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Health ministry, CEA nab factory dumping hazardous waste
The Ministry of Health and the Central Environmental Authority uncovered a factory in Bingiriya involved in the extraction of lead from old batteries and unscrupulously dumping the hazardous waste which is a by-product of the extraction process.
Members of the CEA check a site where hazardous waste was dumped
The plant has been operating out of the premises of a now defunct company which had earlier produced batteries. The factory had for some time been extracting lead from used batteries and in the process, producing harmful waste substances such as cadmium, nickel, mercury and arsenic.
In addition the factory is alleged to have also been purchasing lead which had been similarly extracted at secret sites in Vijayakatupotha, Battuluoya, Mundalama and Aratchikattuwa. The factory is also suspected of transporting and dumping the waste material into rivers and waterways.
Transportation of hazardous waste is strictly prohibited in Sri Lanka.
On the 6th of this month the ‘Mihisara’ an environmental organization in Bangadeniya which had been alerted on the activities of the company together a group of residents of Pulichchankulama nabbed a yellow tipper with a load of hazardous material.
The waters may now be poisonous
The tipper, a familiar sight in the area -allegedly working on road building projects- was found to be filled with hazardous material from the factory. Residents alleged the owner of the tipper -Janaka Wickremesinghe- had hoodwinked them and was in the habit of depositing the waste in the vicinity of prawn farms and mangroves in the area. They claimed a total of nearly 100 cubes of material had been dumped in the area in this manner.
Hazardous waste carelessly dumped after lead was extracted from used batteries
It was only after the capture of the tipper with its dangerous cargo did the residents of Pulichchankulama became aware of
The factory operated out of a battery factory which was closed
the harm caused by the dumping of the waste. Residents confirmed they had been at a loss to account for the itching, ‘red eyes’, coughs and blisters they suffered after taking a dip in the river, as well as for the dwindling harvests in their prawn farms.
Saman Senanayake, Director of the Wayamba Province Environmental Authority, which had issued the factory with an environment protection certificate as late as10.12.2014, denied claims the factory was discharging hazardous waste material.
“But, if the factory emits such waste, it is illegal and I will look into it. I have no desire to protect that company. I work strictly according to the law,” he said.
A spokesman for the company denied the accusations.
 This tipper was nabbed transporting hazardous waste |  Around 100 cubes of waste has been dumped in this manner |
 Lead was being extracted from used batteries leaving behind dangerous waste |  The CEA and Health ministry uncovered a factory dumping hazardous material |