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Gampaha Dist. Environmental development society formed

by Ja-Ela Group Correspondent

Due to factory waster emitted by the two large industrial complexes - the Katunayake Free Trade Zone and the Ekala Industrial Estate, Ja-Ela, town the Negombo Lagoon, the surrounding, paddy fields and the low lying wet land around the area have been polluted and it is noteworthy that the Lake House newspapers, specially Daily News and Dinamina have given publicity in this regard, said the Director, Environmental Foundation, Jagath Gunawardene, Attorney at Law.

He was speaking on the occasion of the forming of a Gampha District Environmental Development Society with the help of the Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariat, Environmental Unit.

He said that the local bodies were responsible for the violation of environmental regulations by these factories which emit factory waste to the water ways around them. He said there were 130 factories which emitted their waste in to these water channels and out of them the licenses of 45 should be cancelled for flouting the law.

He said many factories that pollute the air were functioning without proper licenses and the people's representation with regard to the environmental assessment reports issued by the Central Environmental Authority was lacking.

M.C.L. Fernando, Ja-Ela Divisional Secretary and President, Ja-Ela Forest and Environment Conservation Unit said that there were a large number of families living around the Negombo Lagoon and the waste water of the factories in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone were emitted to the Dandugam Oya while the waste water from factories in Ekala were emitted to the Ja-Ela canal. These water were emitted with treatment. He said that due to these reasons the propagation of animal and plant life would be destroyed and due to the Colombo Katunayake Express way, the mud sediment would be forced to the Negombo Lagoon. Mr. Fernando warned that this mud poses the danger of silting the Negombo Lagoon.

Therefore, he pointed out that the Lagoon should be dredged. He said that now the Lagoon had become a dumping ground for garbage. This is the most opportune time for the people to be made aware of these dangers and about the restrictions to be imposed.

There are signs of destruction been caused to the mangrove plantations and the scenic Negombo Lagoon, said Palitha Kithsiri of the NARA Institute. There were around 14 unauthorized prawn farms functioning in the Negombo Lagoon, but he said that if they were done systematically, a large amount of money could be earned. According to research it was estimated that more than 4,000 were depending on the lagoon for their earnings. As there was only a small strip of land, due to the functioning of prawn farms the mangroves and the lagoon were adversely affected.

Nishantha Roshan, Secretary, Negombo Fisheries Authority also spoke.

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