The President made these remarks at “Vana Ropa” National Tree Planting Ceremony held Sunday (Oct. 11) in Kothmale.

He pointed out that various racketeers in this country are doing their business by destroying the environment. They focus only on money and don’t care about the country or the future of the country, he said. He emphasized strict laws will be enforced against them irrespective of their status.

President Sirisena stated it is everyone’s responsibility to protect natural resources of the country. The forest resource in Sri Lanka has rapidly been destroyed during past few years, the President said. “Forest density has been saved even to a certain extent in the North and the East where the war existed”, he added.

Though development and technology have brought lot of things to world, they have paved way for the destruction of the nature, the President pointed out.

“Protection of natural resources and planting of trees are essential for the existence of the living beings including humans. Environmental destruction is also the destruction of all beings in world”, the President further stated.

The President planted a Na sapling, symbolizing of the ‘Vana Ropa’ National Tree Planting Ceremony.

Ministers Lakshman Kiriella, Naveen Dissanayake, Deputy Minister Anuradha Jayaratne, Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake, Ministers of Central Province Thilina Bandara Thennakoon, Mayantha Dissanayake, S. B. Yalegama, Uva Province Governor M. P. Jayasinghe, President of Central Provincial Council K. D. Nimalasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Udaya Seneviratne, Senior Advisor to the President D. M. Jaayaratne and Additional Secretary to the President Rohana Keerthi Dissanayake also participated in this ceremony.