Chaturanga P Samarasinghe, in Daily Mirror Online, 1 July 2025, where the title reads thus: “Kandy’s dirty pretty things”
Kandy Municipal Council Drainage Engineer Dinuke Senevirathne is explaining about the Wastewater system
- 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.
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.
 |
| Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe |
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.
“These block the drains, disable water pumps, and cause major breakdowns.”
Removing this waste is laborious and hazardous work, often done by hand.
“We need at least 50 workers daily for wastewater management,” says Senevirathne.
 |
| WDC Executive Director Sashi Stephen |
 |
| Environmental Officer of CEJ Indika Rajapaksha |
 |
| Executive Director of CEJ Dilena Pathragoda |
“Now, we have only two.”
Despite repeated appeals to the Management Services Department for additional staff, no action has been taken, he lamented.
Hidden health crisis in schools
The lack of proper toilet facilities in many Kandy schools has led to a worrying health issue, particularly among young girls.
With unusable, poorly maintained washrooms, many students avoid drinking water throughout the school day to avoid using the toilets.
Medical Officer of Health (MOH) reports show a sharp rise in urinary tract infections among schoolchildren. Teachers, too, are sounding the alarm.
“We urgently need better toilets to protect our students’ health,” one teacher pleaded.
Though financial assistance has been received for toilet construction in schools, little attention has been paid to their long-term maintenance. Many of these facilities remain unused or disliked by students due to cleanliness issues and poor upkeep.
Plastic pollution in water sources
Another worrying problem surfaces during the dry season, when people discard polythene and plastic waste into water catchment areas, contaminating vital drinking water sources.
To combat this, the KMC has initiated awareness programmes in schools and villages, forming environmental committees and children’s clubs.
These teach young people about the importance of protecting the environment and discourage irresponsible garbage disposal. The hope is that these children will take the message home and spark change in their families and communities.
Religious festivals worsen the problem
The city’s waste management struggles peak during major religious events like the Dalada Dekma, the public exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
On some days, more than 350,000 people flock to Kandy.
“The waste generated was unbearable. We didn’t have proper access or resources to clear it quickly,” said a KMC official.
Overflowing garbage disrupted even the regular waste collection routine.
Sanitation workers: Overworked, undervalued, and overlooked
Another pressing issue is the severe shortage of sanitation workers.
Many people avoid these jobs, considering them low-status and poorly paid.
“We’re unable to attract new workers, especially from the younger generation,” Senevirathne said.
Inspector Chandana Abeyratne notes that some workers also battle health issues, including skin diseases, infected wounds, kidney problems, and arthritis.
Despite this, many strive to maintain hygiene, though others lack access to proper protective gear or refuse to use it.
“Some people even take money to buy garbage bags and sort out what they can sell. The rest is dumped into canals, ditches, or on railway tracks,” Abeyratne adds.
A struggle to dispose of diapers and sanitary pads
One of Kandy’s biggest waste problems is the disposal of used diapers and sanitary pads. Initially, these were buried at the Gohagoda garbage yard, but the overwhelming volume soon created environmental hazards and community backlash.
Around four months ago, the KMC partnered with a private company to collect these items through a new system where residents pay for collection bags.
“This has halved our daily diaper and pad collection from two tons to about one ton,” explained Chief Engineer (Water and Wastewater) Namal Dhammika Dissanayake.
The company collects filled bags directly from households.
Some orphanages and girls’ homes have been connected to the system free of charge through the Municipal Engineering Office’s intervention.
“This service costs money, but it’s necessary,” Dissanayake says.
“Earlier, we couldn’t handle the volume. Diseases were spreading. Now it’s manageable.”
A history of waste troubles
Kandy’s waste issues aren’t new.
By 2010, the KMC stopped collecting clinical waste from hospitals and floral waste from shops after mishandled disposal contaminated drinking water wells.
Public anger led to a garbage tractor being set on fire. A system for clinical waste disposal was later introduced, charging per kilo — but even this had to be abandoned due to space limitations.
Now, disposal of clinical and sanitary waste is handled through private contractors, with ongoing costs passed to users.
It’s a partial solution in a city still struggling to manage its rising waste burden.
A call for collective responsibility
Kandy’s waste crisis is a reflection of deeper urban management challenges in rapidly growing cities.
While authorities scramble with limited staff and resources, public cooperation remains crucial.
As Senevirathne puts it, they need both infrastructure improvements and a change in public attitude to keep they city clean.
Kandy’s history is ancient, but its waste problems are modern- and unless addressed collectively, this sacred city risks being buried under its own garbage.
