Sri Lankan government appoints a committee to probe ground water contamination
Sat, Aug 3, 2013, 12:20 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Sat, Aug 3, 2013, 12:20 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Aug 02, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government following yesterday's deadly protest by the residents of Weliweriya and neighboring villages in Gampaha district has appointed a committee comprising academic experts to determine the cause of ground water contamination in the area.The committee has been appointed under the leadership of Gampaha District Secretary to inspect wells in several villages in the Ratupaswala Village in Weliweriya.
Professionals in the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Environmental Authority, Water Resources Board, Geological and Mining Bureau and academic experts of the Moratuwa and Peradeniya Universities are included in the Committee.
Director General of the Environmental Authority Saranga Alahapperuma has said that the Committee should submit its report within 10 days. The Intellectual Committee has already commenced investigations, state-run radio SLBC said.
Country's health authorities are also working towards dispelling the fears of the people over the water quality, the government said. The Medical Research Institute is expected to declare its opinion regarding the issue through its report by tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the National Water Resources Board will deliver water tankers to the affected areas.
Factory connected to the current dispute has been closed temporarily on the instructions of the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
The glove maker, the Hayleys Group Company Dipped Products is alleged of disposing chemical waste contaminating the ground water.
However, the company has strongly denied that it is responsible for the water quality.
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