2026-02-17 / Adjournment Motion and Adjournment Questions 2026-02-17
## Summary
Hon. Jagath Vithana raised concerns about the inappropriately sited solid waste management centre serving the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha, which he states is causing severe health and environmental harm to residents of Athulathmudaligama. He directed four questions to the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, seeking urgent remedial action on issues including noxious odours, pest proliferation, road obstruction from accumulated garbage, and potential contamination of a community water well adjacent to the site. He further highlighted that approximately 20,000 children across five schools are located within 600 metres of the dump, and called on the Minister to conduct a site inspection and arrange through the Land Reclamation Commission (LRC) the urgent allocation of suitable alternative land for proper waste disposal, noting that adequate LRC land is available in the area.
Madam Deputy Chairperson, due to the unsuitability of the site selected for the solid waste management centre for the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha, residents of Athulathmudaligama face severe health and environmental problems. I request answers from the Hon. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to the following:
1. As there is no suitable site for proper disposal, strong odour is emitted and flies and mosquitoes have increased considerably. Can urgent measures be taken to stop this?
2. Garbage piled on both sides of the roads severely hinders daily travel. Will steps be taken to put in place a proper system to address this?
3. A well of a community water scheme used by residents is located adjacent to the waste management site; do you accept that there is a risk of wastewater discharge due to recycling activities?
4. As the situation causes severe distress and health risks to the public, will you intervene, inspect the site, and arrange through the Land Reclamation Commission (LRC) to urgently provide a suitable land for proper waste management?
Additionally, within 600 meters of the dump are five schools with about 20,000 children. This site is very close to the town. There is sufficient LRC land available. Please provide a suitable land.