No more garbage will be dumped at Meethotamulla: Govt

15 April 2017 01:17 pm - 52 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government today said that no more garbage will be dumped at the Meethotamulla site, where at least 17 persons were killed following the collapse of a part of the garbage mountain yesterday.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the government has identified two temporary sites to dump garbage.

“No more garbage will be dumped at this site and two temporary sites were identified this morning,” Dr. Silva said in a facebook status.

He also revealed that the State will bear all funeral expenses of the people who lost their lives and immediately begin evacuations of those who are under any threat.

“It's ironic that it was only a few weeks back that agreements were signed to begin waste to energy projects to finally deal with this perennial issue,” he said.

However, he said that it's unfortunate that even though payments had been made for those families under risk of landslides to move out, some had not done so. They had even been advised to leave as recently as two days ago.

On the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, a coordination committee to management of the situation was established this morning.

Ministers Susil Premjayantha, Patali Champika Ranawaka, A H M Fowzie, Dr Harsha de Silva, Sagala Ratnayake, Mohan Lal Grero, MPs S M Marikar and Mujibur Rahman, Army Commander and the IGP and all relevant government officials were present at a meeting held today in this regard.

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe has been appointed as in charge of search and rescue operations. An area of about 150m by 75m is being carefully cleared up during operations.
Already, about a hundred people have been shifted into temporarily holding locations such as schools.

Others will also be shifted as well. The Prime Minister has ordered the release of all necessary funds from the Treasury to deal with all financial requirements, Dr. Silva added.

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Comments - 52

kanda Saturday, 15 April 2017 08:55 PM

In other words youre pointing fingers at Rajapakse...funny isnt it

Mohan G. W. Saturday, 15 April 2017 05:23 PM

Snails move faster than these people. It's a wonder for once the finger is not pointing in the direction of the Rajapakses. The desire of the JO to drive away this lethargic brand of politicos is justified. Two long years busy doing nothing but putting others in prison, now they're in a crises management. A very appropriate New Years message from the poor to these uneducated intellctuals. God save Sri Lanka.

BuffaloaCitizen Saturday, 15 April 2017 05:45 PM

Does it take 12 persons to realize the disaster? Does it take 30 years of war to realize racist policies is a disaster? Does it take billions of dollars lost and part of Hambantota given to China for 99 years to realize the effects of arrogant ill planned development by the same persons who proudly claimed patriotism and sovereignty of the nation?

sam Saturday, 15 April 2017 06:18 PM

Yako now too late to take ur BS decision. How long these people have been requesting from this idiotic, selfish Govt. not to dump garbage at Meethotamulla. now after the loss of 12 lives and their properties this Govt. has ordered not to dump the garbage. why these idiots didn't take this decision earlier. When the rulers are like these people have to accept these type of Jokes.

Praba Saturday, 15 April 2017 06:30 PM

Thank you Sir. We know that the government is quite sensitive to the sufferings of the common people. Please take steps to order few more luxury vehicles so that you ministers can visit the affected people at Meethotamulla and then go and enjoy the rest of Awurudu

Jonson Saturday, 15 April 2017 06:33 PM

The country should know the history of this risk zone. Permitted to dump garbage in a residential area or permitted to build house in a garbage dumping area. via DM Android App

Selvyn Saturday, 15 April 2017 06:46 PM

The two major parties are equally responsible for this unbearable disaster.Sadly marikkars attempts proved futile via DM Android App

concern Saturday, 15 April 2017 07:03 PM

Bit too late.!Sorry. Government was busy getting the politicians their new vehicles.

Shelly. Saturday, 15 April 2017 07:14 PM

Ahasa usata tibuna kunu duppathage oluwa uda. Duppathage bath pathe mila ahasa usata. Do the needfull men. via DM Android App

Opicers Saturday, 15 April 2017 07:21 PM

Suya basa govt. Servant. Java wewa

DJ Saturday, 15 April 2017 07:23 PM

Far too late your actions will not bring back those innocent lives. You bunch of leaders should be ashamed and the persons responsible should be punished and minister please resign immediately

Sambo Saturday, 15 April 2017 07:42 PM

Typical Sri Lankan. It took nineteen deaths and loss of house property for any government to take the decision which should have been taken over 15 years ago. Why just cause someone was earning something out the garbage. Shame on you politicians.

ceylon Saturday, 15 April 2017 07:44 PM

take all the garbage to sirisena.he like garbage. via DM Android App

JOKER OF THE WORLD Saturday, 15 April 2017 05:22 PM

Aha aha after killing more than 20 people. Salute our highly educated PUBLIC

ranjit Saturday, 15 April 2017 09:22 PM

Why blame the government? This is the work of Colombo Municipal Council dumping Colombo city garbage.

Geeth Liyanage Saturday, 15 April 2017 11:03 PM

Why not govt make strict rules to prevent people living around garbage dump yards. In developed countries it is prohibited for the ordinary people to enter garbage dump yards.

weera Saturday, 15 April 2017 11:16 PM

Stupid, useless, garbage Leaders. Solution to garbage should have been the utmost priority for any government before spending money for useless things (too many to mention). At least they should learn from other developed countries how they have solved their garbage problems. Instead of wasting money on visiting countries for sight seeing, these idiots should look at their methods and implement them in our country for the benefit of people who elected them. Sad day for Sri Lanka.

weera Saturday, 15 April 2017 11:25 PM

Great idea but no one can get close to parliament, foul smell is too strong.

Citizen Sunday, 16 April 2017 07:02 AM

Dump the garbage at Attanagalle. Everytime she talks garbage comes out.

Killa Sunday, 16 April 2017 07:08 AM

What is the "Gota" method? Gota only cared about putting flowers in Colombo he never cared about these(I live near Kollonna dumb)

Lal Sunday, 16 April 2017 07:11 AM

It was the current govt that took action to remove the dump. They signed an agreement with Fairway Holdings for a West-to-energy plant

Kadiya Sunday, 16 April 2017 07:23 AM

Cliched- but as usual closing the stable door after the horses have bolted!!!How many years did the govt. expect the mountain of garbage to exist before it was washed over the village????

Truth Sunday, 16 April 2017 07:36 AM

Politicizing this insults the dead. Both fmr and current govts and many officials are responsible

RESOLUTION Sunday, 16 April 2017 07:39 AM

A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION ! Pray what the other resolution is - namely "TO DECIDE WHERE THE NEW DUMP WILL BE"

The Counselor Sunday, 16 April 2017 08:40 AM

What's the point of doing all this now? Where was this government when the people requested? This govt is like a couple of 9 year old...

JAN Sunday, 16 April 2017 09:07 AM

Useless inefficient politicians making Media Shows after peoples living years very dilapidated conditions Very Sad via DM Android App

Ganesh Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:05 PM

According to the minister some of them who were vulnerable to the disaster had been asked to leave did not do .So in such an eventuality , government should have forced or made them leave ,no point of coming with excuses such as spending funeral expenses after the preventive catastrophy took place .Any government is the guardian of its people.

Rohan Saturday, 15 April 2017 01:35 PM

Too late for your insolvent now you lousy politicians. Train has already left and lives lost.

DHA Saturday, 15 April 2017 01:40 PM

Most of these places are occupied by drug dealers which happens to be perfect location for them deal drugs so they avoid all possibilities of leaving these places.....should have used Gota's method whether you like it or not have to leave on a fixed date.....this Gov is scared to do that due to losing votes......

genuine Saturday, 15 April 2017 01:39 PM

I hate this gov. via DM Android App

Shelly. Saturday, 15 April 2017 01:42 PM

I am one among who voted Govt. in. And Im Sick of your work. Waited till this deaths occured. Get down to earth from balconies. We cannot even die in peace when you even cannot sort out a simple problem of this nature. via DM Android App

lankaputhra Saturday, 15 April 2017 01:57 PM

dump bodies instead via DM Android App

methotamulla Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:18 PM

what is the use sending higher profile when at a time people were protesting government did not heed their struggle.Government must take responsible for killing these people.

ceylon Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:20 PM

good decision.dump all garbage to useless parliment and useless presidents office. via DM Android App

AjithZ Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:30 PM

Why did you wait till the tragedy to take this decision? Shame on you. Still its better late than never.

crab Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:38 PM

government knows to catch the people who breed the mosquitoes and punish them.to keep the city clean is the duty of the government via DM Android App

samayang Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:45 PM

Let's hope that at least this decision will not be reversed. Before pandering to mega egos of pea brained politicians please do a walk about, identify what PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE want and need then think of mega projects.

seqi Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:51 PM

this only happening because of international news reporting and comparisons to Ethiopa and Phillipines......were the homes there before the dump or were these economic squatters via DM Android App

chandra Saturday, 15 April 2017 02:56 PM

At least after 11 dead. Correct action at wrong time. via DM Android App

Citizen Saturday, 15 April 2017 01:34 PM

It is good to appoint a Major General for the rescue mission, second step way forward should be keep ALL POLITCOS out of decision process and appoint a learned, respected committee to deal with huge, unresolved garbage problem not only in Colombo but also in other areas as well.

rosebud Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:15 PM

I would like to know why the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is getting involved with waste management. via DM Android App

farook Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:29 PM

so the government waited all these time this tragedy to happen to stop dumping garbage. this would have been stoped if an a politician living around. rich peoples garbage poor people dies via DM Android App

lokka Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:34 PM

it should have been before the tragedy happened

Rumesh Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:55 PM

Hope those temporary sites will not be permanet later.Better to appoint Harsha as next Enviroment Minister in the so awaited cabinet reshuffle!

Sunil Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:57 PM

The concern that this government shows for these poor people is commendable.

Minhaj Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:55 PM

where will it be dumped in the futureat the parliment complex via DM Android App

Ahmed Saturday, 15 April 2017 04:02 PM

you waited until people die to say that ? in an era where countries convert garbage in to energy sri lanka is making mountains out of trash

AZAB Saturday, 15 April 2017 04:04 PM

After flooding... dam. via DM Android App

FRANNY Saturday, 15 April 2017 04:15 PM

They can fill the Port City with is and save the expenditure

aravinda Saturday, 15 April 2017 04:39 PM

As usual, remedy comes after the damage is done.

sss Saturday, 15 April 2017 04:48 PM

Two more sites - meaning another two villages for garbage from esteem Colombo residents. Mr. Silva knows how things are properly done in other countries like USA. He should be embarassed of his political patch work attitude

sara Saturday, 15 April 2017 04:59 PM

Govt. is very wise after the tragedy.

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No more garbage will be dumped at Meethotamulla: Govt

Comments - 52

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