Garbage disposal declared essential, but protests continue

More protests were held yesterday over the disposal of garbage despite government declaring garbage disposal as an essential service and warning that a two year jail term could be imposed on those acting against the regulations.

At Bopitiya off Wattala, residents put up a strong protest yesterday to prevent dumping of garbage in a 35 acre private land in the area. Police and STF broke up a demonstration by the residents and eventually garbage in more than 50 lorries was dumped in the area.

Subsequently the Catholic church in the area appealed to the residents to cooperate with the authorities on disposal of garbage.