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Special river conservation zones

14 Aug 2021

By Yumiko Perera  The Kelani River stretch from Hanwella to Peliyagoda is to be designated a special river conservation zone under the “Surakimu Ganga (Protect the Rivers)” programme, in order to minimise the level of domestic and industrial waste being released into the waters, The Sunday Morning learnt.   Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Environment Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated: "Several measures are underway to preserve and conserve the Kelani River and its surroundings, and we are also focussing on the conservation of the stretch of river from Hanwella to Peliyagoda that has been identified as more prone to pollution, given that there are a significant number of industrial factories and unauthorised settlements along the banks," he elaborated.   Stating that the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has identified several effluent disposal sites, along with areas where domestic waste is being thrown into the river along the banks of the Kelani, Dr. Jasinghe noted that both mid-term and long-term solutions have been suggested to ensure minimum environmental pollution, The Sunday Morning learnt. According to Dr. Jasinghe, measures are underway to identify those who dump garbage into the Kelani River in several areas, and surveillance cameras would be installed in selected sites to enable the same.  Furthermore, Dr. Jasinghe also added that as a long-term solution, they are considering ejecting squatters and providing them housing elsewhere, in order to further ensure that the level of pollutants and other waste material being released into the Kelani River would be minimised as much as possible, The Sunday Morning learnt.  Several attempts by The Sunday Morning to get in touch with Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera, CEA Chairman Siripala Amarasinghe, and CEA Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe, proved futile.


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