Devotees leave thousands of kilos of plastic in Kumana

Wildlife officers, at Kumana National Park, removed about 4000 kilos of plastic waste, left behind by devotees who visited the Kebilitta Devale, Park Warden R.A.D. Samaranayaka said.Officials collected the plastic waste from a 18 km range, from the entrance to the park to Kebilitta Devale.Samaranayaka said most of the waste was biscuit wrappers.

He said that officials had collected the plastic during a special cleanup program between 8 and 10 August. Over 300 people took part in the programme.

“We were assisted by Navy officers as well as volunteers. This was a great help. Each year, we collect thousands of kilos of plastic waste following the pilgrimage,” he said.

The devotees have been making this trip for hundreds of years and that it was only in the last three decades that plastic had become a serious problem, he said.

“If we leave the plastic waste in the park, it will have a significant negative impact on the environment. Animals will also eat them and die painfully from digestive tract issues. We urge devotees to use less plastic as possible,” he said. (IN)