President promises prompt garbage cleanup through national strategy

President Maithripala Sirisena said that within the next three years the Government would provide solutions to the country’s garbage disposal problem through a proper national strategy.

He made these observations at a special meeting regarding the National Environmental Conservation program on Tuesday at the Presidential Secretariat.

The President pointed out that the garbage disposal system was a major hazard to the health of the people. He said that a solution to the problem existed through an efficient and proper program.

He added that despite the Government doing its best to solve the problem he could not stop people voicing their concerns over it. Every officer should be dedicated to fulfil the Government’s responsibility by educating people in this regard, he said.

The program should be implemented in collaboration with all state and private institutions. The President instructed officials to strengthen existing programs implemented by the Central Environmental Authority and to make plans with practical knowledge and fresh strategies.

The people most affected by the garbage disposal problem were those living in Colombo and its suburbs, he revealed.

President Sirisena also paid special attention to coastal protection and forest density during the meeting.

The President has identified the environment conservation program as a prominent one. Under the President’s instructions, steps are being taken by the Government to make an action plan for an environmental conservation program which can be carried out practically by identifying current environmental issues.

Deforestation, environmental damage, environmental degradation, natural resource damage and soil erosion have been identified as the major environmental issues present. Solutions will be found to these problems through this proposed new plan.

Currently, Sri Lanka’s forest coverage is 29%. The proposed project is expected to increase this figure to 35% within its first few years.

About 7,500 tonnes of waste is produced in Sri Lanka in a single day, of which nearly 1,000 tonnes of garbage is processed for waste management. The remaining 6,500 tonnes of garbage is expected to be managed systematically using the new technology.