Pilisaru program expanded

by Mohammed NAALIR

The Government has allocated Rs. 5.6 billion to find a sustainable solution to the garbage problem in urban and semi-urban areas, Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

The Minister said Pilisaru a program of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) implemented jointly with Local Government institutions, is being expanded throughout the country.

Minister Yapa made these observations at a three-day workshop organised by the CEA at the Sinharaja Kudawa camp on environment preservation for heads of Local Government institutions in the North Western Province.

Municipal Council, Urban Council and Pradeshiya Sabha Chairpersons who took part in the workshop from the North Western Province were given a clear picture on garbage disposal management, natural resources management and controlling environment pollution.

Minister Yapa said it is high time we worked in unison without any colour or party differences to protect the environment. Considerable attention has not yet been paid by Local Government institutions to this matter. "we cannot allow this to continue.

The Local government Act has authorised them to implement waste management programs to protect the invaluable natural resources in their areas," he said.The Pilisaru program helps implement environment programs in all Local government institutions, Plastic and polythene collecting centres will be started and the Minister has advised the plastic waste national program.

Addressing the workshop, CEA Chairman Charitha Herath said the CEA has played a key role in protecting the environment for the past 30 years.