He gave these instructions participating at a meeting on garbage management in Colombo and suburbs held at the Presidential Secretariat, today (6th June).

The President inquired into the progress of the garbage management programs implemented in Colombo and suburbs, while applying new laws.

President Sirisena pointed out the importance of public and private sectors working jointly in this process.

During the meeting, it was discussed in detail regarding the future methodology of implementing the Gazette notification regarding minimizing the use of plastics and polythene. The President pointed out the necessity of executing programs to train the officials on garbage classification and to apprise the public about it.

Attention was drawn to launch a special program to apprise the school children through the Ministry of Education and the President further instructed the Secretary, Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to hold seminars to educate the Assistant Commissioners of Local Government and Secretaries of Local Government institutions regarding the garbage management.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Faizer Mustapha, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Sagala Rathnayake, and MP S. M. Marikkar also participated.