The Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe to appoint a Task Force for the purpose of taking further measures regarding the contamination and discoloration of the water in the Diyawanna Oya and to take immediate action in submitting the members of the Task Force to him in writing.
The Speaker pointed out that there is an urgent need to identify and implement swift solutions to overcome the current situation whilst emphasizing on the difficulties encountered having to reinstate the waters of Diyawanna Oya given the contamination and discoloration of the water bed. Thus, the Speaker pointed out that further steps should be also taken to ensure that such situation would not re occur.
The Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake and officials, officials of Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, Department of Land Development, Sri Lanka, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Central Environmental Authority Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, National Building Research Organization, Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal, and Community Cleanliness, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Moratuwa, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council, Kaduwela Municipal Council, The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, and Sri Lanka Police were present at this meeting.
Explaining the objectives of the meeting, the Secretary General of Parliament pointed out the problematic background of the current situation regarding the Diyawanna Oya and the need and urgency to rectify the situation expeditiously.
The Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake also pointed out the need for constant monitoring whether only treated water that conforms with the respective standard are being disposed from Public and private institutions, housing complexes, industries, housing schemes, etc.
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe explained the need to implement a program to prevent the impact caused by the sewage dumped by unauthorized occupants and the need to establish a formal program with relevant powers to protect the quality of the Diyawanna Oya.