A national programme was launched yesterday to protect the ecosystem of the Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) sacred site and enhance facilities for pilgrims during the Sri Pada pilgrimage season.
According to the President’s Office, the initiative was launched jointly by ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ and the Ministry of Environment.
In line with this initiative, a comprehensive clean-up operation has been launched to eliminate accumulated waste, especially in hard-to-reach areas and around the ‘Siripa Maluwa’, in order to mitigate further pollution from polythene and plastic products.
This Special Clean-Up Operation, carried out under the leadership of the Sri Lanka Army and the Special Task Force (STF), will continue until November 29.
The concluding event of the first phase will be the “Clean Sri Lanka One-Day Shramadana Programme” on November 29, engaging approximately 3,000 participants at the Nallathanniya and Palabaddala access routes.
In line to make Adam’s Peak a plastic- and polythene-free zone, steps have been taken to ban PET bottles under one litre, single-use polythene and plastic items and polythene-based products such as sachets during this season.
Additionally, the Sri Lanka Navy will conduct the “Navy Clean-Up Operation” on December 13 and 14, focusing on cleaning the environment surrounding the Maussakelle Reservoir.
Furthermore, as part of long-term initiatives, there are plans to standardize the water and sanitary facilities at the Adam’s Peak site, create quality shops along both sides of the road, set up a hospital with necessary amenities near Nallathanniya and develop a secure parking area.
This project is implemented under the coordination of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme with the support of the Ministry of Public Administration, the District Secretariats of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura, the Tri-Forces, the local authorities of Ratnapura, Hatton-Dickoya, Ambagamuwa and Norwood, Sri Lanka Police, volunteer groups, environmental organisations and several public and private institutions. (Newswire)