The President was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the program to conserve the catchment areas and ‘Vanaropa’ National Tree Planting Program held yesterday (11th Oct.) near the Kandethenna Tank, Deltota, Kandy.

These programs have been organized by the Presidential Secretariat and Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry under “Punarudaya” national program for environmental conservation which aims at protecting the environment.

Speaking further, the President said the floods, earth slips and draughts faced by the country are the results of not fulfilling the humans’ responsibility towards the environment.

He pointed out though the development is required, the development process should follow proper plans and policies. “They also should respect the regulations of nature”, he said.

The President further stated that ‘Vanaropa’ program is an endeavour to fulfill humans’ responsibilities for environmental conservation, nurturing of the environment and loving the environment.

President Sirisena delivered saplings of fruit plants to school children to symbolize ‘Vanaropa’ National Tree Planting Program. A book on catchment areas conservation was presented to the President.

The ‘Vanaropa’ National Tree Planting Program is implemented under the concept of President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of Environment. The program aims at increasing the forest density up to 32 percent by 2018.