Coastal development in Sri Lanka’s North and East came under scrutiny at an environmental review on 22 July 2026, with officials instructed to strengthen protection against unauthorised construction.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for a steering committee to oversee the work. A separate expert assessment was requested on coastal erosion at Oluvil.
The discussion at the Presidential Secretariat reviewed environmental projects and future budget proposals. It brought together issues affecting shorelines, wildlife, forests and water resources.
The President also raised delays in work intended to reduce human-elephant conflict. Officials were asked to consider the protection of communities when determining elephant-fence locations.
Other projects discussed included water-source conservation, coastal recreation areas and improved accessibility at Sinharaja and Kanneliya forests.
The meeting’s emphasis was on matching development with environmental safeguards and local livelihoods. The instructions represented policy and implementation priorities; they did not establish that the proposed measures had already been completed.
