Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Saturday, 21 April 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Operations of the rubber processing factory, where five died from a chemical accident, have been halted following a suspension of the Environmental Protection License (EPL) by the Central Environmental Authority.
Director General of the Central Environmental Authority, Hemantha Jayasinghe, said that his institution had decided to suspend the Environmental Protection License following the tragic accident that occurred on Thursday (19 April).
“We have suspended the EPL till investigations into the accident have been concluded,” Jayasinghe said, adding that, without the EPL, the rubber processing factory could not legally operate. Meanwhile, the manager of the rubber factory, Rathnasiri Edirisinghe, who was arrested on Thursday, was remanded till the 25 April by the Horana Magistrate courts, according to the police.
The Police further revealed that the owner of the rubber processing factory could not be located, and that Horana Police was conducting further investigations.
An employee of the factory fell into a tank of Ammonia on Thursday while trying to clean the tank.
Subsequently, a group of his colleagues had attempted to save the victim, but they too were affected by toxic fumes of ammonia and were rushed to the hospital.
While the first individual who fell into the tank passed away almost immediately after being rescued, four others died at the Horana hospital while undergoing treatment.
The remaining 10 victims are currently being treated at the Horana hospital.
Ammonia is commonly used in the rubber industry to prevent the premature coagulation of latex elements.
(SG)
