Garbage collection, disposal an essential service- Parliament

Parliament, on Friday, approved regulations promulgated by President Maithripala Sirisena, under the Public Security Ordinance, declaring as an Essential Service, work or labour of any description whatsoever necessary or, required to be done in connection with the processing, separation, treatment, disposal and sale of street refuse, house refuse or other similar matter.

This was followed by an Adjournment debate on the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse which killed 35, and caused extensive damage.

The Adjournment Motion was moved by Leader of the Opposition, Trincomalee District MP R. Sampanthan. The Motion urged the Govt to take immediate steps to adequately compensate the victims and relocate the affected people and also, as a matter of utmost urgency, to come up with solutions to the growing garbage crisis in the country.

MP Sampanthan who opened the debate, said the Govt must do all it can to assist those affected by the tragedy, adding that, governments, both past and present, must accept responsibility for the unfortunate incident.

“The culture of politics in this country has become such that, no issue, however important to the country and its people, could be addressed free of political influence and political meddling. Our political culture is such that, anything, irrespective of whether it is right or wrong, moral or immoral, legal or illegal, shall be done to promote their political careers to acquire and retain political power for their own convenience,” he remarked.

“This political culture must change for the better. Those elected by the people are elected to serve the best interests of the country and its people, and not to devise ways and means or, tactics, to subvert the trust placed on them by the people, for the Representative's own political gains and benefits. Claims of alleged patriotism could never be a substitute for action that demonstrates a genuine commitment to honestly serve the country,” he said.

Minister of Local Govt and Provincial Councils Faiszer Musthapha said that, two private companies contracted for garbage collection and disposal, had failed in carrying out the task entrusted to them, and their services must be terminated.

“There is corruption at all quarters with regard to the collection of garbage. I asked the CMC why garbage collection was outsourced to these two companies for a period of four years. The Commissioner had no answer. The CMC and the Western Provincial Council must bear responsibility for the Meethotamulla tragedy to a great extent,” he said.

Joint Opposition Group Parliamentary group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena urged the Govt to compensate those affected by the tragedy.

“In the absence of elected officials to local authorities, the services by them have become lax. It is time for the Govt to hold elections to these bodies,” he said.

Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka said the tragic incident at Meethotamulla is a result of a long drawn problem and years of mismanagement and neglect.

He said garbage collection was a countrywide problem and that, there is a need for waste management under a Central Authority.

The Adjournment Motion was moved by Leader of the Opposition, Trincomalee District MP R. Sampanthan. The Motion urged the Govt to take immediate steps to adequately compensate the victims and relocate the affected people and also, as a matter of utmost urgency, to come up with solutions to the growing garbage crisis in the country