Garbage Dumping in Environmentally Sensitive Areas

A Gazette (Extraordinary) Notification bearing number 2015/53 dated 20^th of April 2017, stated that all services, related to waste disposal, including clearance, collection, treatment and separation were now to be considered essential services under section 17 of the Public Security Ordinance. This order unfairly denies citizens of an opportunity to challenge the actions of the local authorities, who were handling solid waste management in an inappropriate manner. And, within 24 hours, the Colombo Municipal Council began disposing waste at sites within the Muthurajawela Sanctuary, namely Delatura, Uswetakeyyawa and Bopitiya, in clear violation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended, as well as the National Environmental Act as amended. Muthurajawela Wetland Sanctuary is a critically important habitat that houses endemic and endangered species including migratory birds, while also providing a steady flow of hydrological and ecological services. It is also a designated RAMSAR wetland.

Another site that has been utilised in an improper and illegal manner for waste disposal is, the Kotikawatta Dumping Grounds, which began as a 4 acre site and now extends to 26 acres, covering both state and private land. EFL conducted a site visit on the 20th of April 2017, upon which it was learnt that, while the dumping grounds was allotted for municipal waste only from the Kollonawa- Mulleriya Pradeshiya Sabha, waste from the Kollonawa Urban Council, as well as industrial waste from the Biyagama Industrial Zone was also being disposed of at this site, causing severe hardship to the residents of the area and school children attending the neighbouring Somadevi Balika Vidyalaya.