Large stocks of haphazardly disposed solid waste collected
Environmental promotion programme to mark 71st year of independence
One of the special features of the programme was the large globe which was filled with solid waste giving a message that the world would soon be filled with garbage
The environmental promotion programme in the Mount Lavinia beach and its environs organised by GO Sri Lanka Organisation and the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council to mark Sri Lanka’s Independence Day took place with public participation.
President of the GO Sri Lanka Organisation Sudath Abeysekara said they decided to divert from the usual celebrations and ceremonies and launched a more gainful and purposeful programme. He said his organizations decided to launch the programme in Mount Lavinia beach which was a major tourist destination in the county which is facing extensive environmental pollution due to the human activities.
The participants collected a large stock of solid waste that had been haphazardly disposed of by thousands of merry makers who flock to the beach every day. They said that garbage collected in between the reefs and clefts in rocks were removed.
One of the special features of the programme was the large globe which was filled with solid waste giving a message that the world would soon be filled with garbage causing the ruin of the environment that would not allow a single soul on earth to exist. Sarvodaya organization that joined the programme, had taken steps to clean the sea bed with the help of well trained divers using naval craft. They had removed a large stock of solid waste including plastic cans, Nylon fishing nets and bottles.
Several tractor loads of garbage were transported to the Karadiyana garbage recycling centre by the Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia Municipal Council.
The Mahasangha including Ven. Kaduruwe Gunalankara Thera, President of the GO Sri Lanka Organisation Sudath Abeysekara, General Secretary Kumara Liyanage, National Organiser Kushan Nisansala, Director General of the Coast Conservation Department Prabhath Chandrakeerthi, Chairman of the Sarvodaya Organisation Vinya Ariyaratne, Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia Mayor Stanley Dias, Deputy Major Keerthi Udawatta, Municipal Commissioner Sunil Galagama, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health MMC Priyantha Sahabandu, MMCS Sanjaya Wijeratne, Kumara Gomes, Yamitha Nalinda Rajapakse ,marina Basir Abdeen, Harsha Kumara Nonis, Upul Gamage, Ruwan Prasanna Fernando, A. Ananda Fernando, H.wasantha Kumara, Upali Wilegoda, students of the Aesthetic Faculty and school children participated.