Campaigns
EFL carries out targeted campaigns on important environmental issues in the country. The campaigns are aimed at creating knowledge and spreading the message regarding these issues. Some of EFL’s present campaigns are highlighted below:
Safeguarding Protected Areas: In our efforts to protect and safeguard Sri Lanka’s natural heritage EFL together with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS), the Wilderness and Protected Areas Foundation and the Sri Lanka Nature Forum (SLNF) jointly filed a Fundamental Rights Application under Article 12(1) of the Constitution against the illegal construction of roads within the Wilpattu National Park. The case was filed against the Director General of Wildlife Conservation, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Tourism Authority, the Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services and the Director General of Archaeology as the Respondents. The case is ongoing. Read more…
Preventing snakebites and conserving species: EFL initiated a campaign with the support of the World Wildlife Fund – WWF, the American Red Cross and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society – SLRCS to address snakebite prevention and conservation through the production of relevant education material and information dissemination. Through this programme a set of tri-lingual booklets, posters, brochures and a documentary were produced and a successful awareness campaign was conducted in three selected districts, in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Matale followed by a National Forum supported by the Ministry of Health. For more details on publications materials, please call the EFL library or visit our publications page.
Mining: EFL continues its work on halting illegal sand mining in riverbeds throughout the country. EFL continues to monitor rehabilitation and restoration activities with regards to the Maha Oya Sand Mining case and works with the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) and other relevant government authorities in this regard. EFL’s work on sand mining is considered as top priority and we encourage donors to support sand mining related activities and specific projects. The Mangroves for the Future (MFF) initiative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently supports EFL to carry out conservation of the Maha Oya .
Solid Waste Management: EFL has been actively involved in solid waste management related issues for the past decade and is at present litigating in the Karadiyana Garbage Dumping issue, in the Kesbewa Magistrates Court. EFL has participated in subsequent site visits to the location organized by the key stakeholders including the Solid Waste Management Authority and is at present evaluating the possibility of further legal action with this regard. Further to the site visits, litigation and studies carried out on this topic during the past few years, EFL has published its research as a policy paper on Colombo’s solid waste management related issues.
