President takes tough measures on waste management

Wednesday, 26 April 2017 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President calls for a report called on foreign tours taken by officials for waste management training
All district Assistant Commissioners of Local Governments called for a meeting
Rs. 50,000 monthly allowance for 3 months to be given as a lump sum

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday called for a report on all officials who have travelled overseas for training observation tours on waste management strategies during the last five years. Chairing a meeting on streamlining the waste management in Colombo and its suburbs yesterday, Sirisena instructing all officials from Environmental Authority to present to him strategies prepared by local authorities for waste management.

He also summoned all the Assistant Commissioners of Local Governments for a meeting with him.

Expressing their views during the meeting the officials of the Urban Development Authority said that the situation around the Meethotamulla garbage dump has now been controlled and final decision on how to address the situation will be made within the next two months.

The President also issued directives to pay the monthly allowance of Rs. 50,000 for three months for each victim family evacuated from the high risk area around the Meethotamulla garbage dump in one payment. The objective of this payment is to eliminate the difficulties faced by the people when giving advance payments while renting houses on a temporary basis. During the meeting, future plans of the Colombo Municipal Council on waste management were presented to the President and the officials also assured the President that in the future they will leave no room to create mountains of garbage.

Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa,Patali Champika Ranawaka,Sajith Premadasa, Faizer Mustapha,Sagala Rathnayaka, Vajira Abeywardena, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, S.M. Marikkar, MP, Ministry Secretaries including Secretary to the President, P.B. Abeykoon, Tri Forces Commanders, Inspector General of Police and the State officials participated in this event.