A Gazette notification has officially announced the establishment of an 18-member Presidential Task Force to spearhead the “Clean Sri Lanka” Programme, a cornerstone initiative in the President’s policy agenda. The task force is mandated to design, guide, implement, and monitor this initiative within a specified time frame to foster a social, environmental, and ethical transformation in the country.
The task force is led by Secretary to the President, Dr. N.S. Kumanayake, with Senior Additional Secretary to the President G.M.R.D. Aponsu acting as the Convener and Secretary. Its members include high-ranking officials, scholars, and representatives from various sectors, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to achieving the programme’s objectives.
The core responsibilities of the task force include:
- Formulating and implementing a comprehensive national-to-rural level structure for the programme.
- Engaging scholars, professionals, experts, and institutional representatives to contribute their subject expertise.
- Collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including government and semi-government sectors, private enterprises, research institutions, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, international bodies, religious groups, and the Sri Lankan diaspora.
- Raising and managing funds for the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative.
- Aligning existing programmes by various stakeholders with the “Clean Sri Lanka” objectives.
- Identifying necessary legal provisions to ensure the programme’s long-term sustainability and establishing institutional frameworks for enforcement.
- Leveraging digital technologies to ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and continuity of the initiative.
- Developing and implementing a multi-modal communication strategy to positively engage all stakeholders and promote widespread participation.
The programme emphasizes preserving Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, cleaning public spaces, and protecting coastal areas while addressing environmental challenges. It is structured to promote social, environmental, and ethical awakening, strengthening environmental sustainability alongside economic and social well-being.
Aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the state machinery, the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative seeks to align efforts across various sectors to achieve its ambitious goals. The task force is required to submit progress reports to the President periodically, ensuring transparency and accountability in executing the programme’s tasks.
Through this comprehensive and collaborative approach, the “Clean Sri Lanka” Programme aspires to elevate the nation to a more sustainable and advanced future.
