President Maithripala Sirisena has given instructions to implement a comprehensive programme for removal of flood debris left behind by the recent floods and landslides, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
President Sirisena has reportedly given said instructions upon participating in a meeting held to address the issue of waste management in Colombo and surrounding suburbs.
The meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat Office today (06), PMD confirmed.
The President has reportedly made an inquiry into the progress of the waste management programmes already implemented in Colombo and neughbouring suburbs, and pointed out the importance of joint efforts by public and private sectors for this procress.
The future implementation of a Gazette notification on minimizing the use of plastics and polythene was also discussed at great depth during the meeting.
The President proceeded to point out the necessity of executing programmes to train officials on waste separation and to also apprise the public about it.
As the meeting progressed, attention was drawn towards the launch of a special programme to apprise school children through the Ministry of Education.
The President further instructed the Secretary, Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to hold seminars and educate the Assistant Commissioners of Local Government and Secretaries of Local Government institutions on waste management.
Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Faizer Mustapha, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Sagala Rathnayake, S. M. Marikkar, MPs, public officials including ministry secretaries, and senior security officers including the Inspector General of Police convened for this meeting.
