33. Interpre-tation

In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—

“beneficial use” means a use of the environment or any portion of the environment that is conducive to public benefit, welfare, safety, or health and which requires protection from the effects of waste, dis-

~

charges, emissions and deposits

;

“environment” means the physical factors of the surroundings of human beings including the land, soil, water, atmosphere, climate, sound, odours, tastes and the biobogical factors of animals and plants of every description

;

“exclusive economic zone” means the zone declared to be the exclusive economic zone, by proclamation made under section 5 of the Maritime Zones Law,

No. 22 of 1976;

“land” includes messuages, buildings and any easements relating thereto ;

“local authority” means any Municipal Council, Urban

Council, Town Council or Village Council and includes any Authority created and established by or under any law to exercise, perform and dis-charge powers, duties, and functions corresponding or similar to the powers, duties and functions exercised, performed and discharged by any such

Council

;

“pollution” means any direct or indirect alternation of the physical, thermal, chemical, biological, or radioactive properties of any part of the environ-ment by the discharge, emission, or the deposit of wastes so as to effect any beneficial use adversely or to cause a condition which is hazardous or potentially harzardous to public health, safety, or welfare, or to animals, birds, wildlife, aquatic life, or to plants of every description

;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations

;

“territorial waters” includes the territorial sea and the historic waters of Sri Lanka; and

“waste” includes any matter prescribed to be waste and any matter, whether liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, which is discharged, emitted, or deposited in the environment in such volume, constituency or manner as to cause an alternation of the environment.

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Bills and Laws issued before the date of payment will not be supplied.

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