Homagama fire: CEA mulls legal action against company with no environment licence

• The CEA advised residents in proximity to the factory to wear face masks due to potential atmospheric impacts resulting from the chemical factory fire

By Ajith Siriwardana and K. Buddhika Kumarasiri  

One of the factories which caught fire in the Katuwana Industrial Zone in Homagama had not obtained an environment license and would have to face legal action, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) said.
CEA Deputy Director General Ajith Weerasundara said legal action will be taken against the owners of the factory which had not obtained the environment license in terms of the National Environmental Act.    

He said some damage has been caused to the environment due to the chemical substances emitted during the fire.   

He said the cause for the fire is yet to be ascertained and that investigations are still under way.   The CEA advised residents in proximity to the factory to wear face masks due to potential atmospheric impacts resulting from the chemical factory fire.  Chemical residues could be seen adhered to electrical wires and the factory’s walls, as chemicals were mixed with the flames. Electricity Board personnel were observed working to cleanse the affected power lines.  

While the cause of the fire remains unidentified, around ten fire trucks from the Dehiwala and Kotte Municipalities, as well as the Horana Municipal Council, were dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze.  According to the Homagama headquarters police, the extent of damage incurred by the fire-affected factory is yet to be calculated. Additionally, four neighboring factories also sustained minor damages due to the incident.