independence when the population more 
than trebled in the space of about 60 years. 
Deforestation has been identified as one of the most pressing environmental problems of Sri Lanka. 
Deforestation has increased soil erosion, landslides, floods, fauna and flora degradation, and damage to human 
lives and properties. 

 Soil Erosion and Dam Siltation 
Soil is one of the primary resources for survival of life on Earth. Under the Sri Lanka Soil Act (1996) there are 
several institutions responsible to protect soil resources. The institutions are: ministries such as environment, 
land, Mahaweli development, housing, highways, plantation industries, finance, provincial councils, mines and 
minerals, forestry and irrigation. The Soil Act clearly proposes measures, activities and research in order to 
protect soil resources from various damages. 
Although soil conservation regulation is well 
outlined in legislation, the implementation of 
such regulation is very limited. Due to poor 
implementation of regulations and lack of 
public awareness, rich soil in the hill country 
has been eroded. One obvious repercussion of 
soil erosion is reservoir sedimentation. For 
example, the more than 40% of the full 
capacity of the Polgolla Dam is filled with sil
Soil Erosion and Dam Siltation 
Soil is one of the primary resources for survival of life on Earth. Under the Sri Lanka Soil Act (1996) there are 
several institutions responsible to protect soil resources. The institutions are: ministries such as environment, 
land, Mahaweli development, housing, highways, plantation industries, finance, provincial councils, mines and 
minerals, forestry and irrigation. The Soil Act clearly proposes measures, activities and research in order to 
protect soil resources from various damages. 
Although soil conservation regulation is well 
outlined in legislation, the implementation of 
such regulation is very limited. Due to poor 
implementation of regulations and lack of 
public awareness, rich soil in the hill country 
has been eroded. One obvious repercussion of 
soil erosion is reservoir sedimentation. For 
example, the more than 40% of the full 
capacity of the Polgolla Dam is filled with silt.

Coastal Degradation 

Sri Lanka has 1,585 kilometers of beautiful coastal zone. During the last two decades increased human induced 
activities have caused severe threats to the coastal regions. Unsustainable coastal resource utilization such as 
coral mining, sand mining, cutting mangroves etc has increased around the island. Also lack of planning and 
management of resources have intensified pollution and erosion. The worst affected is the southwest coastal zone.
Mismanagement of Land use Changes due to Tsunami Resettlement 
The 2004 tsunami resulted in resettlement of impacted communities. Forest lands, mangroves, sand dunes, 
and wetlands were altered or changed in order to support new resettlements by the government, INGOs, and 
NGOs. The new developments were not thoughtfully considered for sustainability. Now the new settlers are 
involved in encroaching adjoining natural lands, lagoon areas, and other natural resources to expend their 
livelihoods. 

 Freshwater Pollution 

Although Sri Lanka has large endowment of water resources, drinking water sources are being diminished due 
to pollution. 
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is the top environmental statuary body which is in-charge of
environmental protection and management in Sri Lanka. CEA was set up in 1981 subsequent to the enactment 
of the National Environmental Act No.47 in 1980. At its commencement, the Authority functioned mainly as a 
coordinating and policy making body without regulatory powers to control industrial pollution and other 
environmental degradations. There are number of industries (e.g., textile, chemical, gem mining, rubber, tea, 
timber, coconut, fertilizer etc), which create large amount of environmental contaminants that pollute

freshwater bodies. Unfortunately there is no effective check on such activities.

We have to protect our environmental for our future generations....