by Ifham Nizam

All wetlands in and around Colombo were safe for future generations, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday, denying reports that these ecologically sensitive areas were under threat.

Minister Amaraweera said that most so-called environmentalists had hidden agendas and that the full credit for the current environmental protection success should go to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“No other leader has done more to conserve the environment of this country. The allegations leveled against him on social media are baseless. They’re all lies.”

Amaraweera said President Rajapaksa, during his tenure as Defence Secretary, had taken steps to protect all wetlands in Colombo and carried out so many environmentally friendly projects in and around the city, the benefits of which were being enjoyed by the public at present.

Taking part in a tree planting programme in Tissamaharama, on Saturday, the Minister said that protecting the environment was the responsibility of the government as well as the people. “As stated in the Constitution, every citizen of the country has a responsibility to protect the environment. Therefore, there is no point in blaming the government alone.”