ITI submits report on contaminated ground water

The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) yesterday met the Gampaha District Secretary and other local officials in the area to discuss its final report on the suspected contamination of ground water in Rathupaswala.

The Ministry of Technology and Research said the report was handed over to the ministry and the local authorities in Gampaha on Thursday and that the report would soon be subjected to discussion among senior government officials.

Meanwhile ITI Chairman Prof. W. Abeywickrema said he could not reveal the contents of the final report on the tests and research conducted on the water in Rathupaswela but said the report was prepared after detailed research, study and analysis.

ITI experts had collected 40 samples of water from wells in Rathupaswela and other areas that were within

ITI experts had collected 40 samples of water from wells in Rathupaswela and other areas that were within a 600 to 700 metre radius from the factory that was suspected to have contaminated the ground water

a 600 to 700 metre radius from the factory that was suspected to have contaminated the ground water in the area.

The Technology and Research Ministry directed that the ground water in Rathupaswela be tested a day after a major clash between the army and the people in Weliweriya over the contamination of water. The ITI earlier mentioned that sample tests conducted in the Rathupaswela area revealed that a high level of acidity had been detected in the water. Meanwhile the Inspector General of Police and the Army also handed in two separate reports on their own investigations. The reports have been handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and to the Cabinet.