Disposal of garbage in state-owned lands under the Urban Development Authority (UDA) will be banned, effective from May 01, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka says.
The UDA explained that in an instance where a provincial council or state-owned company would require an area to dispose of their garbage, said company would have to bear the necessary expenses using their allocated funds.
Ranawaka expressed his sympathies towards the victims of the Meethotamulla rubbish heap collapse, and further added that the UDA would be working diligently with the Sri Lanka Army in order to rehabilitate the Meethotamulla garbage dump and the surrounding area.
The Minister stated that 69 houses had been completely destroyed in the landslide, and that immediate action would be taken to provide new houses for the inhabitants of said 69 houses, provided that Government aid is received.
The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development had issued a special Cabinet Paper regarding the Meethotamulla garbage heap last February.
In accordance with this Cabinet Paper, the Colombo Municipal Council has issued instructions to prohibit the disposal of garbage in the Meethotamulla dump and to take steps to find alternative locations for garbage disposal instead.
