A report by the Centre for a Smart Future has highlighted the inadequacies in reporting social impacts within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) conducted in Sri Lanka, rendering them less reliable for decision-makers and investors. EIAs are intended to foresee and mitigate harm to communities and the environment. However, the report reveals that the methodologies for assessing social impacts are frequently omitted.

According to the Centre for a Smart Future (CSF), “Most impacts are discussed without specifying crucial information such as magnitude, reversibility, and temporality.” The report, titled ‘Assessing the Assessments: An Analysis of Social Impacts Reported in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in Sri Lanka’, is the first systematic evaluation of its kind in the country.

The study reviewed 250 EIA reports from 1991 to 2025, assessing them against quality requirements derived from national EIA guidelines and project-specific Terms of Reference (ToRs). Although ToR requirements influence reporting quality, the report found inconsistencies in the drafting of ToRs both within and across the relevant authorities.

“Reporting quality on most dimensions has improved over time but varies based on institutional and project-specific idiosyncrasies such as the type of project, type of project proponent and consultant, and whether a development partner is involved or not,” the report stated. It also noted qualitative examples where social impact analyses fail to align with the conceptual scope of EIAs and breach basic ethical standards in conducting and reporting socio-economic research.

The report underscores the need to bolster the quality control mechanisms of the EIA process, enhance training and awareness among consultants, and increase public accessibility to EIAs. To address these issues, it recommends revising existing EIA guidelines and streamlining the drafting of ToRs.

In response, CSF is actively engaging with government agencies involved in the EIA process to advocate for the necessary reforms.

(Colombo/Jan20/2026)