Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera has issued directives to take steps to mark boundaries of all river reserves to prevent environmental pollution surrounding rivers.
Accordingly, Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said an environmental conservation zone will be designated along the Kelani River from Hanwella to Peliyagoda.
It has been observed that businesses along the river as well area residents in the vicinity release waste to rivers.
At present, 10,733 such sites have been identified.
The process of marking reserve boundaries covering all rivers will be initiated first from the Kelani River.
The Environment Ministry attributed the decision to the Kelani River being identified as the most polluted river in the country.
A survey conducted by the Central Environmental Authority identified 1,374 waste disposal sites, of which 577 have been reported from the Gampaha District and 797 from the Colombo District.
