Podcast 5 - Sri Lanka: Mining, Environmental Degradation & Broader Social Implications

Beyond Mining Series

Sri Lanka Is a resource-rich country that has been exploited over the centuries in the name of economic development. This has led to considerable resource depletion, large scale political corruption, rent-seeking and inequitable distribution of proceeds from this resource wealth. The panel will discuss the true extent of environmental degradation in this island state and explore alternatives that are sustainable and environmentally sound.

MODERATOR:

Keith James is a Melbourne based Property Lawyer who frequently advises small scale Developers in transactions. He is an alumni of Monash University Melbourne and holds a Bachelor of Laws. In his University days, Keith was a member of the Monash University Debating Team and represented the University at the World Championships held at the Hague, Netherlands. Further, he was the Director of People and Culture at the Impetus Consulting Group, a not for profit consulting group focused on assisting Charities and Social Enterprises with their management processes.

PANELISTS

Hemantha Withanage is the founder and the Executive Director of Sri Lanka based Centre for Environmental Justice. Before he founded CEJ he was the Executive Director and the Senior Environmental Scientist of the Environmental Foundation Ltd in Sri Lanka. He is currently the International Convenor of the NGO Forum on ADB, which is a network monitoring ADB and the AIIB policies and Projects. He was an Executive Committee member of the Friends of the Earth International from 2010-2018, the largest grassroots environmental justice movement. Hemantha has 30 year’s experience in environmental advocacy and environmental litigation.

Thilak Kariyawasam is the Chairman and Executive Director of the Sri Lanka Nature Group (SLNG). SLNG is the network of 32 different organizations and companies. Which is the Advocacy and policy lobbying group, all ways concerning environment and development. He is also an environmental activist and right based activist, who serves all ways with ground-level issues. In 2020 he became the Asian Focal person of Civil Society Platform of Development Effectiveness (CPDE) He is also part of AID watch Groups like NGO Forum on ADB and Reality Aid of Asia.

Jeremy Liyanage is the Executive Director of Bridging Lanka, a non-governmental organisation undertaking development work in Sri Lanka. Previously he has worked in senior public policy and program positions in local government in Australian. His primary focus has been to influence the institutional mindset for increased social and economic inclusion especially for those marginalised by current arrangements. Jeremy has worked as a secondary school teacher,, community development worker, a consultant for the Anglican Church and a lecturer in the tertiary education sector. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Semiotics), Diploma of Fine Arts (Etching), Grad Dip Education and a Masters of Social Welfare Administration and Social Planning.

Dr Ravindra G Kariyawasam is the National Coordinator for the Center for Environment and Nature StudiesCenter for Environment and Nature Studies a volunteer-run organization that doesn’t take money from anyone. The purpose of the organization is to sustain the environment through cooperation and community effort. This network includes youths, farmers, and people from different communities; and an ashram where people can practice yoga and share knowledge. It’s a supportive and inclusive environment that’s open to all people, without fear of discrimination.