Alleged tapping of water:

Ice factory owner fined Rs one million

Anusha GURUSINGHE

The Matara Court imposed a fine of Rs one million on an ice factory owner and ordered him to pay Rs 527,000 as compensation to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board for allegedly tapping water for his ice factory in Dikwella for about 15 years.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board Maintenance Unit conducted raid and arrested the owner with the assistance of Dikwella police.

Maintenance Unit officers later met Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and said that though ice factory workers tried to mislead them they were able to make this largest ever detention in Matara District due to tactful methods they followed.

The Minister praised their work and said it was a good example to others. HIJ Prabath, KFD Perera, Chintaka Prasad, Lalith Dushyantha, Roshan Quintes and Samantha Mendis Participated in the raid led by Sarath Munasinghe.