The Ministry of Environment drew attention to the reports that a large stock of soil dumped in the Negombo Lagoon at the recent Gampaha Development Committee (GDC) meeting,.
Many print and electronic media institutes had reported yesterday (31) that a heated conversation had taken place between District Forest Officer Dewani Jayatilleke and Ministers and MPs in the area in this regard.
Secretary to the Environment Ministry Dr. Anil Jasinghe held a discussion with the Central Environmental Authority Secretary, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Ministry Secretary and the State Ministry Secretary on the issue and several other issues yesterday (31).
The soil has been removed since 2018. However, Devani Jayatilleke said that the Fisheries Ministry had not taken any action in this regard. As a solution to the problem, the Secretary instructed to find out whether the sand can be washed away from the muddy stockpile. The Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe instructed the Geological Survey and Mining Bureau to intervene immediately if there is a possibility of such sand removal.
The Secretary had inspected the photographs of the soil and said that the soil contained a large amount of sand. The Secretary also instructed not to delay the process and to send a team of officials this week to take action and report back.
If this step is successful, the issue could be resolved immediately, he said.
Secretary to the Wildlife and Forest Conservation Ministry Somaratne Vidanapathirana and Secretary to the State Ministry General Palitha Fernando participated.
