News Today: Clean Kandy City Programme 2025 Full Waste Removal Initiative

The Clean Kandy City Programme 2025 Full Waste Removal Initiative made headlines this week as Kandy City was fully cleaned within just 24 hours after the conclusion of the Siri Dalada Vandanava, the sacred exposition of the Tooth Relic. According to Chief Engineer Namal Dissanayake of the Kandy Municipal Council Water and Wastewater Department, the citywide cleanup was a collaborative feat involving over 3,000 participants.

Volunteers included municipal staff, university students, school groups, the Police Environmental Committee, and local residents. Within a 10-day period during the religious festivities, a staggering 633 tons of waste was collected — 495 tons of mixed garbage, 103 tons of polythene, and 35 tons of food waste. Remarkably, 65 tons were cleared within 24 hours after the event ended.

Youth involvement played a major role, with Engineer Dissanayake highlighting their dedication to maintaining a clean, beautiful Kandy.

Simultaneously, the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, launched a successful cleanup of Kandy Lake, a vital natural and cultural landmark. Under the leadership of Commander Weerasekara and Captain Charitha Gunawantha, plastic bottles, packaging materials, and general waste were removed, restoring the lake’s natural beauty.

Teams from the Irrigation Department, Archaeology Department, and numerous volunteer groups supported the operation, aiming to address pollution that threatens both aquatic ecosystems and tourism in the region.

The Clean Sri Lanka initiative aims to instill a sense of civic duty while promoting environmental protection. It is designed not only to address pollution but also to spark a national environmental and social awakening.

Over the past ten days, this programme operated intensively in Kandy during the religious festival, making a tangible impact and setting an example for other cities across the nation.