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Platform for greater citizen engagement and effective action on illegal environmental activities to be introduced

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/1

Government, Norway and UNDP Representatives at the workshop

In the face of illicit deforestation, degradation of wetlands, and illegal wildlife poaching and trade, Sri Lanka has seen increased community involvement and engagement despite the ongoing pandemic. While current official mechanisms for citizens to lodge complaints have room for improvements in transparency to the public, there is also an absence of an integrated government-mandated platform that could expand civic space to allow for meaningful community engagement and vigilance around such issues, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka has said.

“To this end, the ‘Digital Citizen Engagement for the Prevention of Illicit Environmental Activities’ initiative has been launched by the UNDP in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation, the Citra Social Innovation Lab, and the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ). The initiative is supported through UNDP’s Global Project – Anti-Corruption for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies (ACPIS) funded by Norad, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.

“The first co-design workshop for the digital citizen engagement initiative took place recently with the presence of representatives from 16 Government institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Forest Conservation, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka Customs, and the Environmental Protection division of the Police, among others. The workshop recognized that, apart from improvements in the mechanisms through which citizens can lodge complaints, a core issue lies in a lack of an integrated system that would allow relevant government institutions to coordinate and communicate, in order to tackle illegal activities.

Speaking at the co-design workshop facilitated by the Citra Social Innovation Lab, Secretary, Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation Somaratne Vidanapathirana said that “it is timely that UNDP initiated this conversation, in order to take this first step towards reducing corruption and illegal activities within the environmental sector.”

“Initial plans around the design of this citizen engagement platform focused on facilitating three key outcomes; firstly, citizens can take the initiative and report against harmful environmental practices, contributing towards crowdsourcing data while allowing status updates of their complaint. Secondly, officials can obtain the information required to address such concerns and also record and inform other officials from other relevant institutions of complaints that come to their attention, in order to ensure that the complaint is duly addressed with all relevant officials and institutions coming in when required. Lastly, citizens can easily obtain information on existing environmental legislation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

“Commenting on UNDP’s role and Citra’s expertise, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, in Sri Lanka Malin Herwig stated that “it was encouraging to see officials from a variety of institutions coming forward to work collectively to find solutions to protect the wildlife and forests of Sri Lanka that people would actually use.”

“Speaking on behalf of Norway’s role as donors and collaborators for this initiative, through Norad, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy of Sri Lanka Hilde Berg-Hansen thanked UNDP Sri Lanka and the Citra Social Innovation Lab for their role in this initiative, and highlighted that “the most important aspect will be making sure that the platform in its final form is accessible to communities”.

“It is also envisaged that this new solution will contribute towards crowd sourced data around environment-related issues, allowing researchers to access data that may contribute to evidence-based environmental policymaking, as well as contribute towards the collection and compilation of data related to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 15.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya extended

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

The landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] have been extended until 0600 hrs on the 14th of February 2026.

Accordingly,
The Level II [AMBER] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwara Eliya district and

the Level I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district have been extended till 0600AM on Saturday [14]

News

Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” departs island

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purpose, departed the island on 12 Feb 26.

In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.

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“We will not make decisions for rural level schools while sitting in Colombo” – PM

Published

15 hours ago

2026/02/13

Priyan

The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that aligning with the development activities carried out under the new education reforms, decisions at the rural level will not be taken from Colombo and plans should be sent based on the requirements of the rural level through the District Coordination Committees by structural committees. She further noted that all officials, from the Ministry of Education down to the school level, must commit to working efficiently and with a human-centered approach.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a discussion held with education authorities of the Hambantota District on Thursday [February 12] at the auditorium of the Hambantota District Secretariat regarding the new education reforms and prevailing issues in the education sector.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister provided an opportunity for education authorities including chief prelates of pirivenas, zonal education directors, teacher advisors, and principals to present the challenges they face and officials raised concerns including salary disparities among principals, developing school infrastructure, issues arising from the division between national and provincial schools, and uplifting pirivena education.

Further elaborating, Prime Minister stated:

“The new education reforms were initiated from 2025 through dialogue, consultations, and the collection of necessary data. As officials, you have extended your support to us during this process. We have embarked on a difficult and long journey, and we look forward to your continued cooperation.

We initiated these reforms in response to a strong social demand. Many have attempted such reforms at different times. Within our political vision, we understood clearly that if this country is to be rebuilt, an educational transformation is essential. The human resource is the most valuable resource of this country and it should be nurtured properly.

Solutions to many of the crises our country faces lie within the education system. Addressing the issues in economic challenges, social issues, drug abuse, violence, the breakdown of political culture, corruption, waste, and even the deterioration of human relationships all lie within the education.

In order to achieve the transformation we envision as a government, that an education transformation is necessary.

This education system should focus on reducing the pressures within the system, minimize school dropouts, increase employability, and instill confidence in children about their future.

There are disparities within the school system, between rural and urban schools, national and provincial schools, and difficult schools. This should not happen. All children must have equal opportunities.
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Decisions regarding the establishment of schools or expansion of classes should not be political decisions. They must be decisions taken through Structural Committees. Those representatives understand their divisions, village economies, and population dynamics. Based on your decisions and assessments of needs, prepare the plans, discuss them with the District Coordination Committees, and submit them to us. We will then take steps to provide the necessary allocations and other support. We will not make decisions for the rural level while sitting in Colombo.

We are taking steps to minimize salary disparities. A Cabinet paper regarding the salary anomalies of principals has already been prepared for submission. Steps are also being taken to introduce new reforms in pirivena education through the Pirivena Committee of the Ministry of Education. We require the support of the chief prelates in this regard.

A significant number of teachers turn to human rights due to delays caused by inefficiency. Therefore, all officials from the Ministry of Education down to the schools must commit to working efficiently and in a humane manner”

The discussion was attended by Chief prelates of pirivenas, deputy ministers, Members of Parliament, zonal directors, principals, and other education sector officials.