National Environmental (Amendment) Act 2026 · As enacted
9. Amendment of section 23B of the principal enactment
Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.
Official translationFrom Department of Government Printing, unchanged
Section 23B of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows: -
in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of that section, by the substitution for the words “as may be prescribed;”
of the words “as may be prescribed from time to time”;
by the addition immediately after subsection (2) of that section, of the following new subsections: -
“(3) When issuing a licence for a prescribed activity, the Director-General shall specify the corrective measures required to be taken , to minimize any damage likely to be caused to the environment and to provide sufficient safeguards to protect the environment.
The
Director-General or any officer authorized by the
Director-General having considered the provisions contained in this section and on being satisfied that the applicant has the capacity to take such corrective measures and safeguards as may be required, shall issue a licence to the applicant as specified in subsection (1).
Where the Director-General or any officer authorized by the Director-General has reason to believe that an applicant for a licence or for a renewal of a licence does not have the capacity to comply with the provisions of this Part or take such measures or safeguards as may be required, the applicant shall be informed in writing that, for reasons given, his application is rejected.”.