Sri Lanka has been ranked 134th out of 180 countries in the latest Environmental Performance Index (EPI), according to a report released by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities.

While the island nation remains in the lower half of the global rankings with a score of 38.8 out of 100, it emerged as the second-best performer in the South Asian region.

The study evaluated countries based on their national efforts to safeguard environmental health and preserve ecosystem vitality.

The findings suggest that while the government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” initiatives represent progress, the country continues to face significant challenges in meeting international standards for environmental cleanliness and sustainability.

The researchers noted a strong correlation between a nation’s economic prosperity and its environmental success, observing that wealth is a primary predictor for high scores in environmental health, ecosystem vitality, and climate change mitigation efforts.

Within the regional context, Sri Lanka significantly outperformed its larger neighbors.

India was ranked near the bottom of the global list at 176 with a score of 27.6, while Pakistan placed 179th with 25.5.

Across the globe, Estonia secured the top position with an EPI score of 75.7, while Vietnam was ranked last at 180 with a score of 24.6.

The 2024 data highlights the ongoing struggle for developing nations to balance economic growth with ecological preservation.

Although Sri Lanka’s regional standing is relatively high, the report emphasises that substantial infrastructure and policy shifts are still required to close the gap with high-performing European nations.

Experts indicated that the country’s future ranking will likely depend on its ability to decouple environmental degradation from its economic recovery efforts. ( Source- The Leader)