CEA urges responsible waste disposal at Kataragama Festival

Colombo, July 9 (Daily Mirror) - The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has urged devotees attending the 2026 Kataragama Esala Festival to dispose of waste responsibly and help protect the environment in the sacred city and surrounding areas.

The CEA said more than 2.5 million devotees are expected to visit Kataragama during the festival, which will be held from July 15 to July 29, and around 75 tonnes of solid waste are usually collected daily from the sacred city, sacred grounds and areas near the Menik River during this period.

A special waste management programme has been launched with the support of the Monaragala District Secretariat, Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha, Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya, private institutions and the Kataragama Perahera Committee.

The programme includes providing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags, conducting awareness campaigns, installing waste collection points, collecting plastic bottles and carrying out cleaning campaigns.

The CEA requested devotees to avoid dumping waste into the Menik River and surrounding areas and to use designated waste disposal locations during their visit to the historic Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya.