Introduction

EIA has been in place since 1988. The list of projects that is subject to EIA has been published in a separate gazette notification. Projects require either an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Twentytwo State Agencies have been designed as “Project Approving Agencies” (PAA) for the administration of the EIA process. The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has primary responsibility for the EIA system as a whole. Public participation is a mandatory requirement of the EIA process and all EIA reports are open for public comments.  EIA reports are published in all three languages currently used in the country.   An SEA system for Sri Lanka is currently under development. There is some legal basis, thought not a fully fledged SEA regulation, and government has issued an SEA guideline.