In order to immediately address the public health concerns arising from the dumping of waste into large pits in the Keerimalai area that were previously used for limestone quarrying, Northern Province Governor Hon. N. Vethanayahan has instructed to take steps to remove the accumulated waste expeditiously using machinery.
The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province N. Vethanayahan personally visited the areas where waste has been accumulated in the Keerimalai area today – on Thursday (24 September 2026).
Observing that the area was in a highly deplorable condition, the Governor described the situation as “a major disaster” and stated that the continued dumping of waste in the area could never be permitted.
Noting that efforts to remove the waste using only human labour were not progressing at a sufficient pace, the Governor instructed the relevant parties to use machinery to expedite the removal of the waste.
The Governor also instructed that steps be taken to install security surveillance cameras to prevent the dumping of waste in the area in the future.
Meanwhile, the Hon. Chairman of the Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha, T. Pragash, assured the Governor that action would be taken to remove the waste dumped in the area by the Valikamam South Pradeshiya Sabha as soon as possible.
In addition, the Public Health Inspector serving at Tellippalai Base Hospital informed the Governor that, the waste previously dumped in the area by the hospital had already been removed.
During the visit, the Hon. Chairman of the Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha, S. Sugirthan, stated that his council does not collect the hospital’s medical waste.
The Governor emphasized the need to continuously monitor the situation in the Keerimalai area and take necessary measures to prevent the dumping of waste in a manner that could adversely affect public health and the environment.
The monitoring visit was attended by the Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Commissioner of Provincial Department of Local Government of the Northern Province, the Regional Assistant Commissioner of Local Government for the Jaffna District, the Chairmen of the Pradeshiya Sabhas, National People’s Power members of the Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha and Pradeshiya Sabha secretaries, among others.
