KEY NOTE ADDRESS

BY HON. DEPUTY MINISTER OF PORT & AVIATION

MR.ROHITHA ABEYGUNAWARDANA – MP
It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome our dear colleagues from the fellow
SAARC member countries to Sri Lanka.
The subject of climatic changes is a topic, which discussed at many forums at global,
regional and national levels. Scientists, administrators, politicians, farmers, fishermen,
each and every discipline in the society discuss the climatic changes in their languages as
they feel and understand. Most of them try to link the uncertainties, unexpected events
and false predictions in the environment, with the climatic changes. The understanding
and the studies on the climatic change is still at early stages. Understandings of the
climatic change and related processes are the breakthrough of the long way ahead.

The subject crosses through various fields and sectors making considerable impacts on
them. Some impacts are immeasurable, and some are still uncertain. Coastal sector is one
of the sectors that is greatly vulnerable for climatic change.

Sensitive and productive ecosystems in the coastal zone may endanger with the
consequences of climatic change. Sea level rise is directly linked with the climatic change
and it could cause permanent inundation of the coastal lands. Seasonal surges, increased
erosion and salinity intrusion are all hampered on the coastal economy and social
wellbeing of coastal communities. With the increase of water temperature and changes to
other processes may affect coral grounds, resulting in adverse impacts to the fish
breeding cycle. Fisheries and coastal tourism are the two major sectors which could
resultively suffer.
Since the climatic change is a subject linked with the natural environment, it should be
dealt with great care. Expected changes and impacts should be examined carefully and
corrective actions thereafter taken. Some impacts on the nature may be irreversible. In
such situations adaptation will be the only option available. Any mitigating actions could
be taken at national level and continue through regional to global level.
In this context the Coast Conservation Department of Sri Lanka which is coming under
my Ministry of Ports and Aviation with the collaboration of SAARC Coastal Zone
Management Centre at Male are organizing of this expert group meeting is a timely step
taken.
It is envisaged that within the course of the deliberations, you expertise the actions taken
on an individual and regional basis will be fused together. We appreciate the value
SAARC coastal zone management centre has given to Sri Lanka in agreeing to have this
meeting of experts in the field of climate change here.
It is my pleasure and honor to meet you, all experts having vast experiences, who join
hands with initiatives of coast conservation department for drafting action plan for the
region on identifying climate change impacts on coastal resources.