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* Prime Minister says need to plan economy adapting to climate changes

Tue, Jul 18, 2017, 10:20 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says recently the island experienced a severe drought affecting the agricultural output and the country needs to develop the economy adapting to the climate changes the world is experiencing.

Speaking to media at an event to distribute tractors and water bowsers to the farmers in the areas hit by the severe drought, the Prime Minister said the drought is not limited to Sri Lanka and several other countries including India and Bangladesh are also experiencing the severe drought.

The Prime Minister said that it was for this reason that the President inked the Paris Climate Agreement. He pointed out that the country should consider how to handle the economy if such climatic changes are to be experienced in the future.

He said the government has paid attention to those problems and the discussions are already being held in this respect.

"When we think about the future, the future of the young generation has to be taken into account," he said adding that the environment should be safeguarded for them. As such the attention of the country was being focused on this matter as several decisions would have to be taken in the next few months, he said.

A program for the distribution of 100 water bowsers and tractors to areas impacted by the drought is in operation on the instructions of the President. Fifty bowsers will be distributed in the first and the 2nd phases of this project. The remaining bowsers will be provided under the 3rd and 4th phases.

The handing over water bowsers and tractors for six districts under the second phase took place today at Temple Trees under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs coordinated the program. Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Vajira Abeywardena was also present.