Coca-Cola EPL suspended

25 August 2015 03:13 pm - 19 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) granted to the Coca-Cola beverage factory which is being blamed for oil leakage into the Kelani River has been temporarily suspended, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Chairman Prof. Lal Dharmasiri said.

“We have discussed this matter with the Coca-Cola Company and have instructed it to adhere to the conditions specified by the CEA if the suspension is to removed,” he said. “We are more concerned about the contamination of the water sources which provide drinking water to the people and would take stern action against institutions which flout the regulations,” Mr. Dharmasiri said.

He described the action taken after detecting the water in the Kelani River at Kaduwela and Biyagama had been contaminated as a result of releasing the oil mixed with water had been released by a soft drink manufacturing company in the area.

A special meeting arranged on the instructions of the CEA chairman was attended by the officials of the Coca-Cola Company in Biyagama, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Biyagama Divisional Secretariat, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Irrigation Department.

The laboratory testing was conducted by the Gampaha District Branch of the CEA.

It was also found that the water in the Ambatale reservoir which supplies water to households in Colombo and the suburbs had also been contaminated with oil and had led to the disruption of drinking water.

The Ambatale water pumping plant has also been damaged and had to be repaired at a huge cost with the assistance of the Ocean Environment Protection Authority.

The Coca-Cola Company has under taken to reimburse the expenses incurred by the CEA. (Chaturanga Pradeep

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Comments - 19

lkboy Wednesday, 26 August 2015 09:18 AM

I dont totally agree with you. But you have a point too.

Puka Wednesday, 22 February 2017 10:36 PM

Me Coca cola company eka wahala dammanan iwarayi. Mata naannath ba meka nisa.

nimal Wednesday, 26 August 2015 06:55 PM

obviously powers that be wanted bribes from this multi national company...

Cobra Wednesday, 26 August 2015 06:40 PM

Rum and Pepsi anyone????

Gobba Wednesday, 26 August 2015 04:11 PM

Hopefully the SAVE THE WILPATTU heroes would also campaign against this POLLUTION by the Coca Cola Co. Or are these heroes just INTERNET LIONS that scum Gnanasara speaks about.

Deeptha Wednesday, 26 August 2015 02:54 PM

What a bright Idea. Here goes the Coke price up by 5/-.

Draincleaner Wednesday, 26 August 2015 02:54 PM

What about compensating people inconvenienced?

Ramola Wednesday, 26 August 2015 01:38 PM

Why does the government tolerate such environmental.criminals here? We should send them packing. Are we to wait till they kill people with their poison?

CitizenPerera Wednesday, 26 August 2015 01:24 PM

No matter government or corporate, our idiots will never learn taking accountability and responsibility. These companies and public sector service departments should be shut down and their executive management imprisoned for their irresponsible conduct.

Waco Wednesday, 26 August 2015 12:52 PM

Testing dirinking water on daily basis is not sufficient. They must do that every hour.

Pramod Fernando Tuesday, 25 August 2015 09:04 PM

Simple. They want you to drink Coke instead of water.

lkboy Wednesday, 26 August 2015 09:17 AM

They should compensate us!

gajaba Wednesday, 26 August 2015 09:02 AM

we trust the water board provides clean water to the public. if people need to complaint on contamination what is the point of having such organization ? I was under the impression that water board is testing water samples on daily basis to assure the quality. If poison the water source and get affected to the public who will be responsible of giving this water to the public?

Banda is an idiot Wednesday, 26 August 2015 08:52 AM

Is it just about our drinking water? What about the impact on the environment? What about the fish in the water? How misguided are you really?

banda Wednesday, 26 August 2015 06:28 AM

Hi,This is ind of hiding Abatale Plant fault from Cola. How can oil content goes through well defined refinery like Abatale. I personal have found the smell, when I went to drink water in the election day, but by trusting water board I drank. But no health problem for me. I am in Battaramulla, and I think the full Abatale plant has been effected. As media you should ask Water Board guys to resign, because no point of having a refinery, Public need to ask them to directly pump water from Kalani river. Also No reason to have security for Abatale. Like this, Anyone can mix poison to Kalani river and Colombo will be effected. Good cover up for water board.

cliff Wednesday, 26 August 2015 06:15 AM

You have to calculate(1)Loss in cleaning the river.(2)Cost of cleaning the water purification system(4) Cost spent by Environment organizations helping in cleaning(5)loss of revenue to Water Board.(6) 10% service charge out of the total sum.AND 10 million surcharge to the Government Treasury.Reason.So at least get the water board or the government to benefit from the Coca Cola Co

Johan Fernando Tuesday, 25 August 2015 09:39 PM

They have done this in South America also, they wants to make people buy bottled water instead..of using free goverment tap water.

brainmaster Tuesday, 25 August 2015 09:33 PM

This company makes a huge profit here. The ingredients to fabricate 1 bottle of CC are very cheap and so are the labour charges. But they sell a bottle at a higher price then in Europe.

brainmaster Tuesday, 25 August 2015 09:27 PM

This company makes a huge profit here. The ingredients to fabricate 1 bottle of CC

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Coca-Cola EPL suspended

Comments - 19

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