The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Tuesday cited the tragic incident in Meethotamulla as a ‘massacre’ which resulted due to the unending competition between politicians.

PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila while speaking to reporters in Colombo as well as charged the Minister of Megapolis of attempting to make the former Government accountable for the incident.

“Instead of taking the responsibility, he attempts to cover-up faults,” he said.

Gammanpila went on to say a proposal put forward by the previous Government under directives from former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for disposal of waste at a site in Puttalam was revoked by the present Government.

He said it had been suggested to dump waste at an abandoned limestone quarry in Puttalam, a place located in the dry zone, unlike the location proposed by the Government in Ja-Ela.

“It is Gotabaya Rajapaksa who would have been publicly acknowledged for his role in resolving the garbage issue if that proposal was implemented. The Government had a ‘reputation’ issue,” he said.

Gammanpila also stressed that a Deputy Minister responding to the matter had earlier said the site suggested in Puttalam cannot be recommended due to environmental concerns “He argued some of the limestone quarries are located within the forest reserve of the Wilpattu National Park,” Gammanpila added.