GAMPAHA NGOS DEMAND AN END TO FOREIGN GARBAGE IMPORTS

During a workshop held at the Gampaha District Secretariat Office, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOS) adopted a resolution to request the relevant authorities to prevent the import of garbage into the country.

The workshop was held at the District Secretariat auditorium under the chair of Additional District Secretary A.R.K. Alawatta.

“At a time when we ourselves are facing difficulties in tackling our own garbage issues, importing container loads of garbage from foreign countries should be vehemently resisted and punishment meted out early to all those involved in this racket of importing garbage,” NGOS representatives said. The proposal to urge authorities to prevent import of foreign garbage was presented by George Jayantha Fernando, the executive director of the International Poverty Alleviation Programme and it was seconded by the President of the Lakdaru Foundation D . D. Warnakulasuriya.

Proposing the motion, Mr Fernando stressed that dumping foreign garbage in the country has forced the country and its people to face difficulties as a result of the environmental pollution at a time when we are experiencing difficulty in garbage management in Colombo and elsewhere.

Therefore he urged that maximum punishment be imposed on all those responsible for this offence irrespective of their positions.

Over 100 containers filled with imported foreign garbage are currently lying at the Katunayake Free Trade Zone while another 100 are at the Colombo harbour.

At a time when we ourselves are facing difficulties in tackling our own garbage issues, importing container loads of garbage from foreign countries should be vehemently resisted