Repeated requests to clear blocked drains, falls on deaf ears

The urban dwellers at Walawwatta in Ratmalana said that the Mayor of Dehiwala Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council has ignored their repeated requests and the awareness created by the media regarding the clearing of the drains leading to Wedikanda from Walawwatta which are filled with mosquito larvae.

They said that some officers who were involved with the eradication of dengue mosquitoes using loudspeakers were ignorant of the drains which are filled with larvae. According to them, the employees of the Municipal Council do not remove the garbage and on some occasions, the garbage removed from the drains are seen fallen again into the drains. They also said that the drain system has not been cleared throughout the year.

When the journalists visited the area concerned, they had observed how shopping bags, pieces of cans and yoghurt cups had fallen into the drains blocking them.

When asked about this situation from the Mayor of Mt. Lavinia Municipal council, Stanley Dias, he said that he was not aware of the blocking of these drains. However, in response to a query made by them about three months ago, the mayor had said that steps would be taken to clear the drains quickly.

In spite of the fact that he had made contradictory statements earlier regarding the clearing of the drains and removal of garbage, he promised to clear the drains in due course by employing the MC workers.

In spite of the fact that he had made contradictory statements earlier regarding the clearing of the drains and removal of garbage, he promised to clear the drains in due course by employing the MC workers