News
Kaduwela MC and UNDP work towards sustainable waste management
To create a transformation in the management of municipal waste by generating electricity and producing liquid fertilizer using biodegradable solid waste, a bio-gas system was handed over to the ownership of the Kaduwela Municipal Council (KMC) under the leadership of Mayor Buddhika Jayavilal.
Robert Juhkam, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and Harsha Wickramasinghe, Deputy Director General, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority were also present.
Following the successful pilot phase of the biogas demonstration unit capable of processing one tonne, this joint initiative of UNDP and KMC aims to increase the productivity of the Solid Waste Management Unit in Kaduwela to process 10 tonnes of biodegradable solid waste per day. This waste which would have ended up in landfills, now generates electricity that is exported to the grid and produces liquid organic fertilizer, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 1,000-1,300 tonnes per annum.
Research shows that the Western province generates more than 59% of the country’s daily collection of waste, amounting to over 4,200 tonnes, with high degree of biodegradability. However, the high biodegradability of the waste can also cause problems for the environment and society, unless effective and efficient waste management systems are established.
UNDP in Sri Lanka entered into a Government Co-Financed project with the Kaduwela Municipal Council in December 2016 and has since been supporting the KMC and the Government of Sri Lanka to effectively manage solid waste and generate biogas energy.
The project is a part of the Government’s plans for a greener Sri Lanka, which aims to increase the use of renewable energy to 70% by 2023, and the Government’s 2015 Energy Sector Development Plan to make Sri Lanka an energy self-sufficient nation by 2030.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
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