PCS told to have proper solid waste management system by end 2018
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (15) told officials that all Provincial Councils must have a proper ‘Solid Waste Management System’ in place by next year as the government was determined to provide a sustainable solution to the problem of solid waste disposal by the end of 2018.
President Sirisena gave these instructions at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat last morning.“every Provincial Council must come up with a sustainable solid waste disposal system by next year as I have decided that the issue of solid waste disposal must not be handed over to the next generation. This government has been burdened with a solid waste disposal problem because none of the previous governments took the time to find a sustainable solution to this problem.as a result people began to dump their solid waste on the road side making Sri Lanka look like a rubbish dump itself,” President Sirisena said.
He said he did not want to see Sri Lanka as an eyesore and added one vital aspect of national development is a clean, attractive and tidy country. President Sirisena discussed with officials the methods that could be applied to protect the environment and come up with a proper solid waste disposal mechanism in the Colombo Municipal area and its suburbs.
Officials pointed out that slums that had come up in the city were the biggest problem when it came to finding a permanent solution to solid waste disposal in Colombo and there must be awareness programme among the public to educate them about the importance of solid waste management.
President Sirisena pointed out the necessity to also educate schoolchildren on solid waste management starting from the lower grades along with the importance of keeping their immediate environment clean and tidy.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Patali Champika Ranawaka, Gayantha Karunatilaka, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Sagala Ratnayaka,anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Sarath Fonseka, Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya and Secretary to the President Austin Fernando as well as several other officials were present at the discussion. Pic by President Media.
15.08.17