Canal cleanup drive in Colombo to mark World Environment Day under ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative

Saturday, 31 May 2025 01:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In celebration of World Environment Day, a major urban waterway cleanup and maintenance initiative was officially launched yesterday under the patronage of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Minister Anura Karunatilaka.

The program, which aims to clean and sustainably manage the canal systems across Colombo and its suburbs, was inaugurated at the Polduwa canal near the Sethsiripaya premises.

This environmentally focused campaign is spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation and falls under the purview of the Urban Development, Construction and Housing Ministry.

It forms part of the broader “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative, which is guided by principles of environmental, social, and ethical responsibility.

With a strong emphasis on protecting water quality and mitigating the risk of urban flooding, the program prioritises the cleaning and maintenance of several key canals in the city. Among the initial targets are the Serpentine, Sebastian, Mawathagama, and Dematagoda streams, which have been identified as crucial for maintaining Colombo’s drainage infrastructure and urban ecosystem health.

The event was attended by several dignitaries including Additional Secretary to the President at the “Clean Sri Lanka” Secretariat S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, Urban Development, Construction and Housing Ministry Secretary Ranjith Ariyarathna, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation Chairman Saman Sri Senaweera, Acting General Manager Engineer A. H. Thushari and Acting Additional General Manager S. P. Muthumal.