The government today decided that dumping garbage at Meethotamulla would be halted and two temporary sites were identified, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Harsha de Silva said.

In a Facebook post the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister said the government had also set up a coordinating committee to manage the situation.

‘On the orders of the President and PM a coordination committee to management of the situation was established this morning. Present were Ministers Sagala Ratnayake, Susil Premjayanth, Patali Champika Ranawaka, A H M Fowzie, Mohan Lal Grero and myself along with MPs S M Marikar and Mujibur Rahman. Commander of the Army and IGP and all relevant government officials were also present.

 'Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe was put in charge of search and rescue where an area of about 150m by 75m is being carefully cleaned up. The military is using its trained men and equipment and is doing a thorough job to look for those who might be still trapped. The utility lines have been shutoff and safety concerns addressed for the personnel on the job. SDIG Nandana Munasinghe is in charge of public order'

 ‘The District Secretary of Colombo is overall in charge of all administrative coordination matters. Already close to a hundred people have been shifted to temporarily holding locations; schools and others will be shifted as well. PM has ordered the release all necessary funds from the Treasury to deal with all financial requirements,' the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister said. 

He also said the government was prepared to bear all funeral expenses for those killed. 

A section of the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapsed on residences yesterday. Sixteen bodies have been recovered and search and operations are continuing.