Trash collected from Colombo and areas in the vicinity of Kelani River is still being transported to Meethotamulla, BBC Sandeshaya reports.

It took nearly one week to floodwaters to recede in the areas of Colombo inundated due to incessant rains.

However, Meethotamulla area residents are faced with an additional and worse worry, as the garbage heap there got washed away and come to stay in their gardens.

Around 1,000 houses have been affected, with the thick black waters that had come from the garbage heap swamping them.

Since 2008, area residents have filed two fundamental rights petitions against the dumping of the garbage in their area.

The media reported that the dump would be moved to Puttalam due to protests by them, but it has only become an election promise, they say.

60 pc suffer from skin, respiratory illnesses

‘Thick black waters that came from the garbage heap swamped the gardens’ 

Tests carried out by a medical association have shown that around 60 per cent of the Meethotamulla area residents suffer from skin and respiratory illnesses.

‘People staged a protest two years ago, coming under crackdown by police and Army’

They have taken to streets in protest, a major agitation took place two years ago, where they came under crackdown by the police and the Army.

No solution to their woes is forthcoming, BBC Sandeshaya adds.