- the Chief Justices and Senior Judges of the South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) have gratefully accepted the offer made by H.E. the President at the inaugural session of the South Asian Chief Justices Roundtable on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Green Development, held in Colombo from 7th to 9th August 2014, to provide start-up funds and institutional support for the creation of a small but efficient Unit within the office of the Hon. Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, to initiate and coordinate appropriate activities for strengthening judicial capacity in the South Asian countries in the area of environmental rule of law and sustainable green development.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have both indicated their support for this initiative. This programme will make Sri Lanka the Centre of Excellence in the Judicial Capacity Building in legal matters relating to Environment and Sustainable Development and the Centre will work closely with UNEP, ADB, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and other organizations to collectively develop and implement judicial training programmes in the region.

The proposal made by H.E. the President, to proceed with the activities relating to the establishment of a South Asian Centre for Judicial Capacity Building in Environmental Rule of Law, was approved by the Cabinet.