Southern Province Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said he would close down government schools in the Southern province, if the relevant authorities failed to resolve the issue this week.

Addressing the District Development Committee meeting today, Tennakoon said the garbage issue had turned Matara into an unsuitable place to live.

The Governor said a large number of students are faced with severe difficulties due to the unresolved garbage issue in the area.

The Matara Municipal Council has refrained from collecting garbage due to an issue relating to the garbage disposal process.