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This paper presents a study of the performance of the EIA cell of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka as a Project Approving Agency (PAA) according to the provisions of National Environmental Act (Amended) No. 56 of 1988. The study identifies and analyses efficiencies and failures of the EIA cell of the Ministry approving and monitoring 62 projects from the private sector and 30 projects from public sector in balancing concerns of nature and development. As a result recommendations to augment the capacities and efficiencies of EIA cell in approving and monitoring projects are made with reference to analyzing relevant policies, objectives and perceptions of line institutions and project proponents for balanced development.

The motives behind the economic value in human behavior are a topic of longstanding foci of research interest. Two motives, self-interest and altruism influence in different degrees in form of inclusive fitness in natural selection and contribute in determining and reasoning the values in human societies. We elaborate how inclusive fitness (self-interest and altruism) shapes the values, and behavior resulting sustainability of species and ecosystems. We argue self-interest and altruism combine in different scales that determine human values. The concept of value in economic analysis changes over time with the development and influence of other disciplines and in economics, propagates in more multi-disciplinary way per se in ecological economics currently. Animal behavior studies provide examples that value originated as result of natural selection in animals as a biological process. The paper contributes to the debate on how natural selection generates the mechanism of surviving which in turn originates in particular existence value, option value and values which support the sustainability of ecosystems.

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This article highlights the negative effects of excessive deforestation for the purpose of new tea cultivation in Sri Lanka over the last 30 years. First, some insights are provided into wider econometric discussions in the context of global academic efforts towards better understanding of the links between environment and development. Later parts of this article focus on Sri Lanka and specific ecological issues of sustainability. The article indicates some statistically supported progress in Sri Lanka’s realisation that export promotion at all costs will have pernicious long-term environmental effects. In light of available data, it is argued that still more can and needs to be done to find an appropriate balance between economic growth and sustainable development.