The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry will set up a National Council for Sustainable Development.

Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Patali Champika Ranawake said a national action plan called Haritha (Green) Lanka Program will be implemented from 2010 to 2016 for sustainable development of the country, reported Daily News.

He was speaking at a seminar on Global Warming and Green Economy organized by the Ceylon Institute of Builders together with Central Environment Authority.

“Impacts of climate change will deprive livelihood of inhabitants as a consequence of sea level rise, extreme weather pattern like storms, cyclones, high intensity of rainfall and severe droughts. The main reason to this unsustainable path is the use of limited natural resources to meet unlimited human needs by using modern technology. This has created a severe impact on the environment", said Minister Ranawake.

Fossil fuel is about to decline from 2015. The ecological footprint is higher than the bio-capacity. Since the beginning of 1980s, countries are running on ecological debt, he added.

The Haritha Lanka Program will meet these challenges and will ensure the sustainable development among the different stakeholders of ever-growing production and consumption process, the Minister said.