Government of Japan provides waste collection trucks to CMC

Ambassador of Japan Kenichi Suganuma handed over 12 waste collection trucks to Colombo Muncipal Council (CMC) Municipal Commissioner V.K.A. Anura in the presence of Chief Minister of Western Province Isura Devapriya at an official handing over ceremony held at the Colombo Municipal Council premises.

‘The Project for Upgrading Waste Collection Trucks in Colombo’ under Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP), was implemented by the Solid Waste Management Division of Colombo Muncipal Council. 

The project enabled the procurement of 12 used waste collection trucks from Japan and conduct of a maintenance training program for the relevant officials of the CMC on the proper usage of these vehicles which will contribute to enhance the cleanliness and hygienic environment of the city of Colombo and suburbs through an upgraded waste management service. 

These trucks were initially donated by several local authorities in Japan viz., three from Osaka city, two from Chiba city, two from Sapporo city, two from Okayama city, one from Sagamihara city, one from Kakamigahara Seiso Co. Ltd. and one from Mizumaki Bika Center and facilitated through the courtesy of the Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy (SPJD), an organisation in Japan which carries out a particular scheme to coordinate the donation of used vehicles such as waste collection trucks to foreign countries. 

Moreover, the week-long training of relevant officials from the CMC on the operation and maintenance of these trucks was conducted by Japanese engineers from Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. The aim of the training was to provide sufficient knowledge on the equipment and the multiple functions for the safe operation of the vehicles and their proper maintenance on a daily basis as well as periodical servicing.

This contribution is viewed as momentous in the upgrading of Solid Waste Management Units, which will have a tremendous impact on the clean and hygienic environment in and around the city of Colombo. This cordial gesture is also viewed as further strengthening of warm and friendly relations between the two countries.