KANDY'S DIRTY PRETTY THINGS

Sri Lanka's historic Kandy faces an escalating waste crisis, threatening its cultural heritage, public health, and environment as authorities struggle with burgeoning refuse from residents and visitors alike.

- By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

In the emerald heart of Sri Lanka, cradled by hills, lies Kandy-a city steeped in ancient lore and sacred traditions. Yet, even here, a pervasive struggle unfolds. Daily, an ever-growing tide of human refuse threatens to overwhelm this venerable urban ecosystem. From vibrant festivals to the quiet rhythm of daily life, waste accumulates, a stark testament to humanity's footprint on this delicate and beautiful landscape.

Kandy, one of Sri Lanka's most historic, cultural and sacred cities, is today facing a growing number of problems, particularly managing the ever-increasing mountain of waste produced daily by pilgrims, students, and visitors, in addition to the residents.

Known for the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and its rich cultural heritage, the city is now battling to keep its streets clean and its drains unblocked, as public health and environmental concerns grow.

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) visited Kandy with a media team to inspect the situation, particularly the fiasco that ensued after the botched exhibition of the sacred tooth relic.

The team also visited the Women's Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy, as the organisation had intervened in most of the environmental issues in the city.

Dinuke Senevirathne, Municipal Drainage Engineer at the Kandy Municipal Council (KMC), Gatambe, said the city had a resident population of about 140,000 to 150,000.

"Each day nearly 500,000 people flood into the Kandy Town for school, work, religious events, government services, shopping, and transport with the city housing South Asia's largest bus transit hub.

"Managing services for this floating population is a huge challenge," Senevirathne says. Among the toughest tasks is handling the city's wastewater and garbage.

"People throw all sorts of waste items into drains and toilets -from sanitary napkins and condoms, to used oil, vehicle grease, clothes, and even motorcycle helmets," he said.