Environmental Foundation Limited

Public interest organisation in Sri Lanka

Environmental Foundation Limited

Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited

Abbreviation| EFL
Formation| 1981; 44 years ago (1981)
Type| Non-governmental Organization
Purpose| Environmental conservation
Wildlife Conservation
Environmental Justice
Location|

* Sri Lanka

Methods| Public interest litigation, Advocacy, Awareness, Research
Fields| Legal, Science
Website| efl.lk

Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) is a public interest litigation and environmental conservation organisation in Sri Lanka. Established in 1981, EFL seeks to protect and conserve the natural environment through litigation, advocacy, awareness and youth-engagement.

## Cases

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### Galle Face Green case

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In 2005, the foundation won a case filed in the public interest to maintain the Galle Face Green Beach as a public utility.[1][2]

### Amarawewa Forest clearing for biofuel

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The foundnation, together with Wildlife and Nature Protection Society and others, won a fundamental rights application filed in the Supreme Court against the planting of Gliricidia trees for biofuel production and illegal clearing of land to create roads in Amarawewa, near Yala National Park.[3][4][5]

### Air pollution cases

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Environmental Foundation Limited instituted a case against the high levels of air pollution in the Colombo Metropolitan area in 2014. As a result, vehicle emission testing was initiated by Department of Motor Traffic and Central Environmental Authority.[6]

A Fundamental Rights Application filed by the foundation to object to the use of coal to generate power resulted in the cancellation of a proposed coal power plant.[7][8]

## Projects

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### Advocacy and Awareness

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The foundation advocates for policies to ban single-use plastic items,[9] carries out a project to restore the water quality in Kelani River,[10] campaigns to prevent degazetting of protected areas for development projects,[11][12][13] litigates against illegal tourism in ecologically sensitive areas,[14][15] advocates against the downgrading of 'other state forests,[16] litigates to stop deforestation in Wilpattu National Park,[17][18] develops sustainable frameworks for PET recycling,[19][20] advocates against illegal mining,[21] promotes sustainable energy[22][23] and publishes conservation research.[24]

It hosts monthly panel discussions[25] on different environmental issues such as deforestation,[26] climate change[27] and conducts awareness sessions and workshops[28] for school children, university students and the public.[29]

## See also

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* Wildlife and Nature Protection Society

## References

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1. ^ "EFL wins Galle Face Green case". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
2. ^ "Environmental Foundation Ltd., v. Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka — Right2Info.org". www.right2info.org. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
3. ^ "Environmentalists win 'landmark' case against biofuel project in Sri Lanka". Mongabay Environmental News. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
4. ^ EJOLT. "Amarawewa Forest clearing for biofuel, Sri Lanka | EJAtlas". Environmental Justice Atlas. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
5. ^ "Biofuel company caught clearing elephant habitat in Sri Lanka". Mongabay Environmental News. 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
6. ^ "Sri Lanka's new 'green tax' not a hit with drivers or environmentalists". Mongabay Environmental News. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
7. ^ "Sampur Coal Power Plant: An Environmental Doom and Gloom ?". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
8. ^ "SC informed coal power plant will not be in Sampur | Colombo Gazette". 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
9. ^ "Going beyond banning EFL calls for levy on single-use plastic". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
10. ^ Rieger, John (2017-04-26). "Addressing Industrial Pollution Along the Kelani River". The Asia Foundation. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
11. ^ "Civil war didn't hurt this Sri Lankan mangrove forest, but shrimp farming might". Mongabay Environmental News. 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
12. ^ "The attempt to De-gazette Wedithalathive Nature Reserve". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
13. ^ "Mangroves: the Earth's silent protector | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
14. ^ "Illegal tourism on Sallitivu Islet, Vakarai | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
15. ^ "Pressing the reset button on wildlife tourism | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
16. ^ "Sri Lanka activists decry downgrade of non-protected 'other' forests by government". Mongabay Environmental News. 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
17. ^ "Damage caused to Wilpattu National Park by activities of Pallekhandal Church | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
18. ^ "Special Leave to Appeal : EFL granted to challenge unlawful electric fence". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
19. ^ "Local Government Authorities in Galle, Batticaloa and Vavuniya 'Give Back Life' to PET Plastic Bottles". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
20. ^ Rieger, John (2020-06-23). "In Sri Lanka, a Public-Private-Civil Society Partnership Turns Plastic Waste into Sportswear". The Asia Foundation. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
21. ^ "Mining, development and environment". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
22. ^ Mudalige, Disna. "Measures to address environmental concerns". Daily News. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
23. ^ "The Dark Side of Norochcholai". Groundviews. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
24. ^ "Publication on conserving Sinharaja launched". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
25. ^ "EFL to host 'Green Conversations': A webinar on Covid-19 and the environment". www.themorning.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
26. ^ "Deforestation: The face of devastation". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
27. ^ "Seven things to know about climate change". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
28. ^ "EFL and Thuru organize Design Thinking and Protyping Workshop". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
29. ^ "Echo for Eco". Rotaract Club of University of Colombo Faculty of Management and Finance. Retrieved 2021-01-12.