News
Await follow-up episodes on ‘removal’ of Prof. Marambe after Nov. 11
By Ifham Nizam
Prof. Buddhi Marambe, prior to leaving for the UK, last night, told The Island that upon his return on 11 November, he would discuss his stance on the fertiliser controversy and his abrupt removal.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe would be leaving for the UK, on Saturday, to attend the same event. Prof. Marambe has been involved with the World Biodiversity Summit/climate change confab for nearly a decade and his attendance there is a routine affair.
A senior government official said yesterday that most probably President Rajapaksa would have a discussion with Prof. Marambe in the UK.
Responding to queries, Prof. Marambe, laughingly said that he had never been an employee of an institution under the Ministry of Agriculture, although he had served on technical committees that were now defunct.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on Tuesday removed the professor from all positions in the Ministry.
However, Prof. Marambe, an authority on agricultural policies, said he had been invited by the Ministry to serve as a member of committee to formulate a national fertiliser policy.
“The Committee’s term ended last month. There is no reason for anyone to remove me from it,” he said smilingly.
He also said that he was yet to receive a written notification informing him of the move to remove him as a committee member.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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