President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the fragmented and isolated functioning of institutions responsible for construction and land management, agriculture, livestock, and environmental conservation has created significant challenges in restoring the Central Highlands following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. He noted that steps are now being taken to establish a new integrated framework that brings all relevant stakeholders together to rapidly protect and rebuild the region.

The President made these remarks during a discussion held yesterday (21) at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and relevant government and private sector institutions. The meeting focused on safeguarding the Central Highlands and restoring forest plantations.

During the discussion, it was revealed that nearly 4,000 landslides have occurred in the Central Highlands as a result of Cyclone Ditwah. It was also noted that prolonged unauthorized construction, cultivation activities, and inadequate maintenance have contributed to the severity of the situation. Participants stressed the urgent need for a national policy to protect the Central Highlands and preserve the area for future generations.

The need to establish a legally empowered authority to oversee these activities was also discussed, and President Dissanayake instructed officials to expedite its implementation.

Representatives from the ADB and UNDP highlighted the importance of maintaining a dedicated financial fund for these initiatives and reaffirmed their full support for Sri Lanka’s efforts to restore the Central Highlands.

Among those present were ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission Country Operations Head Cholpon Mambetova, Senior Agricultural and Natural Resources Specialist Sumith Pokhrel, Assistant Project Officer Krishanthi Dabare, UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, and programme representatives Wageesha Gunasekara and Sugandhi Samarasinghe.

Also attending were Commissioner-General of Essential Services and Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Engineer L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and representatives of other government and private institutions.