Be careful when drinking tap water, opposition MP warns

Minister says supplier will be asked to take the consignment away

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Someone in the present government has earned large sums of money by importing hydrated lime with a high content of chromium, Opposition MP D. V. Chanaka told Parliament.  

“Some 550 metric tons of hydrated lime had come to Sri Lanka and these have been sent to Galle, Ambatale and Ratmalana water purification plants. Hydrated lime is used by these plants to purify tap water,” MP Chanaka said.  

“The stipulated amount of chromium has to be 10 per cent per 1 kg but the consignment that has been imported contains 14 per cent. Tap water in Sri Lanka currently has a high content of Chromium which can give rise to cancer, kidney disease and liver disease. Therefore, watch out when drinking tap water” he added.  

Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe who responded to the allegation later revealed that the chromium content of the said consignment is 12 per cent. “The consignment was subjected to tests, and it has been found out that the chromium content was 12 per cent. The supplier will be asked to take the consignment away,” he said.