Japan promises country’s support through solid waste master plan

Thursday, 20 April 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kenachi Suganuma handing over the first set of relief items to Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa in the aftermath of the Meethotamulla tragedy

Japanese Ambassador Kenichi. Suganuma yesterday pledged his country’s support to develop a master plan to manage solid waste in the Greater Colombo Area.

The Ambassador and JICA Sri Lanka Chief Representative F. Tanaka yesterday handed over emergency relief items to Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa as part of the immediate assistance given to the Government in the face of the Meethotamulla disaster.

The items donated to the country include tents, sleeping pads, portable water cans, water purifiers, generators, floodlight equipment with a generator, headlights, poisonous gas detectors, high accuracy GPSs and mobile toilets to be handed over to the victims.

Expressing his deepest condolences, Suganuma said that his country through JICA would be assisting Sri Lanka under a three-pronged strategy.

“A team of experts will be arriving in Sri Lanka today to scientifically assess the situation in Meethotamulla and to provide advice on how the situation should be addressed. They will investigate the site condition and have a series of discussions with relevant ministries in order to prevent further disasters. Later we will help the Government develop a proper master plan to address the issue,” he said. Further, the mission will seek future cooperation in the field of solid waste management.

The list of emergency relief goods supplied yesterday by Japan were as follows. Tents (100 items); Sleeping pads (500), Portable jerry cans (250), Water purifiers (10), Generators (10), Floodlight equipment with generator (10), Headlights (25), Poisonous Gas Detectors (5), High Accuracy GPSs (5) and Mobile Toilets (5).