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Water bottle producers to be licensed
By Lakna Paranamanna
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said that a licensing system will be introduced to all mineral water bottle manufacturers in the country in a move towards providing quality water for the consumers.
NWSDB Chairman Mr. Karunasena Hettiarachchi told Daily Mirror that under section 90 of the NWSDB act the Minister has legal provisions to publish regulations pertaining to providing better quality water and regulating the trade.
“Currently mineral water bottle manufacturers are only required to obtain licenses from the Health Ministry and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLS) prior selling their products. But, a complex technical and purification process is involved in the mineral water production trade. Therefore as the national establishment of water supplies, it is important to ensure that the processes are carried out in compliance to accepted standards by the manufacturers,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
He also pointed out that inspecting the source of water of each of the mineral water manufacturers is important as the people residing in the vicinity of some of these mineral water plants are likely to be affected. “Extraction of high volumes of water from ground water sources could result in a shortage of water for the residents in the vicinities of these water plants,” he added.
Mr. Hettiarachchi said that the gazette with reference to the licensing system is due to be issued in a few weeks. “The manufactures would be given a time period to obtain their license from the NWSDB. Those who fail to obtain the license will not be allowed to sell their products and measures will be taken to frequently inspect the mineral water plants,” he said.
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