Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-05-30

Management of waste within the Harbours in the Coastal Zone of Sri Lanka

- Approximately, 30% of the total population of Sri Lanka lives associated with the sea coast where several major economic related activities including the fisheries industry and the tourism industry are carried out. As a result of the improper management of the waste generated, sea pollution in the zone has reached a high level and posed a severe threat to the public health. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment and the then Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development, to set up a Waste Management Committee with the representation of all institutions engaged in waste management activities in the coastal zone and to provide a mechanism to take action strickly against the persons polluting the coastal zone, under the Dengue Prevention Act, the National Environmental Act and the Marine Environment Protection Act, was approved by the Cabinet.