Minister Premajayantha calls for cross–border cooperation to finance e –waste management in the developing countries

11 05 2017 GROUPPHOTO

Minister Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research of Sri Lanka has emphasized  the importance of setting up cross –border cooperation among  manufacturing  and consuming countries, and in this regard, called for establishing  a ‘Global Fund’, with the support of manufactures and voluntary contributors, through which e-waste management in those end-user countries  be financed sustainably. He noted that financing e –waste management solely through imposing taxes at the importers level (upstream)  or consumers level (downstream) could have  negative effects on the access to technology by citizens in developing countries. He also called for increased awareness raising efforts among the public on  sustainable waste management. 

 

Minister Premajayantha made these remarks  on 5th May presenting his concluding observations of the Ministerial Round Table during the High Level Segment of the 2017, meeting of the Conference of Parties (COPs) to the  Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, held in Geneva from 4-5 May 2017. The Ministers engaged with each other on 10 broad-based themes. The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) covers regulations on management of industrial chemicals, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants and hazardous wastes, and  Sri Lanka is party to all three conventions.

 

11 05 2017 MINISTER

 

During the Ministerial Roundtable held on 4th May, Minister Premajayantha noted that President Maithripala Sirisena being the Minister of Environment of the country is a clear testimony to  Sri Lanka’s  political commitment for sustainable management of environment and implementation of the BRS Conventions. The Minister said, ‘On the instructions of H.E. the President in 2016, 6 dedicated Divisions were  set –up in the Presidential Secretariat to deal with environmental issues’. The Minister noted that the President has also taken a personal interest in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and a number of goals  are related to fulfilling the commitments under the BRS conventions. 

 

The Minister also pointed out that in addition to regulations imposed by  Governments to ban certain hazardous products, it should also encourage research and development to produce environmentally friendly alternatives. In this context, he noted the achievements of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nano – Technology (SLINTEC) as a national example, which has fostered public – private partnership for research and development to produce environmentally sound alternative products.

 

The  Sri Lanka delegation to the meetings of the Conference of Parties (COPs) of BRS Conventions held from 24th April to 5th May 2017 in Geneva also included Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, PRUN/Geneva, Mr. Udaya Seneviratne, Secretary, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Mr. Anura Jayathilaka, Director, Environmental Pollution Control and Chemical Management,  Prof.  Lal Mervin Dharmasiri Ranhotige, Chairman, Central Environment Authority , Mr. Jayakody Sumith, Registrar of Pesticides and the officials of the Permanent Mission.

 

11 05 2017 CROWDPHOTO

 

 

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka,

Geneva

6th May 2017

 

 

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