National Environmental Policy and Strategies, 2003 (Sri Lanka)

The National Environmental Policy acknowledges the constitutional duty of every person in Sri Lanka to protect nature and conserve its riches. It seeks to provide the direction according to which steps will be taken to conserve and manage Sri Lanka's environment in all its aspects. The Policy renews the commitment of government, in partnership with the people, effectively to manage the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The aim of this policy is to ensure sound environmental management within a framework of sustainable development in Sri Lanka. This Policy is supported by many other policies and strategies developed for other sectors. The National Environmental Policy emphasizes that caring for the environment is the bounded duty of any institution, government or non-government, and of any individual that used, or otherwise carries out an activity that has an impact on, the resources of the environment. 

The objectives of the Policy are: 

• To promote the sound management of Sri Lanka's environment in its entirety without compromise, balancing the needs for social and economic development and environmental integrity, to the maximum extent possible while restricting inimical activities
• To manage the environment by linking together the activities, interests and perspectives of all groups, including the people, non-government organizations and government at both the central and the local levels
• To assure environmental accountability