Environmental Foundation
Environmental Foundation – EFL is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest public interest organisations working in environmental conservation and protection since 1981. As a non-profit making institution, EFL is well known for its legal actions over the years, and has gained a reputation for its balanced approach, transparency and neutrality in environmental matters. The organisation was established as a non-profit making institution by a group of environmentally conscious citizens who joined hands in an effort to stop the exploitation of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage in the early 1980’s. EFL’s work has remained true to its founding principles for nearly three decades now.
Successful judicial interventions by EFL include the Eppawela phosphate mining case and the Galle Face Green privatisation case, both resolved in the Supreme Court. The Eppawela case is cited all over the world as an example on the sustainable extraction of natural resources. Other important EFL litigations include the Maha Oya sand mining case and the Noise pollution case were EFL is an intervenient party. A case on Air pollution is ongoing and has led to the establishment of mandatory vehicle emission testing and a new traffic plan to ease congestion in Colombo. Our cases on protected areas and their conservation include the Hakgala SNR case, on the protection of watershed forests to mitigate threats of climate change and an impending water crisis as well as combating climate change and protecting species through halting the filling of wetlands in the Muthurajawela encroachment case, which ultimately resulted in the establishment of a National Wetlands Policy.
EFL carries out scientific investigations of issues, provides technical support including scientific reports, expert evidence and periodically updates court on matters of environmental degradation. Our scientific work currently includes emphasis on conserving protected areas, combating climate change and other impending threats through projects.
In appreciation of its services to the country, EFL was awarded the “Excellent Environmental Service Award” by the President of Sri Lanka in 2005.
EFL publications include, Sri Lanka’s only handbook on the environment for the layman ‘Your Environmental Rights and Responsibilities: A Handbook for Sri Lanka’ and the first handbook on the environment for the Judiciary, ‘Judges & Environmental Law: A Handbook for the Sri Lankan Judiciary’ and a number of issue based policy papers and briefing papers aimed at knowledge sharing and influencing policy. They include, South Asian Environmental Law Reporter, Hakgala Under Threat – A Review of Conservation Status and Management Needs, Some Significant Environmental Judgements etc.
Over the three decades, EFL has established itself as a driving force in promoting environmental justice for the people of Sri Lanka through the provision of mediation, representation and advocacy services, and legal and scientific support in environmental matters.
EFL’s general activities are as follows:
- Addressing lawsuits and other cases, and presenting cases for litigation, on behalf of the general public. Current cases include Protected Area conservation, Watershed protection, Noise pollution, Sand/ clay mining and Air pollution;
- Carrying out scientific and legal site visits to investigate complaints;
- Producing policy papers, technical papers and briefing papers on key environmental issues;
- Carrying out environmental advocacy campaigns, holding seminars, workshops and training courses on environmental law, sustainability, EIA’s and other important issues for key stakeholders;
- Carrying out noise tests to support ongoing litigation;
- Appearing as an intervenient party on the invitation of the Supreme Court in matters of environmental concern;
- Providing Technical and policy advice to the government sector, and private sector institutions;
- Maintaining a sciento-legal resource centre and library;
- Running a legal panel and young volunteers’ environmental club;
- Running a mobile exhibition on environmental issues.
Since its establishment, EFL has worked in every District of Sri Lanka.
In 2010, EFL concluded a Humanitarian Environmental Partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the American Red Cross which commenced in October 2008. The Humanitarian Environmental Partnership supported EFL to contribute towards the following objectives: Support the setting up of a polythene recycling centre in Southern Sri Lanka, Providing composting facility for a Municipal/ Urban Council in the South, Administrating a Small Grants Programme for Sri Lanka Red Cross’s environmental programmes including environmental disaster preparedness, Provide training for staff and beneficiaries, Providing Solid Waste Management in Community Reconstruction and Recovery Partnership (CRRP) and Solid Waste Management in Matara and Galle, in the Southern Province.
EFL has also embarked on a project granted by the Mangroves for the Future Initiative (MFF) of the International Union fro the Conservation Nature – IUCN on “Increasing the resilience of coastal and riverine communities to climate change and other threats, by conserving the ecosystem of the Maha Oya and associated coastal wetlands in Sri Lanka”. The project has been developed to recognise and address the devastating impacts of river sand mining in the Maha Oya and its adverse impacts on the environment and communities in the vicinity. It is targeting to support environmental conservation in an extensive project area which includes the Maha Oya estuary at Kochchikade.
EFL is governed by a honorary Board of Directors, who take office for a period of three years. EFL continues to support communities to safeguard their environmental rights and educate them on their responsibilities towards the environment and the country as a whole.
