President instructs relevant sectors to eliminate obstacles to waste management

• President calls for report on suggested site of Aruakkalu in Puttalam

 President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday gave instructions to expedite the submission of investigation reports on waste management by the Ministry of Environment and the Central Environmental Authority to take further actions in this regard. 

He also gave instructions to the relevant sectors to prepare a new Cabinet paper to ban the use of unsafe polythene types.

These directives were made during a meeting with public servants, including Local Government Commissioners at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

The President summoned all the Local Government Commissioners to discuss the issues faced by Local Government institutions in the process of waste management and to look into the solutions made by them for these issues as well as to discuss the steps that should be taken in the future for waste management.  

The Local Government Commissioners drew the attention of the President to the steps each institution has taken on waste management and the prevailing issues when implementing their plans.

The President also instructed each Ministry and Local Government Institution to submit proposals to prepare a national policy on waste management.

The President stated to expedite the waste disposal suggestion for Aruakkalu in Puttalam and called for the submission of a report on this proposal to him without any delay.

During the meeting it was revealed that there are nearly 200 places for garbage disposal across the country and a comprehensive report has been prepared in this regard. Twenty-five out of the 200 sites are located in the Western Province and a problematical situation has arisen for only 20 mountains of garbage out of the 200.

The report on the Meethotamulla garbage dump was presented to the President during the meeting and it was revealed that at present there is no danger of an adverse situation developing around the area and it has been prepared in a way to face the upcoming rainy season and the garbage dump has been controlled entirely through technology.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Vajira Abeywardena, Sajith Premadasa, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Sagala Ratnayake, Faiszer Musthapha, Chief Minister of the Western Province Isura Devapriya, parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar, the heads of the security services including the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police and public servants participated in this discussion.