Natural Resources Must Be Used Responsibly: Arun Hemachandra
21-Oct-2026.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra has stressed the need for responsible management of natural resources, practical investment, technological innovation and regional cooperation to build a sustainable economy.
He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Regional Forum on the Circular Economy for South Asia, held at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo on October 19, 2026.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe and several other dignitaries attended the forum.
Addressing the gathering, Hemachandra said Sri Lanka had a long history of sustainable resource management, with the country’s ancient interconnected tank systems serving as an important example.
He stressed the need to carry forward this heritage of efficiently utilising and conserving natural resources in ways suited to present-day conditions.
Building on this historical legacy, the current Government was pursuing environmental restoration initiatives, the Clean Sri Lanka programme, renewable energy development and measures to strengthen economic resilience, he said.
The Middle East crisis, Cyclone Ditwah and increasing pressure on natural resources had further highlighted the importance of energy security, efficient resource utilisation and sustainable development.
Global and regional crises demonstrated how closely a country’s economy was linked to energy security and resource management. Therefore, effective management of natural resources, reduction of waste and greater reuse of resources were essential, he said.
Discussions on the circular economy should not be confined to policymaking but should be translated into practical investments, technological innovations, regional cooperation and initiatives that create new economic opportunities.
He emphasised the need to harness technological advances to develop new methods of managing resources efficiently. Attention should also be given to creating new industries and employment opportunities based on the circular economy.
Such initiatives could promote economic growth while generating new income opportunities for the people, he said.
Regional cooperation among South Asian countries had a vital role to play in this endeavour. Sharing technology, knowledge and experience among countries could help develop new approaches to the sustainable use of resources.
The proposed South Asian Circular Economy Framework and its Roadmap for 2026–2030 were important initiatives towards achieving this objective, he said. They would provide a foundation for integrating sustainable resource use, economic resilience and environmental protection across the South Asian region.
Sustainable development was not limited to environmental conservation. It also involved building a strong economy, managing resources responsibly and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth reached everyone.
He stressed the importance of combining Sri Lanka’s traditional experience in resource management with modern technology, innovation and regional cooperation to build the economy of the future.
