Presidential directive issued to remove flood debris

A Presidential directive was issued today by President Maithripala Sirisena to implement a comprehensive programme to remove flood debris and waste from the recent floods and landslides, Presidential Secretariat said. 

He has given these instructions participating in a meeting on waste management in Colombo and suburbs, held at the Presidential Secretariat. President inquired into the progress of the waste management programmes implemented in Colombo and suburbs, while applying new laws on waste management. 

During the meeting, it was discussed in detail regarding the future methodology of implementing the Gazette notification regarding minimizing the use of plastics and polythene. The President pointed out the necessity of executing programmes to train the officials on waste separation and to apprise the public about it.

Attention was drawn to launch a special program to apprise the school children through the Ministry of Education and the President further instructed the Secretary, Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government to hold seminars to educate the Assistant Commissioners of Local Government and Secretaries of Local Government institutions regarding the waste management.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Faizer Mustapha, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Sagala Rathnayake, S. M. Marikkar, M.P., public officials including Ministry Secretaries, Senior Security officers including the Inspector General of Police participated at this meeting.