Heavy metals in the Kelani River put Colombo's water at risk
A copper and brass factory is contaminating the Kelani River in Pethiyagoda, harming the environment and the health of residents. Sri Lanka's fourth-largest waterway provides 80 per cent of Colombo's drinking water. Despite complaints, the factory continues to operate without the necessary environmental licence. Environmentalists complain that the damage is irreversible.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – A copper and brass mining plant is dumping heavy metals into the Kelani River, Sri Lanka's fourth-largest waterway, near Pethiyagoda (Kelaniya), north of Colombo, contaminating groundwater and soil.
Residents complain that gases like sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide released into the river and the surrounding area cause breathing problems, particularly for children and the elderly.
The factory is about 40 metres from the Kelani River, which is the main source for the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs. The latter are located in the homonymous forest reserve, and provide about 80 per cent of the drinking water to the city of Colombo and its suburbs.
The electrolysis process, which involves copper sulphate and sulphuric acid, is the main threat to the environment and the river.
“The factory established as a Board of Investment (BOI) project is not located in an industrial zone, but in Kelaniya-Pethiyagoda River Valley, in a hamlet which has been inhabited for centuries,” explain environmentalist Aditha Gamage and Shirantha Navinna, speaking to AsiaNews.
“Previously, a plywood factory operated in the village as a BOI project, but after its closure, a copper factory was established in the same location. For this factory, an Environmental Protection Licence (No. A 16969(R2)) was obtained from the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on 18-01-2023, but it expired on 01-11-2023.”
“According to the provisions of the National Environment Act (Act No. 47 of 1980) and the regulations outlined in Extraordinary Gazette No. 1534/18 dated 02.02.2008 and Extraordinary Gazette No. 2264/18 dated 27.01.2022, industries that release or deposit pollutants and cause large-scale environmental pollution must obtain an environmental protection licence.”
“Yet, the relevant company has not submitted such an application. Hence, residents have filed complaints with the CEA, alleging that the electrolysis process is causing large-scale environmental damage”.
“The relevant authorities obtained licences for copper and brass extraction and production from scrap materials while concealing the truth,” lament social activists Cyril Mendis, Kusuma Attanayaka and Roshan Alwis.
This made it possible to increase copper production through the electrolysis process. “Various chemicals, including copper sulphate and sulfuric acid, both byproducts and substances used in the process, mix with the water and soil of Kelani River. The introduction of these highly toxic chemicals is harmful to human health and to drinking water sources.”
“Despite repeated complaints to the relevant authorities regarding the environmental and health damage caused by the factory, no proper action has been taken,” the social activists noted.
“Even as irreversible harm is being done to the environment and public health, authorities hesitate to take decisive action due to the influence of a former politician from Kalutara District as one of his relatives has shares in the factory.”
Residents questioned the wisdom of setting up a plant in a residential area rather than in an industrial zone. For its part, the Ministry of Environment said that I had instructed the CEA to review the licence.
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27/02/2018 17:56
24/01/2007
