Matara public market temporarily closed as city grapples with waste disposal issues

The public market in Matara will remain closed tomorrow and next Sunday (Jul 14) upon instructions of the Southern Governor, as the area faces waste disposal issues due to a lack of facilities.

A decision had been taken to temporarily close down the market after garbage had been dumped across the streets and within the premises of the public market in the recent past.

During the last four days, around five tons of garbage had been dumped within the premises of the public market in Matara. However, they had been transferred to the garbage recycling plant in Monrovia, Galle today (Jul 9).

This was after Southern Municipal Commissioner S Palliyaguruge had agreed to accept up to five tons of garbage per day which was sent to the garbage recycling plant from Matara. 

Meanwhile, a court order has been issued to ban garbage from being dumped at the Kotawila garbage dump for the next three months.

The order had been issued after police filed a case against the Matara Municipal Council following complaints from the public citing unhygienic living conditions.

(Reporting and pics by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)