Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.) chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Defence on July 3 to address garbage disposal and waste management issues in the Colombo Municipal Council area, with discussions focusing on improving waste collection and reducing the risk of a dengue outbreak.
During the meeting, the Defence Secretary called for a coordinated and sustainable approach to address waste management challenges, stressing on the need for close cooperation among government agencies and other stakeholders to improve environmental conditions and public health.
He highlighted concerns over the increased risk of dengue during the rainy season and instructed relevant authorities to strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve existing waste collection systems, optimize the use of available resources, and take immediate measures to remove accumulated garbage from affected areas while maintaining long-term operational efficiency.
Participants reviewed current waste management challenges and discussed practical measures and long-term strategies aimed at developing a sustainable solution to the issue.
The meeting was attended by Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Army Chief of Staff Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe, Director General of the Civil Security Department Major General Lalith Pathinayake (Retd.), as well as senior officers from the tri-forces and Sri Lanka Police. (Newswire)