News
Villagers miss opportunity to brief President on environmental problems
Postponement of presidential visit
By Ifham Nizam
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday put off a scheduled visit to a village under his Disucssion with Village programme. The goverment attributed the postponement of the presidentia visit to his busy schedule. Sources, however, said it was also due to a controversy over the conduct of a local politician.
A special team would look into the matter prior to the President’s visit, sources said.
Villagers and environmentalists yesterday waited at Weliweriya in Uruwala to meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to bring to his notice environmental problems caused by piggeries and poultry farms.
Haritha Mithuro Oragniser, Sarath Kumara, whos is also a resident of the area, yesterday said that despite a Court Order the culprits were continuing to pollute the area, particularly a canal and paddy fields.
“We sought the assistance of the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) and will also take up the matter with the President,” he added.
Residents of the Weliweriya–Uruwala area complain of an unbearable stench from the pultry farms and piggeries.
Janaka Withanage, CEJ Policy and Advocacy Officer yesterday said that although the Environmental Act did not allow the establishment of any industry in residenitlal areas, the owners of the farms carried on regardless.
“There are four large scale piggeries in the area and a water catchment area is polluted due to waste released from them. The residents of the area say that there are about 1,500 animals in one piggery.”
Villagers said that large scale burning of polythene and offal caused environmental pollution.
“It is a clear violation of the right of the people of this area to live in a clean environment,” CEJ Environment Officer, Indika Rajapaksa said
Residents of the area have set up a movement called the ‘Green Friendly’ Environmental Organization to deal with environmental degradation in the area, and have notified the relevant parties, but to no avail.