Toilet waste polluting Nilwala river

While garbage disposal in Colombo and several areas has become a national issue which is gathering momentum, the Matara District Urban Development Authority reported that toilet waste outlets in about 300 premises in the Akuressa area led to the Nilwala river, which is the main water source supplying drinking water to the Matara district.

Officials of the UDA informed the Matara District Coordinating Committee that extensive environmental pollution had been caused to the river by this illegal act.

The Co-chairmen of the DCC, State Minister of Finance Laxman Yapa Abeywardene and District Paliamantarian Buddhika Pathirana and about 100 members, including senior government officials, were surprised to find that even the outlets in the public toilet maintained by the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha had been connected to the river.

The Co-chairmen ordered the UDA to file action immediately against the individuals concerned, regardless of their status. They requested the UDA to report to the next meeting of the coordinating committee regarding the action taken by them.