The global crisis that erupted due to COVID-19 pandemic is an occasion which undeniably teaches the humans of the importance of environmental conservation, says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
This was highlighted in President’s message for the World Environment Day which falls on the 5th of June every year, aiming to enhance the awareness among the people on the importance of protecting the environment and to draw the attention of the policymakers to environmental issues.
All creatures including the human have an unbreakable bond with the environment, the President said, adding that the longstanding deep relationship nurtured by the Sri Lankan community since ancient times with the environment paved the way to enrich our daily life.
“The necessity to pass on, our age-old knowledge of all aspects of nature to our future generations, as well as to enhance their knowledge regarding the present environmental issues, is felt much more strongly at present than any other time in the history.”
President went on to say that various environmental issues such as floods, landslides, melting of glaciers, air pollution, global warming and climate change that have become formidable threats to the humans are direct results of our own haphazard activities. “Destructions caused to nature will inevitably affect the survival of the humankind.”
He stressed that measures will be taken in future to make environmental protection initiatives mentioned in the policy statement “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” for land management, preserving biodiversity, increasing national forest cover, scientific waste management and eco-friendly human settlements and cities into a reality.
