This year's World Environment Day theme is on Small Islands and Climate Change. Parallel to the Environment Day, an Environment Week has been declared from June 5 to 17.

The Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy organized Island wide programs during this week under the coordination of its affiliated institutions.

A first day cover and a stamp also issued to mark the occasion.

President Rajapaksa, in his Mahinda Chintana 2010-The Vision Ahead states it is evident that Sri Lanka can sustain its development efforts due to the lack of resources and environmental pollution. Consequently, the ‘Haritha Lanka’ program will be launched from 2010-2020, under my leadership, with the objective of creating a base for sustainable development, the President stated.

As stated in Mahinda Chintana 2010-The Vision Ahead, this intervention includes activities to protect water resources and catchment areas, protection of the ocean and aquatic resources, prevention of air pollution, soil conservation, the introduction of innovative methods for agriculture, promotion of renewable energy sources, promote eco-friendly industries, build healthy towns and housing schemes, develop an environmental friendly transport system, implement waste management systems, prepare the country for environmental change, and to promote cultural awareness and education necessary for the above. Several themes will be selected for the action plan. Measures also will be taken to initiate joint action in facing the environmental challenges in the South Asian context.

An action plan will be implemented from 2010 to seek solutions to the problems emerging out of environmental changes such as droughts, floods, cyclones, Tsunami, extinction of species, endemic diseases and threats to food cultivation, the President further states in Mahinda Chintana 2010-The Vision Ahead.

HC/priu