Sri Lanka as hub of environment protection in Asia: constructing expressways while mitigating its environmental impact

Abstract

Expressways are seen as an important device to stimulate "economic development", an objective which states seek to achieve. However, development in most instances, as in the case of expressways, comes at the cost of environment. As a result, the subject of expressways has become a significant topic of discussion in the environment law arena. Despite this factor, there is no single-direct instrument dealing with the array of environmental concerns arising out of the construction and maintenance of expressways. These concerns however, could be brought under different international instruments. In this backdrop, the objective of this study to find out the various kinds of Environmental issues in a background of expressways construction process and to explore mechanism in mitigating environment impact within an such situation in Sri Lanka further to propose an effective mechanism, and comparative study will be done in order to minimize environmental problem and to improve the laws relating to this area or how to minimize these types of environmental issues in order to shelter environment. This research will be conducted as a literature review based on the secondary sources including statutes, text books, electronic data bases, journals etc. In order to ensure that the situation in Sri Lanka is understood in the light of the international developments in this regard, further this study engages in International Environmental principles as a whole. It is clear that there are several environmental issues occurring when constructing expressways. Such as air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, deforestation, wildlife and noise pollution. These environment problems were addressed by several legislations in Sri Lanka. And at the moment we are having a mechanism in order to assess the environment harms when constructing such construction. These mechanisms are identified as procedural requirements under the National Environment Act in Sri Lanka. Through tracing the environmental issues that arises when constructing an expressway, this research expounded the protections guaranteed under national and international law. It is discernible that Sri Lanka has an adequate legal framework to mitigate the environmental impact in constructing expressways. However, the issue lies in its implementation. Furthermore, it is commendable that international standards relating to EIA and EPL in certain aspects have been absorbed in to the national system.