Palitha Place residents struggling with garbage crisis

Residents of Palitha Place — a key link road connecting Veluwana Road and Gnanawimala Road in Dematagoda, Colombo 9 — are increasingly concerned over the apparent breakdown of regular garbage collection services by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

 Until recently, the CMC garbage lorry visited the area two to three times a week, stopping at two designated points and allowing ample time for residents to dispose of their waste responsibly. This frequency was later reduced to once a week, and now, alarmingly, the service appears to have been discontinued altogether.

 The absence of proper garbage collection poses immediate environmental and public health risks. Accumulated waste can attract pests, create unsanitary conditions, and undermine the quality of life in what is otherwise a well-established residential area.

 It is imperative that the authorities — including the CMC and initiatives such as Clean Sri Lanka — intervene promptly. The relevant supervisory officers must be instructed to restore the service to its previous standard: increasing the frequency of visits, ensuring the vehicle stops at the customary locations, and notifying residents of its arrival through the use of sirens or other effective means.

Mohamed Zahran