Responding to a question raised by UNP Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana, the minister said that a meeting was held recently at Kandy District Secretariat to prepare pertinent garbage disposal management system with the participation of six stakeholder institutions including the KMC.

The government representatives attended the Minamata Convention on Mercury held in Japan recently where they had agreed to update methods of disposing mercurial waste. The Central Environment Authority would conduct necessary studies in this regard. As a first step of this programme, the ministry recently launched water pollution control programme-the “Pavithra Ganga” programme- to keep the water bodies of Sri Lanka clean. The first project was commenced focussing on the Kelani River.

Waste disposal management continues to be a rising challenge as population grows and along with the industrial development, the minister said. (Special Reporter/HC)