President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced plans to introduce legislation establishing a Central Highlands Conservation Authority by year-end or early 2027, with support from the Asian Development Bank to protect the region's fragile ecosystem.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the Central Highlands Conservation Authority Act will be presented to Parliament either at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year. The President made the announcement while attending a ceremony to hand over the Navodaya Housing Project to families displaced by the 2023 Punagala Kabaragala Mountain landslide in Bandarawela. The proposed Authority will be established with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
The President described the Central Highlands as the heart of Sri Lanka, emphasizing that the region is experiencing visible destruction through mountain collapses, spring failures, and river blockages. He cautioned that while restoration of the Central Highlands to their original state could take decades, immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further degradation. Once enacted, the legislation will vest full powers in the Conservation Authority to protect and manage the ecosystem.
Beyond environmental measures, the President also announced steps to strengthen protections for the Malaiyaha Tamil community. He stated that when current agreements with plantation companies expire in 2042, new terms will be negotiated to safeguard community rights. Additionally, the President indicated that Cabinet measures are being taken to remove obstacles preventing those who left for India during the conflict from returning to Sri Lanka.
