Sri Lanka to sign Paris agreement to minimise climate change

Colombo, Aug 31 (IANS) The Sri Lankan cabinet on Wednesday agreed to ratify the Paris agreement in order to minimise the impact and risk of climate change.

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed by 178 countries including Sri Lanka at the UN headquarters on April 2, Xinhua news agency quoted Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilleke as saying.

Sri Lanka has been identified by the agreement as an island state that face the impacts of climate changes such as prolonged droughts, flash floods, rise in the sea level, landslides, and inundation of lowlands.

Accordingly, the proposal by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to ratify the Paris Agreement was approved by the Cabinet, Karunathilleke said.