News
Govt. to increase country’s forest cover by one per cent
By Ifham Nizam
The government has launched a programme to increase the country’s forest cover to 30 percent by 2025, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says. At present, forest cover in the country was 29 percent, he says.
The Minister, yesterday, said 16,000 hectares would have to be reforested to achieve the ambitious target.
The Environment Ministry would release nine million rupees for the planting of saplings in seven districts for the next two months of the year under the Husma Dena Thuru National Tree Planting Programme. It had been launched by the Ministry of Environment to increase the number of trees throughout the country, he said. Accordingly, more than 1.5 million saplings have been planted so far this year. More than one million saplings have also been planted countywide under the Nekathata Pelayak programme during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Besides, more than 500,000 saplings were planted on Valentine’s Day 2021. The World Environment Day and World Scout Day saw the planting of more trees. Saplings were also planted in the high watersheds of the hills with the assistance of the private sector. 187,000 Kumbuk and Mee saplings have been planted on both sides of the Mahaweli river banks.
More than 10,000 saplings were planted at 10 places to mark the Army Day this year. At present, 120 herbal tree gardens have been established under the Herbal Plants Programme. Meanwhile, the Minister has instructed them to take steps to plant more saplings when the Maha rainy season arrives in the country again.
Accordingly, nine million rupees was allocated for planting in seven districts. Under this, Moneragala will receive Rs. 01 m, Kegalle Rs. 1.2 million, Trincomalee Rs. 1.5m, Hambantota Rs. 1.5m, Badulla Rs. 01mn, Colombo Rs. 1.2m and Gampaha Rs. 1.5 mn. An amount of Rs. 09 million was also allocated for the Husma Dena Thuru tree planting programme.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued to the Districts of Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
at 12.30 p.m. 13 December 2025 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 13 December 2025 for Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Kaluthara, Rathnapura, Galle and Matara Districts.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Based on the prevailing disaster situation and the upcoming festive season, arrangements have been made to provide a nutrition allowance worth Rs. 5,000 to pregnant mothers.
This allowance, which will be provided only once, will be given to pregnant mothers who were registered at maternal clinics on or before 30 November 2025.
The distribution will take place through the Divisional Secretariat offices from 16 December, as a program of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
The Situation Report released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) at 6:00 AM today (13th December 2025) confirms that 640 persons have died and another 211 persons are missing due to flooding and landslides that took place in Sri Lanka within the past two weeks.
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