No proposal yet for new Coca-Cola plant in Sri Lanka: Minister Malik

Mar 07, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s International Trade Ministry has not yet received a request for setting up a new Coca-Cola plant in the island, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said. “We have not received any proposal with regard to establishing a Coca-Cola production factory in Sri Lanka,” Minister Samarawickrama told Parliament Tuesday. “Even if we do receive such a proposal, we will ensure that the environment impact assessment studies are undertaken before approval is given.” The Finance Ministry last month said international beverage company Coca-Cola has expressed their interest in setting up a production hub in Sri Lanka. President of Coca-Cola Asia Pacific John Murphy and Executive Vice President Irial Finan after meeting Finance Minister last month has discussed the opportunity of producing some of the Coca-Cola products in Sri Lanka for export to India. In 2015, the environmental protection license of Coca Cola in Sri Lanka was suspended and later reinstated after the company addressed oil seepage into the Kelani River and agreed to pay compensation for the damage. Meanwhile, millions of Indian traders are now boycotting drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, after claims from two Indian trade associations that foreign firms are exploiting the country’s water resources. Protests are currently getting more intensified against Pepsi and Coca-Cola for using Thamirabharani river water in Tamil Nadu. As per Indian media reports, Amit Srivastava, director at the NGO India Resource Centre, estimates that it takes 1.9 litres of water to make one small bottle of Coca-Cola. On November 21, 2016, the Madras High Court also issued a stay order on using the river water.