Rs. 30 billion allocated for national waste management overhaul, President’s Secretariat discussion reveals
A special discussion on the future plans of the “Pivithuru Purawara” National Waste Management Programme (2026–2029) was held at the Presidential Secretariat.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Media Division, the programme was initiated under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s vision and is being coordinated by the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat. It aims to deliver a sustainable, long-term solution to Sri Lanka’s waste management challenges.
Discussions centred on applying international best practices while drawing on local expert recommendations to strengthen waste collection, encourage proper disposal and recycling, and launch new recycling initiatives.
The programme will run over the next three years under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, working alongside the Clean Sri Lanka National Programme and local authorities nationwide.
Participants reviewed waste management issues across all districts, examining collected data, proposed solutions, and the practical challenges expected during implementation, the statement noted.
Talks also covered offering scientific and technical support for household composting, promoting waste segregation and recycling, creating income opportunities through recycling, and improving the efficiency of collection systems.
The meeting stressed the need to route both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste to recycling centres, tighten legal action against illegal dumping, and set up a dedicated hotline for reporting unauthorised waste disposal. Attention was also paid to managing coastal, medical and port-related waste, including discarded fibreglass and fishing nets, the PMD said.
Deputy Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath said that although the Government had already taken initial steps to improve waste management, the responsibility now largely rests with local authorities, making it unfeasible for the Government to resolve the issue alone.
He observed that improper waste disposal remains a serious concern in every district, and that past initiatives have failed to produce a sustainable, long-term fix. He added that local authorities cannot tackle a decades-old problem on their own, which is why the Government has identified the need for a comprehensive, science-based national strategy mobilising the entire State machinery under government leadership.
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake noted that Sri Lanka’s waste management problem has gone unresolved for years, and that the Government has allocated Rs. 30 billion to implement a sustainable solution. He explained that the national programme will be rolled out in three phases and underscored the importance of incorporating input from all stakeholders to build a practical, sustainable framework.
He further stressed that lasting success depends not just on modern scientific methods but also on shifting public attitudes and behaviour, without which no permanent solution could be achieved. Dr Kumanayake called for multiple complementary initiatives and the support of all stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme, implemented through the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat.
The event was attended by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor Chandana Abeyratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S. Aloka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Engineer Kumudulal Bogahawatta, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Convener of the Clean Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force Russell Aponsu, Additional Secretary to the President (Clean Sri Lanka Programme) S. P. C. Sugeeshwara, Chairman of the Western Province Waste Management Authority Chathura Kahandawaarachchi, along with Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Commissioners of Local Government, Additional Secretaries, District Development Committee Chairpersons, members of the Waste Management Expert Committee, district and provincial coordinators of the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, and other government officials.
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