RIGHT OF REPLY

Authority (CEA) and the Coast Conservation & Coastal Resource Management Department (CC&CRMD). The Project Proponent for the SEIA was the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, taking over responsibilities from the SLPA for obtaining environmental permits.

The lead consultant for the SEIA was the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB), the premier consultancy organisation in Sri Lanka with a wide range of expertise in different engineering disciplines, employing over 1,800 engineers and technical experts. Whilst being involved in many EIA and IEE studies in various fields, CECB has been involved as the lead consultant for marine and coastal environment related EIA studies covering ports, breakwaters, fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka and overseas since 2000. In addition, the CECB engaged in specialist services of several reputed expert organisations to fulfil the stipulated ToR. Such consultants engaged in the preparation of the SEIA included: Lanka Hydraulics Institute, University of Moratuwa, National Aquatic Resource Research and Development Agency, GSMB Technical Services, CDR of Holland etc. In all, the technical team preparing the SEIA numbered over 50 and included 16 coastal engineers and several marine biologists.

The SEIA report was then reviewed by a TEC appointed by the (CC&CRMD) comprising 34 officers from various disciplines. The SEIA study was modified based on their comments. Thereafter, the study was reviewed by the Advisory Committee of the (CC&CRMD), which included several Senior Secretaries and scientists. After receiving these clearances, the SEIA report was made available to the public from 1st December 2015 to 13th January 2016 at 11 locations, with wide publicity given in the media. The study is also available for review on the website of the (CC&CRMD) even today.

Upon receiving over 200 public comments and based on responses to these by the SEIA team of consultants by the 30 plus members of the TEC, the (CC&CRMD) issued a development permit imposing 71 conditions on the Project Developer. These included restricting sand extraction to 3km and beyond from the shoreline, obtaining sand from depths of over 15 metres and