Handing-over Ceremony for the JICA Pilot Project Conducted Under Technical Cooperation Project, "Project for Formulation of Western Province Solid Waste Management Master Plan"
2024/7/4
On 4 July 2024, H.E. Mr. KATSUKI Kotaro, Acting Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka attended a handing-over ceremony for the JICA Pilot Project conducted under technical cooperation project, "Project for Formulation of Western Province Solid Waste Management Master Plan” at Western Provincial Council Building Complex, Battaramulla.
Acting Ambassador Katsuki stated while the Government of Japan provides various forms of support to Sri Lanka, not only on a macro level such as debt restructuring with the IMF, but also on a micro level, such as this project to address basic needs that enable Sri Lankan citizens to live safely and happily, in cooperation with the Sri Lankan government as well as local authorities. He welcomed through this project a solution to address waste management issues which is inevitable in economic activities has been found.
On 4 July 2024, H.E. Mr. KATSUKI Kotaro, Acting Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka attended a handing-over ceremony for the JICA Pilot Project conducted under technical cooperation project, "Project for Formulation of Western Province Solid Waste Management Master Plan” at Western Provincial Council Building Complex, Battaramulla.
Acting Ambassador Katsuki stated while the Government of Japan provides various forms of support to Sri Lanka, not only on a macro level such as debt restructuring with the IMF, but also on a micro level, such as this project to address basic needs that enable Sri Lankan citizens to live safely and happily, in cooperation with the Sri Lankan government as well as local authorities. He welcomed through this project a solution to address waste management issues which is inevitable in economic activities has been found.
This technical cooperation aims to establish a framework for formulating and coordinating waste management plans in the Western Province. As part of this project, pilot activities were conducted at the Karadiyana Final Disposal Site to reduce the environmental burden of the landfill. Equipment such as trommels for compost screening and tractors for waste transportation were provided.
Sri Lanka faces challenges such as environmental pollution caused by improper waste disposal and open dumping of increasing amount of general waste each year due to economic growth and population increase. In response, the Government of Japan has been supporting waste management initiatives in Sri Lanka through JICA's technical cooperation since 2002. Notably, following the April 2017 collapse of accumulated waste at a final disposal site in Colombo, which resulted in the deaths of 32 people and affected 418 households, the Government of Japan provided emergency relief supplies and dispatched international emergency assistance teams and waste management experts.
This technical cooperation project was implemented based on recommendations from the expert team dispatched after the 2017 accident and at the request of the Sri Lankan government. Through the implementation of the master plan by the Sri Lankan government, we expect improvements in the sanitary environment of the Western Province, which has the largest population in Sri Lanka. The Government of Japan, in cooperation with JICA, will continue to promote the waste management measures in Sri Lanka that are friendly to both citizens and the planet.