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Sri Pada revered as one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred pilgrimage sites, is also among the country’s most environmentally sensitive ecosystems.
During each pilgrimage season, hundreds of thousands of devotees ascend the mountain, placing immense pressure on its fragile forests, water sources and wildlife.
Against this backdrop, the government has introduced a series of decisive new measures aimed at significantly reducing biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste generated during the Sri Pada pilgrimage season.
The proposals, presented by the Ministry of Environment, have now received Cabinet approval, marking a major policy intervention to safeguard the ecological integrity of the Sri Pada protected area.
Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi told The Island that these steps were long overdue and essential to ensure that religious devotion does not come at the cost of irreversible environmental damage.
“Sri Pada is not only a place of deep spiritual significance, it is also an environmentally hypersensitive zone of national importance,” Dr. Patabendi said. “For years, we have witnessed massive accumulations of plastic waste after the pilgrimage season—polluted streams, degraded forest land and long-term harm to biodiversity. This situation can no longer be ignored.”
Under the new decision, a range of plastic and polythene-based products—already restricted nationally—will be completely banned within the Sri Pada area. These items cannot be sold by vendors nor carried by pilgrims into the zone.
The banned items include polythene food wrappers (lunch sheets), shopping bags and single-use food containers; single-use straws, stirrers, plates, cups, spoons, forks and knives; and single-use plastic water and beverage bottles with a capacity of less than one litre.
“The intention is not to inconvenience devotees,” the Minister stressed. “Pilgrimage is a sacred act. But a sacred journey must also respect nature. You cannot worship with one hand and destroy the environment with the other.”
The new regulations also strictly prohibit the disposal of packaging from food, medicine or any other goods that contain polythene or plastic within the environmentally sensitive zone. These rules apply equally to pilgrims and traders operating along the Sri Pada routes.
Authorities have warned that violations will be met with firm legal action, as enforcement agencies have been instructed to treat environmental offences in the Sri Pada area with zero tolerance during the pilgrimage season.
“This is about discipline and responsibility,” Dr. Patabendi said. “Protecting Sri Pada requires a change in behaviour. Laws alone are not enough unless people understand why they matter.”
In a significant policy shift, responsibility for managing waste generated from products sold along the Sri Pada routes has been placed squarely on shop owners. Vendors will now be held accountable for the collection and proper disposal of plastic-related waste resulting from the items they sell.
“This follows the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility,” the Minister explained. “If you sell a product, you must take responsibility for the waste it creates. Shop owners can no longer turn a blind eye to plastic pollution simply because the customer walks away.”
Environmentalists and conservation experts have welcomed the move, noting that unmanaged waste has been one of the most persistent threats to the Sri Pada ecosystem, which forms part of the central highlands and plays a critical role in water catchment and biodiversity conservation.
Dr. Patabendi emphasised that while the government has a duty to protect Sri Pada through policy and enforcement, the success of these measures ultimately depends on public cooperation.
“This is not just a regulation—it is a collective responsibility,” he said. “If pilgrims, traders and authorities work together, Sri Pada can be preserved for generations to come. Our goal is to ensure that future pilgrims inherit a sacred mountain that is clean, healthy and alive.”
As Sri Lanka seeks to balance religious tradition with environmental sustainability, the new Sri Pada regulations signal a clear message: protecting nature is not separate from faith, but an essential part of it.
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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that good citizens are essential to building a developed nation and that quality education plays a vital role in shaping responsible citizens.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the ceremony to hand over the newly constructed building at Ihala Puliyankulama Vidya Chakrawarthi Maha Vidyalaya in Puttalam to the students on 29 October, under the Primary School Modernisation Project.
The Prime Minister stated that one of the Government’s key objectives is to eliminate disparities in physical resources among schools, whether they are rural or urban, popular or less popular, and to ensure equal opportunities and quality education for all children.
She further stated that development activities at this school had been successfully completed under the first phase of the Primary School Development Project, implemented in accordance with the present Government’s policy statement. The overall development of the building had been planned based on the Primary School Development Criteria formulated in line with the new education reforms.
The Prime Minister noted that the building is equipped with facilities to provide students with activity-based learning experiences. These include Smart Boards, Activity Rooms, Reading Rooms and sanitation facilities. She also highlighted that the building has accessible facilities to ensure that students with disabilities can use it conveniently.
The Prime Minister further stated that Rs. 50 million had been allocated for the construction of the new building and the development of facilities at Ihala Puliyankulama Vidya Chakrawarthi Maha Vidyalaya in Puttalam, with further financial allocations expected in the future.
Emphasising the significant role of teachers in shaping children’s futures, the Prime Minister observed that a single word spoken by a teacher could have a profound impact on a child’s future. Regardless of the physical resources provided, she stressed that the relationship between teachers and students in the classroom, together with the teacher’s contribution, remains crucial in shaping a child’s future.
Following the official handover of the new building to the students, the Prime Minister visited the classrooms and planted a Na tree in front of the newly constructed building. The Prime Minister also presented certificates to students who had demonstrated outstanding talents.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, stated that schools had been selected for the national programme to modernise and develop primary schools based on several criteria, including their potential for development, the services they could provide to children in surrounding areas and the availability of other facilities.
He further explained that the programme would help standardise primary education by ensuring that all children, regardless of the school or location they attend, have access to similar facilities, classrooms, buildings, equipment and learning environments. He also noted that, upon completion of the programme, approximately 309 primary schools equipped with similar facilities would be established across all divisions of the country.
The event was attended by the Chief Sanghanayake of the North Western Province, Venerable Thammennaweṭiya Rathanajothi Thero, Minister of Public Administration Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne; Members of Parliament Gayan Janaka Herath, Hiruni Wijesinghe and Mohamed Faizal, Chairman of the Karuwalagaswewa Pradeshiya Sabha, Neil Navaratne, other local councillors, government officials and a large gathering of residents from the area.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest at the University of Colombo International Conference 2026 on 28 October.
The conference was on 28–29 October 2026 at the Main Auditorium, UCFM Tower, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo,under the theme ’ Advancing an Inclusive Future through AI, Sustainability and Innovation’.
Addressing the conference, the Prime Minister highlighted the vital role of universities and research institutions in shaping the country’s future by generating knowledge, promoting critical thinking and developing solutions to national challenges. She emphasised that ensuring equitable access to quality education is a fundamental national responsibility, and that the benefits of development must be shared equitably among all communities.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that artificial intelligence presents both significant opportunities and important responsibilities. While AI has the potential to improve education, strengthen research, enhance public services and create new economic opportunities, its risks including inaccurate information, bias, data privacy concerns and unequal access, must be addressed.
She stressed the importance of promoting the responsible use of AI, strengthening digital literacy and ensuring that human judgement, accountability and the public interest remain central to decisions involving these technologies. The Prime Minister further emphasised that innovation must serve the public interest, research must inform national priorities, and the opportunities created by emerging technologies must be shared more equitably. Achieving these goals, she noted, requires sustained cooperation and a strong sense of collective responsibility.
The occasion was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, officials of the Ministry of Education, Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,academics and researchers, and the members of the University community.
The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) yesterday said that families of remand prisoners killed in Negombo prison riot hadn’t been paid compensation.
Speaking on behalf of the committee attorney-at-law Senaka Perera yesterday told The Island that none of the dead inmates were covicts. Twenty-one remand prisoners and ten prison officers were killed in clashes between remand prisoners and convicts.
Perera said that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) should look into the government’s discriminatory policy with regard to Negombo prison deaths as prison officers were adequately compensated.
Referring to the recent government declaration that the Cabinet had approved compensation to the tune of Rs 5 mn each to officers who lost their lives or suffered disabilities during clashes at the Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6, 2026, the civil society activist said that families of dead remand prisoners were denied compensation.
CPRP spokesman said that they had raised the issue with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Office and were of the view that the President’s Office would take it up with the Justice and National Integration Ministry. “We do not oppose compensation to prison officers. Whatever the shortcomings in the prison administration and lapses on the part of individual officers, we appreciate the decision to pay compensation. But, the government must not forget that families of dead remand prisoners should also be granted some financial assistance,” Perera said.
The government decision was based on recommendations submitted by a committee appointed at the Cabinet meeting held on 3 Aug, 2026, under the leadership of the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Ms Ayesha Jinasena, PC. We couldn’t get in touch with the Ministry Secretary.
According to Perera, the dead prison officers were earlier paid compensation amounting to Rs 2 mn by the Agrahara Insurance Scheme.
Under the approved scheme, the families of officers who died in the clashes would receive Rs. 5 million each. Officers who have become completely disabled will also be eligible for Rs. 5 million in compensation.
Officers who suffered partial disabilities, with their earning capacity reduced by up to 100 per cent, would be paid Rs. 4 million, while those who become temporarily or partially disabled were to be granted Rs. 3 million.
Prison spokesman Senaka Pallethenna confirmed that the families of the dead officers had been paid Rs 7 mn. Asked whether families of dead remand prisoners or the wounded had been paid compensation, he said, “Not yet.”
Lawyer Perera said that this was a grave injustice. Whichever political party or alliance in power, the government couldn’t under any circumstances refuse to accept the responsibility for safety and security of those held in prisons, either convicts or those held under remand custody. Political parties represented in parliament and the civil society should have raised this issue, lawyer Perera said, that they intended to discuss the matter with Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.
Perera said that the government’s response to this issue was very much contrary to the position JVP/NPP took in the run up to 2024 national elections. Responding to questions, he alleged that they still didn’t know what really happened at the Negombo prison in early July. “Many unanswered questions remain. We expect the HRCSL and the three-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Priyantha Fernando to reveal the truth,” he said.
Retired Additional Solicitor General President’s Counsel Milinda Gunathilaka and President’s Counsel Mohan Weerakoon are the other members of the committee.
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