News
First International Zero Waste Day to be celebrated in SL today
By Ifham Nizam
Turkish Ambassador to Sri Lanka R. Demet Sekercioglu will attend the first-ever celebration of International Zero Waste Day today at 9.30 am at Waters Edge, Battaramulla with Environment Minister Engineer Nasir Ahmed presiding.
Minister. Mr. Naseer Ahamed
Mr. Mark Peters
Dr. Anil Jasinghe
Mr. Supun S. Pathirage
Mr. P.B. Hemantha
Mark Peters, Economic Growth Advisor of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Supun S. Pathirge, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority and P. B. Hemantha Jayasinghe, Director General of the Central Environmental Authority will attend today’s even as special guests.
The Ocean Plastic Reduction Activity of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) have jointly organised the celebration of the first “International Day of Zero Waste” in Sri Lanka under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment.
A recent study has revealed that ocean plastic pollution threatens the world’s delicate marine ecosystems, the fishing and tourism sectors, food security, and human health. The equivalent of an entire garbage truck of plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans every minute—roughly eleven million tonnes annually.
The CEA says bringing an end to plastic pollution at the source is the most effective way to address this challenge. Most of the plastic ocean debris comes from rapidly growing cities along coastal areas in the developing world where governments struggle with growing populations and increasing amounts of waste.
In Sri Lanka solid waste management systems struggle to keep pace with growing urban populations.
On a proposal from Turkey, the United Nations General Assembly declared today 30 March as “International Zero Waste Day” in its seventy-seventh session on 14 December, 2022. Accordingly, this day has been announced as one more step to further strengthen the “2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and every year should be celebrated as the “International Day of Zero Waste” the 30th of March.
Garbage is responsible for the major crisis affecting the world: climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution. Approaching the concept of zero waste can turn a manufacturing process into a closed-cycle process. It allows resources to be reused as much as possible, thus limiting waste generation and minimising resource wastE. This process can reduce all forms of pollution.
Some 150 people representing government institutions, private institutions, educational institutions and civil societies will participate in this event. A technical session and a discussion session with the participation of invited guests and experts in the field will be held to share knowledge of zero waste and the measures that have been taken and are to be taken.
The Opposition yesterday called for the entire Cabinet-of-Ministers to accept responsibility for the coal scam. Addressing the media at the Flower Road Office of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris emphasised that Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody’s resignation, in the wake of the damning report issued by the National Audit Office (NAO), has now implicated the entire Cabinet-of-Ministers.
Prof. Peiris asserted that Jayakody, who had been indicted in the Colombo High Court over alleged corruption, during the Yahapalana administration, stepped down after the NPP failed to suppress the truth on the coal scam.
The ex-Minister declared that Jayakody’s resignation, the first since the formation of new government, with a super majority in Parliament, was a devastating setback for the current dispensation.
The internationally recognised legal scholar said that a future government would move courts against the entire NPP Cabinet. Referring to the NAO report submitted to Parliament, Prof. Peiris emphasised that there was absolutely no ambiguity regards allegations directed at the Energy Ministry. The NAO report proved that the Indian company, Trident Champhar, that won the major contract, didn’t even have the required registration.
Prof. Peiris said that the coal scam was three times bigger than the Treasury bond scams, perpetrated during the Yahapalana time (SF)
The Colombo High Court yesterday ordered that the case, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his grand-aunt Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe, be recalled on June 10.
The case was taken up before High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
At the hearing, State Counsel informed the court that a related case, on similar charges, had been filed before High Court No. 08. The court was further informed that a revised indictment has been directed to be filed in that case, necessitating the submission of a revised indictment in the present case as well.
State Counsel requested time to report on the progress of those proceedings.
Accordingly, the judge ordered that the case be called on June 10 and directed that progress be reported on that date.
The case pertains to three indictments filed by the Attorney General alleging that between March 31, 2009, and December 12, 2013, the accused had committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by depositing over Rs. 59 million in three private banks, the source of which could not be explained.
A three-judge bench of the Colombo Special High Court yesterday rejected a request by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera to introduce additional facts to a statement he had previously made from the dock.
Jayasundera is an accused in the case filed over alleged criminal negligence in failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, despite prior intelligence warnings.
The order was delivered by the bench, presided over by Justice Priyantha Liyanage.
Meanwhile, retired Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Nandana Munasinghe and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Eastern Province, Waruna Jayasundera, appeared before court as defence witnesses.
Opposition holds NPP Cabinet responsible for coal scam, three times bigger than bond fraud
Case against Yoshitha and Daisy Forrest postponed
Three-judge bench rejects request by ex-IGP Pujith
Johnston gets bail after four months
Thousands of pets affected by Avurudu firecrackers; over 10,000 cases of trauma reported
Inadequate LPG price hike compels the vulnerable to subsidize the wealthy: Advocata Institute
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