THE Bellanwila-Attitdiaya marsh, near Colombo in Sri Lanka, is in deep trouble, reports Mallika Wanigasundara. Despite being declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1990, its survival is threatened by the

Wed, 2014-07-30 (All day)
Mon, 2014-07-28 (All day)

Lunawa Environmental Improvement & Community Development Project

The Lunawa Environmental Improvement & Community Development Project (2003-10), was the first ‘test’ of Sri Lanka’s National Involuntary Resettlement Policy. Today it is touted as an innovative, pro-poor model for infrastructure projects in the developing world, especially relevant for the involuntary resettlement of people from densely populated urban areas.

Vehicular Air Pollution in Colombo

In Colombo vehicles are responsible for 60% of the air pollution load. The city is falling into the toxic grip of motorization. Colombo is in the grip of deadly dieselisation: the current level of diesel technology and fuel quality represents very special risk, as diesel vehicle fleet is expanding in a maniacal pace. Diesel vehicles are 45% of the total fleet that already use up more than 90% of the diesel fuel. The policy to under tax diesel fuel and maintain a wide gap with petrol prices is largely responsible for this trend in the region.

Almost thirty percent of the vehicles that come to Colombo on week days are those used by public servants and most have drivers too, costing around 150,000 monthly for fuel and salary for each vehicle. It could be more cost effective and ease traffic congestion if public servants are paid 50,000 rupees monthly instead, Chairman, Road Development Authority, M. D. S. Fernando told The Island yesterday (13).

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