President Ranil Wickremesinghe prepared the "Climate Prosperity Plan" having recognized the climate issues that would affect the country in the future because of global activities, said the President's Senior Adviser on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene.

Mr Ruwan Wijewardene issued a special statement from the President's Office today (09) on the decline in air quality in Sri Lanka over the past two days.

He further said, “As a result of atmospheric disturbances in North India, Sri Lanka has also had to face several air pollution issues. The President initiated a discourse on climate change having foreseen such situations well ahead of time.

Air pollution affects the health of the country's people as well as agriculture. Children and the elderly are especially affected. Therefore, school holidays were declared to prevent schoolchildren from its effects. It is also reported that there is some reduction in office attendance as well.

All these have a direct impact on the country's economy. That is why the President talked about a green economy. We discussed this at the United Nations COP 27 Conference on climate change. It was also planned to establish a climate change university in this country. We will do this very soon. Small countries like ours are being adversely affected by the activities of the developed countries of the world. The President also raised that point at the COP 27 Conference.

The President continues to raise this issue because the most serious challenge that we as a country will have to face in the future, is climate change. I think many people who laughed when the President spoke about this back then, have understood the reality here. Therefore, I request everyone to support this program.”

President Media Division (PMD)