Challenges affecting public participation in environmental impact assessment in Sri Lanka

Environmental impact assessment (EIA), as a policy procedure, proved capable of promoting sustainable development by reducing or eliminating the adverse effects of development projects. Encouraging public involvement in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is crucial for promoting sustainable development, which is arguably the main purpose of the EIA. There are a number of challenges that prevent the public from participating meaningfully in the EIA process. The primary objective of this study is to identify the challenges when they come within the domain of public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment. The paper focuses on identifying the most severe challenges experienced in Sri Lanka. The study is conducted by employing a mixed-method approach. After in-depth interviews with selected key informants and a sample survey of 240 participants representing all 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. This sample is selected using a purposive sampling process. The study revealed a number of challenges, like limited access to information and language barriers, education level, cultural norms and gender roles, institutional support and transparency, lack of awareness and knowledge, and trust among community members in the community. Identified all 6 key challenges that have a significant impact and positive correlation towards public participation in Sri Lanka