Sri Lanka to get AIIB grant to expedite solid waste management

The Asian Infrastructure Improvement Bank (AIIB) will provide a grant of US$ 700,000 to expedite the US$ 100 million Metro Colombo Solid Waste Management Project, according to the Cabinet Office.

Based on a proposal made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Cabinet this week approved the signing of the grant agreement between the government and the Asian Infrastructure Improvement Bank.

The Metro Colombo Solid Waste Management Project will see Colombo’s solid waste being transferred by train from Kelaniya to Aruwakkalu in Puttalam, where the garbage will be thrown into old limestone quarries in the region.

Colombo has a severe garbage disposal problem, with the waste collected at the dump site in Meethotamulla recently collapsing, resulting in several deaths.