President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued directives to the relevant departments to urgently initiate repairs to the canals and drainage systems in the Colombo District, following a rapid increase in dengue and chikungunya cases.
The directive was delivered during a special discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, along with representatives from other related institutions.
During the meeting, the President raised concerns over the inadequate maintenance of canals and drainage infrastructure in the Colombo District. He instructed the Urban Development Authority to devise a comprehensive plan offering sustainable solutions to issues related to the irregular disposal of garbage and wastewater. He emphasized that these plans should be submitted without delay.
The discussion also focused on addressing the ongoing problem of improper garbage disposal. In this regard, the President proposed strengthening the role of the Environmental Police and encouraging active involvement from local community committees.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Anura Karunathilaka; Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusuf; the Chairman of the Urban Development Authority; the Chairman of the Lowland Reclamation Authority; and senior officials from the respective institutions.
