The solid waste management is not an issue in the northern peninsula but before long it will become a major problem in towns like Jaffna and Kilinochchi if remedial measures were not taken, Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa observed.

Minister Yapa made these observations when he addressed an awareness programme for solid waste management in Jaffna organized by ‘Pilisaru’ project of the Central Environment Authority, (CEA). “Safe disposal of solid waste has become a major issue for the big cities not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world. The issue is much grave in developing countries as they realized the gravity of the problem only recently. But Sri Lanka was able to formulate a national policy and put into action a solid waste management action plan much earlier than other countries in the region. The setting up of the CEA was one step in that direction. Therefore, we have the ability, technology and a policy for solid waste management,” Minister Yapa emphasized.

He pointed out that the CEA was organizing awareness programmes for fast developing cities in the country to help them to take precautionary measures to tackle the solid waste problem before it goes out of control. Therefore, the local government authorities in the cities small and big in the north need to have an action plan for solid waste management and the CEA is always ready to assist them by providing technology and financial backing.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka