Where are we now? Not where we want to be. The success and failure in the implementation of Convention on Biological Diversity in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Environmental as a concern of the mankind emerged in the 1960s after the rapid infrastructural developments that were carried out after the World War II. The immediate aftermath of the war meant that countries had to work twenty-four seven to improve their man-made physical environment that was devastated by the war. However, during this period environmental concerns were not on the agenda, and it was only after sometime that humans began to be vigilant about the destruction that they have caused to the environment through their activities which was highlighted in the writing of Rachel Carson in her book titled ‘The Silent Spring’. In looking at this issue from a Sri Lankan perspective, it too has suffered major setbacks regarding losing her environmental beauty and the lost of biodiversity which she is renowned for. This paper examines the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity which was ratified by Sri Lanka in the early 1990’s and the extent to which the objectives of the convention has been achieved from a Sri Lankan perspective. This study was carried out primarily as a qualitative data, while an in-depth interview was also carried out with a high-ranking officer of the Ministry of Environment, Center for Biodiversity protection, a responsible organ for implementing the convention. The results revealed that, while laws and policies have been introduced at implementing the core elements of the convention, lack of coordination, overlapping of responsibilities, political interference and corruption has resulted in a failure of successfully implementing the convention even after nearly three decades of ratification.