COLOMBO, Jan. 20 -- Reporting on social impacts in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in Sri Lanka remains weak and inconsistent, reducing their reliability for policymakers and investors, according to a new study by the Centre for a Smart Future (CSF).

EIAs are intended to identify, anticipate and mitigate potential harm to communities and the environment before major development projects are approved. However, CSF's analysis found that social impact assessment is frequently treated as a secondary component, with key methodological details often omitted.

The report, titled 'Assessing the Assessments: An Analysis of Social Impacts Reported in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in Sri Lanka', reviewed 250 EIA reports produced b...