President emphasises need for active implementation of Soil Conservation Act

President Maithripala Sirisena emphasised the need for the active implementation of the Soil Conservation Act to protect the soil while preventing the daily increase of soil erosion, as a result of natural disasters as well as the results of the activities of various illegal sand trading activities.  

He made these remarks during a meeting with the officials of the Soil Conservation Board held at the Presidential Secretariat this week.

The President drew the attention of the officials to the situations that had occurred due to the blockage of water resources caused by river and stream bank erosion due to sand and soil smuggling and he also emphasised the need to strengthen the legal system in order to prevent such situations.

The President pointed out the flaws in the technology used to prevent the leaking of soil from the mountains when constructing highways and explained the importance of implementing the projects in the future giving priority to the prevention of soil erosion. 

The President instructed officials to carry out programs on the prevention of soil erosion not only in the Central Hills but also throughout the country, and instructions were also given to issue relevant circulars vesting the legal powers of the act with district secretaries and local government institutions. 

He also instructed the relevant authorities to implement awareness programs on the prevention of soil erosion in parallel to the battle of the national food production program, which will commence from next month. 

The act looks at the conservation of soil resources for the prevention or mitigation of soil erosion and at the protection of land against damage by floods and drought. 

The Soil Conservation Board, which was established under this act, held this meeting after a lapse of two years, and the President emphasised the importance of carrying forward the work of the Soil Conservation Board in an efficient and novel manner to fulfil the national responsibility of protecting the soil for future generations. He also advised officials to summon a meeting every six months headed by him.

Heads of all the Institutions including the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture participated in this meeting.