President issues gazette making garbage disposal an ‘essential service’

20 April 2017 09:33 pm - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Maithripala Sirisena this evening approved an extraordinary gazette making garbage disposal services by all local government bodies an ‘essential service’ with effect from Thursday’s midnight.

The gazette focuses on steps that are being taken when disposing, collecting, transporting, storing, preparing, segregating garbage and disposing garbage collected from households as well as that which is collected from the road and related services.

The gazette, which made these duties essential services, has been issued in line with the clause 17 of the Public Security Ordinance.

Accordingly, it now become an offence to threaten, obstruct or delay anyone who is engaged in or block any property on which these persons are engaged in the aforementioned duties by force or in a defamatory manner, verbally or in writing, or by any other means.

“It’s also illegal to encourage, influence people in any manner or to provoke them resulting in obstruction being caused to those performing such duties or to influence these employees to relinquish their duties. It’s also an offense to offer employment opportunities or accept such opportunities to cause hindrances to those who are performing duties in relation to garbage disposal,” the gazette said.

According to the Ordinance, anyone who is guilty of such offences mentioned or if there is reason to believe that someone was responsible for such a crime, they could be arrested by a police officer, at any moment, even without an arrest warrant.

“Anyone thus arrested could be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment by a Magistrate following a trial,” the gazette said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 22

WL Friday, 21 April 2017 06:53 AM

The issues about garbage disposal is fairness and equity. Rich people's garbage is always disposed in poor people's neighborhoods without compensation. Charge a fair value for the garbage from the collection areas, and compensate the people in receiving areas by providing better health facilities, drinking water, schools, etc.

Kumar Saturday, 22 April 2017 09:07 AM

Garbage dumps need to be manage properly. Garbage has to be deposited and compacted everyday then covered with a layer of soil forming cells. This system is used in our City successfully and it works.

ResidentD Saturday, 22 April 2017 07:01 AM

Collecting and disposal of garbage is the responsibility of the government. LG bodies collect taxes from residents for this work among others. Obviously it is an essential service!

BV Friday, 21 April 2017 02:03 PM

Why not try the GMOA head office it would be a most suitable place to dump garbage.

mnsmart Friday, 21 April 2017 08:49 AM

ban all the tiny packages and bottles sold in the market

Nihal Amarasekera Friday, 21 April 2017 08:11 AM

Just as much as it is an essential service it is an essential RESPONSIBILITY on the part of an incumbent Government that Human Lives are not at stake due to the methods adopted in disposing solid waste.

Kadiya Friday, 21 April 2017 08:09 AM

Or treat them too as garbage and dump them where they belong!

Kadiya Friday, 21 April 2017 08:08 AM

The best comment to come out of this Garbage issue. After all the monies spent on that white elephant could have been used for permenent solution for the Garbage problem!

JAN Friday, 21 April 2017 07:53 AM

MS Now politicians Made Mass Disaster death toll Rises Commissions delaying waste of money Bring to law whos totally responsible via DM Android App

Palitha Galapitiya Friday, 21 April 2017 07:21 AM

Good Show...!!! Follow the same with GMOA Please...!!!

Bala Friday, 21 April 2017 06:57 AM

This is immediate need. then go for long term solution.

WISE DONKEY Thursday, 20 April 2017 10:05 PM

Nobody disputes that it an essential service but the problem is where to dump them. None will receive this stinking gift with both hands and to live with it to the rest of the life or until it buries him with his house. I don't think just a gazette notification can solve this huge problem.

prasannamcad Friday, 21 April 2017 06:41 AM

People we have to dump the garbage somewhere until government find the solution; I guess government learns the lessons in a hard way. So this time I am very certain government will find the solution. Give some time. BTW people around the dump they knew place is not suitable to live there, but they still lived there.

Justica USA .. Friday, 21 April 2017 05:04 AM

Dear President...pls consider doing the same with health services...so that the GMOA can be taught a VERY GOOD lesson...these killers are worse than terrorists...ALL after getting free education...revoke their lisence to practise and import Indian doctors who dont ask for special perks n car permits.. via DM Android App

Namal Perera Friday, 21 April 2017 03:45 AM

Health Care too should be made a essential service to prevent the stupid behaviour of the present day Doctors. Also should make sure that they do not attend private Hospitals while on strike and if they do, the licence should be revoked as they are not fit to be Doctors.

kamal Friday, 21 April 2017 03:42 AM

How about mattala?

yatawarasb Friday, 21 April 2017 01:34 AM

It is the primariry obligation of all citizens to co-operate with the government in implementing the garbage disposal process..It is not fair or reasonable to critisise or object to the disposal process as human being we will have to have a open mind and process for the needs of the public and country. Normal practice of political rivalry should be done away at least now and help to develop the country and the aspirsion of its inhabitants.

Chethiyasena Thursday, 20 April 2017 11:59 PM

Great!Now the garbage bosses can collect any type of garbage anywhere and cart them out to wherever the like and do "waste management" in whatsoever manner they deem fit.The hoi polloi , as usual can exercise their customary democratic right of lining up and watching in awe the "කසල කළමනාකරණ" process!

Dee Thursday, 20 April 2017 11:17 PM

Super. Don't give in. Garbage needs to be disposedas long as its not in anyones private property. Do the same for medical service. Its sort of garbage anyway!

dilip Thursday, 20 April 2017 10:58 PM

Your namae suits you well .

lex Thursday, 20 April 2017 10:55 PM

Issue a gazette under Publis Security Ordinance making honesty, integrity

BRAINY DONKEY Thursday, 20 April 2017 10:30 PM

Why don't we reclaim another portion of the sea with foreign funds to dump the garbage. That would make everyone happy.

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President issues gazette making garbage disposal an ‘essential service’

Comments - 22

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