News

New measures to protect environmentally sensitive Sri Pada region

Published

10 months ago

2025/12/25

Sri Pada

Sri Pada revered as one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred pilgrimage sites, is also among the country’s most environmentally sensitive ecosystems.

During each pilgrimage season, hundreds of thousands of devotees ascend the mountain, placing immense pressure on its fragile forests, water sources and wildlife.

Against this backdrop, the government has introduced a series of decisive new measures aimed at significantly reducing biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste generated during the Sri Pada pilgrimage season.

The proposals, presented by the Ministry of Environment, have now received Cabinet approval, marking a major policy intervention to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Sri Pada protected area.

Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi told The Island that these steps were long overdue and essential to ensure that religious devotion does not come at the cost of irreversible environmental damage.

“Sri Pada is not only a place of deep spiritual significance, it is also an environmentally hypersensitive zone of national importance,” Dr. Patabendi said. “For years, we have witnessed massive accumulations of plastic waste after the pilgrimage season—polluted streams, degraded forest land and long-term harm to biodiversity. This situation can no longer be ignored.”

Under the new decision, a range of plastic and polythene-based products—already restricted nationally—will be completely banned within the Sri Pada area. These items cannot be sold by vendors nor carried by pilgrims into the zone.

The banned items include polythene food wrappers (lunch sheets), shopping bags and single-use food containers; single-use straws, stirrers, plates, cups, spoons, forks and knives; and single-use plastic water and beverage bottles with a capacity of less than one litre.

“The intention is not to inconvenience devotees,” the Minister stressed. “Pilgrimage is a sacred act. But a sacred journey must also respect nature. You cannot worship with one hand and destroy the environment with the other.”

The new regulations also strictly prohibit the disposal of packaging from food, medicine or any other goods that contain polythene or plastic within the environmentally sensitive zone. These rules apply equally to pilgrims and traders operating along the Sri Pada routes.

Authorities have warned that violations will be met with firm legal action, as enforcement agencies have been instructed to treat environmental offences in the Sri Pada area with zero tolerance during the pilgrimage season.

“This is about discipline and responsibility,” Dr. Patabendi said. “Protecting Sri Pada requires a change in behaviour. Laws alone are not enough unless people understand why they matter.”

In a significant policy shift, responsibility for managing waste generated from products sold along the Sri Pada routes has been placed squarely on shop owners. Vendors will now be held accountable for the collection and proper disposal of plastic-related waste resulting from the items they sell.

“This follows the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility,” the Minister explained. “If you sell a product, you must take responsibility for the waste it creates. Shop owners can no longer turn a blind eye to plastic pollution simply because the customer walks away.”

Environmentalists and conservation experts have welcomed the move, noting that unmanaged waste has been one of the most persistent threats to the Sri Pada ecosystem, which forms part of the central highlands and plays a critical role in water catchment and biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Patabendi emphasised that while the government has a duty to protect Sri Pada through policy and enforcement, the success of these measures ultimately depends on public cooperation.

“This is not just a regulation—it is a collective responsibility,” he said. “If pilgrims, traders and authorities work together, Sri Pada can be preserved for generations to come. Our goal is to ensure that future pilgrims inherit a sacred mountain that is clean, healthy and alive.”

As Sri Lanka seeks to balance religious tradition with environmental sustainability, the new Sri Pada regulations signal a clear message: protecting nature is not separate from faith, but an essential part of it.

By Ifham Nizam

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News

Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/18

Priyan

More than 1,600 students sat this year’s Russian Classical Ballet Examination, the largest number ever to take part in the examination in Sri Lanka. Exams were held in Colombo from 5, to 18, October and in Galle on 10 October.

Students aged four and above came from across the island, including Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Negombo, Matara, Kelaniya, Panadura, Wattala, Kiribathgoda, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Badulla. They are taught by 15 dedicated teachers trained in the Vaganova method, the renowned Russian system of classical ballet training.

They were examined by Dr. Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, a distinguished academic and curator.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing was established in 2001 by Michael Ustinov, Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Mrs Chandi Aluvihare, with Mrs Galina Pleshakova as its founding instructor. Today the School is led by Director Madam Maria Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka.

News

Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts

Published

15 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF– Sri Lanka’s two most senior Buddhist chapters, Malwatte and Asgiriya, demanded special concessions for monks serving prison sentences, following the disrobing of convicted monk Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara in line with established procedures.

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, told Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna that Ven. Gnanasara, who is serving a six-year sentence for contempt of court, must be released immediately.

Prison authorities have no power to release or pardon convicts, but Palletenna told the monk in Kandy on Friday that he would convey his request to the relevant government authorities.

“There is no point in talking about this and that… The entire country has been shaken (??????? ) . He must be released,” the Asgiriya chief prelate said.

The Malwatte chief prelate, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, appeared to accept the court verdict against Ven. Gnanasara, but asked the prisons chief whether a separate section could be established for convicted monks.

Palletenna noted that a special ward for the clergy already existed at Welikada Prison.

At least 63 convicted Buddhist monks are currently incarcerated within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a group of 34 Buddhist monks named in a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order to vacate the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat ended their protest and dispersed after lunch on Friday.The monks are demanding an unconditional pardon for Ven. Gnanasara, who has previously been imprisoned, making him a reconvicted prisoner.

News

Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely

Published

15 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

The debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been postponed indefinitely pending the Attorney General’s opinion on certain technical issues in the motion.

Government representatives raised the matter at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, pointing out that several provisions of the motion required clarification and that the Attorney General’s advice should be obtained.

As obtaining the opinion would take time, the debate could not be scheduled for the next parliamentary week, parliamentary sources said.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka said a date for the debate would be decided after the Attorney General’s advice was received.

Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 20 to 23, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced.

The parliamentary business for the week was finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday (16) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.

On each sitting day, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be allocated for parliamentary business under Items 1 to 6 of Standing Order 22. Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 20, an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 21, a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be taken up for debate and approval from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual reports of five statutory institutions will subsequently be presented for approval without debate, while questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 22, the Second Reading debates on two Bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Bills Nos. 79 and 80) will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual reports of five statutory institutions will then be taken up for approval without debate, followed by an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, the Second Reading debate on the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Government-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated during the final half-hour of the sitting.