Coca Cola Sri Lanka license suspended until it addresses contamination: CEA

Aug 31, 2015 (LBO) - The environmental protection license of Coca Cola's Sri Lanka unit will remain suspended until the company responds to an oil seepage into the Kelani river, an official of the Central Environmental Authority said. "Their operations are halted until they respond appropriately to the situation," Sunil Udukula, the deputy director media of the Central Environmental Authority, told Lanka Business Online. Last week, the company’s environment protection license was suspended which stopped work at the Coca Cola factory situated in Kaduwela, Biyagama. Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, chairman of Central Environmental Authority, said in a statement that the authority will take strict action against whoever who pollutes drinking water. “Factory owners should pay more attention on environmental safety,” he said. A leakage from an underground fuel pipeline was the cause of the contamination. Floating containment booms were used to stop the spread of the oil and residue that seeped to the surface. The Gampaha office of the CEA had intervened and taken samples for testing before the chairman of the CEA held discussions with the company. Lanka Business Online attempted to contact officials of Coca Cola in Sri Lanka, but they were not available for comment.