The Clean Sri Lanka program is an innovative program by the government aimed at integrating sustainability in the environmental, social, governance, and economic domains. This article scrutinizes the core aspects of the initiative, outlining its vision, mission, and objectives, thus emphasizing its role in fostering a more dependable Sri Lankan economy. A Gazette notification has been published, which paves the way for the constitution of a Presidential Task Force that will be responsible for the execution of the goal of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign. As such, the Presidential Task Force numbers 18, and amongst its members are the President’s Secretary, Dr. N. S. Kumanayake, and the Commanders of the tri-forces.

Presidential Task Force Clean Sri Lanka members are instructed to create strategies and plans alongside supervision for plans that were proposed and were in advanced stages or executed, ensuring the programs are constructed in the given time frames, enhancing the society to a greater level through social, ethical, and environmental change.

Another assignment that they also have is to ensure that structures are instituted that will enable the improvement of these levels and ranges from a national tier to a rural level.

The Clean Sri Lanka Programme has made great strides in addressing many inequalities, which have all worked towards furthering the country’s advanced development. It focuses on a number of issues, including but not limited to environmental degradation or social inequality, as well as governance challenges. In this article, we will assess the core driving principles, strategies underpinning, and potential impact of this initiative comprehensively.

Environmental Sustainability

Implementing measures to ensure environmental sustainability is an integral aspect of Clean Sri Lanka. It will combine a combination of strategies aimed at decreasing pollution as well as habitat loss and deforestation. It will allow Sri Lankans to understand the importance of sustainable natural resource use, waste management, and the need for cleaner and greener energy sources for future generations.

Social Sustainability

The Clean Sri Lanka program aims for greater equity and inclusiveness in the society by addressing the triad of poverty, education, and healthcare struggles, thus making sure that no one has been left behind. By promoting community engagement alongside capacity building and other Sri Lankan programs, it is aimed to enhance the life quality of all citizens.

Governance Sustainability

Sustainable development is incomplete without governance; the Clean Sri Lanka program realizes this fact. The program in this way tries to instill a sense of trust among the citizens in government institutions and ethical conduct through transparency, accountability, and good governance. In building a more comprehensive and resilient governance structure, the program works to introduce legal reforms, anti-corruption practices, and capacity-building measures.

Economic Sustainability

Long-term existence is impossible without economic growth; the Clean Sri Lanka program, however, provides for economic sustainability. In particular, the program strives to invest in crucial sectors, invent, and encourage business start-ups, which in turn will yield jobs, developmental enhancement, and productivity. The program also seeks to engage the private sector, academia, and civil society in building an economy that is dynamic and inclusive to every individual in Sri Lanka.

Vision and Mission

The ultimate vision of the Clean Sri Lanka program is one island with smiling people, an island that is beautiful. With this vision in mind, the program aims to facilitate Sri Lanka’s sustainable future filled with beauty, harmony, and happiness. The aim of the program is to transform the efforts put in for environmental, social, and governance matters by the country in question by means of innovation, integration, and working together. The program tries to induce positive change and helps in enhancing the collaboration of the stakeholders, fostering meaningful progress towards achieving a clean, just, and prosperous Sri Lanka.

The Clean Sri Lanka program is crucial for the country’s fulfillment of its long-term environmental sustainability strategy. This program has been indentured to solve many environmental issues such as pollution, waste management, and natural resource conservation. The government has sought to achieve a paradigm shift by embedding into the law a principle of sustainability because that way they can affect people positively in the long run and improve the quality of the environment.

The key principles underlying the Clean Sri Lanka program include the promotion of renewable energy resources, adoption of environmentally friendly waste disposal techniques, and fostering an impetus and awareness for the need to preserve the environment. The strategy of the program is directed at solving the key problems of environmental degradation and seeking a more environmentally responsible society on the whole.

This program also has a very important feature that is often not provided in such programs, for example, an overall encapsulation of environmental management, as appertained to in the above statement here. As it is the case, the Clean Sri Lanka program accepts that tackling the interrelatedness of the environment in the social and economic spheres requires a strategy vis-a-vis development. They are willing to accept the reality that nothing of lasting value can be achieved without the coordination of government agencies, businesses, communities, and individuals.

The thirteenth program is also project-oriented in nature. It is a collection of independent projects addressing particular environmental problems. For instance, it includes initiatives aimed at reducing pollution from plastics, campaigns advocating the production of green energy, and public awareness initiatives designed to reduce littering. The program is structured in such a manner that components of the infrastructure become targets, enabling the government to measure achievements, assess progress, and revise strategies to ensure the program’s success.

It is worth mentioning that the Clean Sri Lanka initiative has the potential to make a positive contribution to the environment and the people’s well-being, as it uses principles such as clean energy systems and waste management as well as the involvement of the public, which is what the program strives towards achieving in the long run. Therefore, these goals are integrated using a creative approach towards environmental management.

However, some critical issues persist, which, if well addressed, will pave the way for the successful implementation of the Clean Sri Lanka concept. These challenges include:

1. Infrastructure and Technology: Countries that are looking to be more sustainable need to heavily invest in infrastructure and technology that are geared towards energy conservation, waste management, and water conservation.

2. Public Awareness and Participation: Especially while encouraging the community to get on board with the sustainable ideas and targets, it can often be difficult to change current expediencies people have to conservation, as educating them will be necessary in the long run.

3. Policy and Regulatory Framework: In order for people and businesses to be held accountable to greater energy targets, there will be a need for more stringent regulations that incorporate government business practices and management protocols.

4. Financing and Funding: Engaging enough financial resources and funding modalities for the sustainability projects is key but could be difficult to achieve under Sri Lanka’s developing economy.

5. Stakeholder Collaboration: Establishing decent partnerships and collaborations with a range of stakeholders, including government, the private sector, civil society, and the local people, is necessary for the success of the program but may involve barriers on the way of other conflicting interests.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Effective monitoring and evaluation systems to assess progress and outcomes and to enable benchmarking are also very important but could face limitations regarding access and capacity.

All these avenues have to be harnessed through a systems approach that comprehensively involves concepts such as sustainability, community involvement, creativity, and strategic thinking. Original ideas and structured, timely approaches can make the Clean Sri Lanka program counter the challenges in achieving the goal of Clean, Green, and Sustainable Sri Lanka.

SWOT analysis of the Clean Sri Lanka program:

Strengths

1. Enhanced government support for the program, especially on funding.

2. Significance of raising awareness and contributing to environmental protection.

3. Scope for positioning Sri Lanka in the global arena.

4. Compliance with the global movement on sustainable issues and environmental friendliness.

Weaknesses

1. Opposition from some industries or businesses that may be on the receiving end of strict measures on environmental issues.

2. High costs of establishing and maintaining the whole program.

3. Resistance to changing old habits and traditional practices regarding waste management.

4. Political intervention or reluctance to cooperate by the local government.

Opportunities

1. Scope of establishing new employment opportunities in green industries and green practices.

2. Ability to increase foreign direct investors and businesses with interests in the environment.

3. Establishing new trade with new strategies and workable plans in relation to waste and pollution.

4. Strengthening technological platforms for trade in waste management.

Threats

1. Lack of commitment and skills for effective implementation of the program.

2. Threat of natural catastrophes and climate change, as well as other elements hindering the success of environmental protection initiatives.

3. Resistance to change from affected parties who want to see things remain unchanged.

4. Ability to modify behavior over a long period and maintain the public’s interest in the program.

The Clean Sri Lanka program has a vision, which is great in transforming the development path of the country forever. The program addresses the proper sustainability of the environment, social interest, governance, and economy. It aspires to build an inclusive society that aims to redeem the welfare of its populace while taking care of its natural resources. The methodology pays attention to innovation, working together, and management, and thus it has a chance to become a role model for sustainable development not just within the borders of Sri Lanka but within the world itself.

(Arul Karki is a Colombo-based Journalist and EJN Fellow)