News
Site of Meethotamulla garbage dump being converted into Rs 1.7 billion modern park – Dr Godahewa
By Saman Indrajith
State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation Dr. Nalaka Godahewa told Parliament yesterday that the site of the Meethotamulla garbage dump would be converted into a modern urban park at an estimated cost of Rs 1.7 billion.
The work on the urban park is scheduled to be completed in 2022 and 2023, the minister said.
Responding to a question raised by Colombo District SJB MP S.M. Marikkar, the Minister said that the Meethotamulla garbage dump had been 47 metres high and occupied a land encompassing 21 acres. The area was being reclaimed in a scientific manner under the guidelines of the experts of the National Building Research Organisation. The dump would first be reduced to 15 acres and a height of 30 metres. A slope of 20 to 30 minute angle would be maintained during the preliminary operations. Debris of the 2017 disaster are being removed and canals nearby are being cleaned. An underground pipe system is being laid to remove the leachate. Eight of 31 landfill gas wells are being constructed to release the gas coming out of the dump and prevent another landslide there. Families of the nearby 101 Watte would be relocated at the Kolonnawa Condominium being constructed. A treatment plant would be set up to purify the water coming from the dump.”
MP Marikkara:
It seems that the work process is slow. Since you are a minister who goes around all the places in the district inspecting the work of government institutions why don’t you think it would be better if you made an inspection tour there?
Minister Dr Godahewa:
I have already visited the site and given necessary instructions. The project will be completed on schedule.
MP Marikkar:
Is it true that some of the areas of the urban park would be given to the private sector?
Minister Dr Godahewa:
The Urban Development Authority is providing funds but we thought of inviting investors. Since you are from the area, you can ask the investors known to you to join the project.”
In the year 2016, Cabinet approval was granted for the establishment of a National Trade Felicitation Committee for the empowerment of the Trade Felicitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the inter-coordination of institutions in respect of the implementation of 36 obligations included therein. Sri Lanka has committed to implement the plan for implementation of trade facilitation during the period 2017-2030 thereunder.
Even though countries in the region have fulfilled a higher percentage of the overall commitment, Sri Lanka has only fulfilled about 37.4% of
the total commitment. Taking into consideration the prevailing situation, technical assistance has been requested from the Japan International Coordination Agency with the technical expertise of the International Trade Center to provide independent recommendations enabling the implementation of priority activities on a speedy basis after completion of the assessment of the trade facilitation measures.
Accordingly, “Roadmap for trade facilitation in Sri Lanka” and “Trade Facilitation Action Plan 2025-2028” have been prepared with the participation of about 200 public and private stakeholders.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the
President to follow the said roadmap and implement the action plan.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotion to sign the proposed non-financial Memorandum of Understanding between the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the International Trade Center to commence an ‘ITC She Trades Hub’ in Sri Lanka to increase the participation and competitiveness in the businesses operated by women.
Once the ‘ITC She Trades Hub ‘ is established, the women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka will be able to obtain the necessary training in the relevant topics, such as market and investment opportunities and the required technical assistance.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to publish the draft bill amending the Penal Code to prohibit corporal punishment in any form or whatsoever, in the Gazette and thereafter submit it to the Parliament for approval.
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