DANGEROUS CHEMICAL IN CANS SEIZED FROM MATALE TEA FACTORY

Alarge stock of a suspicious chemical was seized during a raid on the stores of a tea factory in Matale Town belonging to private estate company. The raid was conducted jointly by the Police and the security forces during which two businessmen were arrested.

A senior military official of the Ukuwela Army Camp said they seized about 20 cans containing 1,600 litres of the suspicious chemical, five forged number plates, three forged national identity cards used by one individual during the raid. He said the suspects were residents of Akurana and Mawanella.

He said the army carried out the raid on information received from an employee of the factory. The official said the cans carried the danger warning which was a

clear indication that it was a highly poisonous chemical. The suspects under interrogation revealed that the chemical had been used to increase the colour and the weight of the manufactured tea. The suspects and the case productions were handed over to Matale police for further investigations.

Police said the two suspects were to be produced before Matale Magistrate yesterday afternoon.