Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka today said that the garbage issue in Colombo has been solved only temporarily but pleaded the public not to hinder the permanent solution when provided. 

“The President decided to give me a temporary responsibility. And as of now we have removed over 3,000 tonnes of garbage which piled up within the city of Colombo,” he told reporters in Colombo today (8). 

He stated that the issue of garbage mounds piling up in Colombo city has been completely brought under control.

Ranawaka kindly requested from public including the people who file cases in courts against the dumping of garbage and judges who hear the cases, to assist the government to resolve the problem instead of making it worse. 

He stated that the government is hoping to launch several projects to generate electricity from waste starting next month and that they expect these projects to bear fruit within the next 14 months. 

The minister said that a main waste disposal yard will be established in Aruwakkaru, Puttalam. He said that work on this is expected to begin in September. 

Responding to a question, he said that they have still not provided a permanent solution to the issue and that the garbage issue in Colombo city has only been solved temporarily. 

However, he urged the people not to obstruct the permanent solution which will be brought within the next 2 months.