Sri Lanka promises compensation, houses to victims of garbage dump collapse

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday promised to provide houses and compensation to the victims in a garbage mountain collapse in Meetotamulla, just outside the capital.

Wickremesinghe, who cut short an official visit to Vietnam and returned to the island country on Wednesday morning, visited the Meetotamulla site where rescue efforts are still going on to search for more bodies buried under mounds of rubbish.

The 300-foot garbage mountain collapsed on Friday evening, burying hundreds of houses and displacing over 1,000 people. Troops have so far been able to recover 32 bodies buried under the rubble.

Over 1, 000 troops have been deployed in the rescue and search missions since Friday evening.

Wickremesinghe promised to put in all efforts to help the victims, saying the government would remove the garbage dump from the area as soon as possible.

Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena are also expected to meet later Wednesday to discuss the compensation offered to the families of the victims.

At least five people are still missing. Officials said the search will continue till all the bodies are recovered. Endit