Following launch of Development Agency:

New laws soon for sustainable development

Sri Lanka will soon introduce a new law on sustainable development which will help move the country towards more innovation and future-orientated thinking to inspire better buildings and businesses, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said.

The new law will come into effect with the launch of the proposed Development Agency. With the introduction of this new law Sri Lanka will become one of the first countries in Asia to legislate sustainable development, Dr. de Silva told Sunday Observer Business.

It is now at the last stage of vetting in the legal draughtsman’s office. “I personally got involved in writing the new law and worked closely with the Attorney General’s department. We wanted to incorporate the objectives of the sustainable development goals.

“What that means is environment and sustainability becomes something that gets incorporated in the body of the text rather than in an appendix. Therefore, green technology is going to be very important in the decisions we make in particular in the megapolis and other urban development projects in Sri Lanka. Clean technology and sustainable development together will help create good and quality jobs which are a major necessity in our country,” Dr. de Silva said. Currently there is no such law or policy in Sri Lanka.

“This move will encourage foreign investments as the investors are assured of a proper monitoring and coordinating body,” he said.

The government is in the process of setting up two key agencies – the Agency for Development and the International Trade Agency.

An International Trade Agency will be set up, with representation of the Foreign Ministry and Export Development Board, and the Department of Commerce.

Sustainable development has become necessary for all economic policymakers and stakeholders at the national and international levels to incorporate the concept of sustainability into their development strategies.

In Sri Lanka there are about 87different approvals to be taken from various different organizations prior to launching development projects.

The agency will coordinate and make sure that each individual agency has a plan for their institution.

If it is the Water Board or the Transport Board --- whatever it is, we want to ensure they have followed the sustainability laws in their key performance indicators. It will be a monitoring process of sustainable development of the country and responsibilities are entrusted to every organization and investment project.

Parliament has power in ensuring that every investment project is green and sustainable.

- CJ