A serious environmental crisis has emerged along the coastal stretch near the Dehiwala Bridge, where large amounts of garbage, plastic waste, and stagnant water have accumulated for several weeks, creating an unhygienic and hazardous situation.
According to local residents, the natural flow of water in the area has been blocked, leading to the buildup of polluted water mixed with polythene and other waste. This has resulted in a severe environmental issue, posing risks to public health and marine life.
Despite residents paying taxes to the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, no effective action has been taken to resolve the matter. Although an environmental police unit operates in the area, residents claim their presence is mostly limited to traffic control, with little attention given to environmental protection.
The Coast Conservation authorities are also being criticized for neglecting the issue. While routine roadside cleaning and the hoisting of the national flag take place in the mornings, no meaningful steps have been taken to manage the waste accumulating along the beach.
From time to time, volunteer groups attempt to clean the area, but due to the scale of pollution, their efforts have proven insufficient. A net installed to prevent garbage from flowing into the sea has also failed, as waste continues to overflow beyond it.
Regular visitors to the beach have reportedly informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, and the Leader of the Opposition about the issue. However, no concrete action has been taken so far.
Residents are now urging the relevant authorities to intervene immediately and implement a long-term solution to prevent further environmental damage. They warn that continued neglect could lead to serious health risks and irreversible harm to the coastal ecosystem.
