Ministry of Environment (Sri Lanka)

The Ministry of Environment^[2] (Sinhala: පරිසර අමාත්‍යාංශය; Tamil: சுற்றாடல் அமைச்சு) is the cabinet ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka with oversight of the environment and the Mahaweli Development programme, as well as the general development of the Mahaweli River, its environs and communities living within defined 'Mahaweli development zones'.^[3][4]

Ministry of Environment

පරිසර අමාත්‍යාංශය சுற்றாடல் அமைச்சு
Ministry overview
Jurisdiction	Government of Sri Lanka
Headquarters	Sobadam Piyasa, No. 416/C/1,Robert Gunawardana Mawatha, Battaramulla 6.899938°N 79.914449°E / 6.899938; 79.914449
Minister responsible	Hon.Dr. Dammika Patabendi [1], Minister of Environment
Ministry executive	K. R. Uduwawala, Ministry Secretary
Child agencies	Central Environmental Authority Mahaweli Authority
Website	env.gov.lk

Effective 1 September 2017, the ministry banned the use of polythene with a thickness of under 20 microns for use, sale or distribution, as well as the use, sale or distribution of polystyrene food containers and utensils.

List of ministers

Parties

  Sri Lanka Freedom Party   United National Party

Name		Portrait	Party	Tenure	President
	Rukman Senanayake		United National Party	12 December 2001 – 24 August 2024		Chandrika Kumaratunga
	A. H. M. Fowzie		Sri Lanka Freedom Party	10 April 2004 –		Chandrika Kumaratunga
	Maithripala Sirisena		Sri Lanka Freedom Party	23 November 2005 – 28 January 2007		Mahinda Rajapaksa
	Anura Priyadharshana Yapa		Sri Lanka Freedom Party	23 April 2010 – 28 January 2013		Mahinda Rajapaksa
	Susil Premajayanth		Sri Lanka Freedom Party	28 January 2013 – 12 January 2015		Mahinda Rajapaksa
	Maithripala Sirisena		Sri Lanka Freedom Party	12 January 2015 –		Maithripala Sirisena
	Naseer Ahamed			2022 - 2023		Ranil Wickremesinghe