The Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday instructed the National Committee on the Surakimu Ganga Programme to give priority to the conservation of the Kelani River under the Surakimu Ganga Programme launched by the Ministry of Environment to conserve the 103-member river system in Sri Lanka.
According to a survey conducted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) it has been identified that there are 10,733 polluted areas in the entire river system.
The Kelani River is the most polluted river in our river system. A survey conducted by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to identify polluted areas in the Kelani River in the Gampaha and Colombo districts has revealed that the Kelani River collects pollutants at 1,374 locations, including 797 locations in the Colombo City and 577 other areas in the Gampaha district.
The Kelani River supplies 80 percent of the drinking water needed for the densely populated City of Colombo as well as for other purposes. According to a survey conducted by the Central Environmental Authority, it has been confirmed that the Kelani River discharges sewage from certain houses as well as industrial effluents as well as highly polluted effluents from certain farms.
"Therefore, the conservation of the Kelani River can have a greater impact than the conservation of all other 102 rivers in our country," said Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. The Minister had discussions with representatives of 12 Local Government Institutions in Gampaha and Colombo on the programme to be implemented for the conservation of the Kelani River to implement the Surakimu Ganga programme.
The Minister instructed Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, representing the National Committee and all officials to give priority to the conservation of the Kelani River under the Surakimu Ganga programme. The Minister also instructed the Local Government representatives to propose projects related to the conservation programme to be implemented along the Kelani River as soon as possible. The Minister said that due to environmental pollution caused by the Kelani River, large quantities of polythene and plastic are being dumped into the ocean every day and the canal system development programme implemented by the Government under the Colombo Municipal Plan will have a major impact on this situation.
Accordingly, it was decided at the meeting to commence conservation work on the Kelani River from next year under the Surakimu Ganga programme.
Chairman of the Gampaha District Development Committee MP Pradeep Undugoda, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, CEA Chairman S. Amarasinghe and officials were present.
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