Role of NGOs in balancing environmental rights within Chinese-funded Mega Development Projects in Sri Lanka

The ‘economic growth’ centered development discourse in Sri Lanka, driven by financial assistance from China, concentrates on Mega development projects (MDPs) entailing environmental costs and negative externalities, which results in perceiving environmental rights in juxtaposition to development. The lack of policies tailor-made to regulate MDPs while protecting environmental rights poses a challenge in striking a balance between conserving the environment and achieving economic development. Disregarding environmental impact within the development process leads to “White elephant” projects as well as postponement of projects, which in return results in falling short of the very developmental outcomes MDPs sought to achieve. As the Chinese financial aid framework prioritises economic growth over all other considerations, it marks a stark difference from the contemporaneous development discourse, which is driven by the doctrine of sustainable development <br>The role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) was globally predominant since the 1950s given its role as operational and advocacy agents, particularly owing to their expertise as an information intermediary in society. This paper examines the five-fold role played by NGOs in environmental governance within Chinese-funded MDPs by engaging in a critical analysis of qualitative data collected through library and field research embodying primary and secondary sources. Given the distinct nature of the Chinese financial aid framework, the role played by NGOs within Chinese-funded MDPs is subjected to four key challenges: Firstly, the constraints resulting from the inherent nature of the Chinese financial aid framework; Secondly, constraints imposed by the recipient Government; Thirdly, constraints imposed by gaps in the National Environment Act; and Lastly, constraints imposed by the limited scope of the Environment Impact Assessment process. The study concludes that given the embryonic nature of Chinese financial aid framework, progressive change within the development narrative is possible by welcoming NGOs to the policy platform as legitimate stakeholders in balancing environmental conservation with development. <br><br><br><br>