Sri Lankan Minister calls for cross-border collaborations in public transport, solid waste management

Anura Karunathilaka, Sri Lankan Minister for Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, has sought cross-border collaborations in the fields of public transport and solid waste management.

Addressing an interaction at the National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C) at Chathamangalam near here on Saturday (September 13), he said that they were areas of “critical priorities” for his government. “These are complex global issues that require collaborative solutions... No single entity can resolve them in isolation,” Mr. Karunathilaka said. He expressed keen interest in pursuing mutual interests with NIT-C. This is his third visit to the institution. Mr. Karunathilaka also spoke about pressing concerns being faced by his government, such as unplanned settlements, urban planning challenges, public housing issues, and urban population pressures. The meeting was aimed at fostering dialogue and exploring avenues for future collaboration between Sri Lanka and the NIT-C. Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT-C, Satyanad Panda, Dean (Students’ Welfare), and M.S. Sunitha, Registrar (In-charge), along with faculty members, were present.